PASSMARK SOFTWARE PM141 ECC Tester User Guide
- October 30, 2023
- PASSMARK SOFTWARE
Table of Contents
ECC Tester
Users Guide
Model PM141 Rev 1
Introduction
The ECC Tester can be used to verify a computer equipped with ECC RAM responds correctly when a memory transfer is corrupted, as well as monitor the voltages on a RAM stick. With the ECC Tester, you can:
- Generate errors in both the error correction and data lines.
- Customize errors to be either correctable (single bit) or non-correctable (double bit), as well as create periodically occurring errors or one time errors.
- Read the voltage of the VDD, VPP, VREFCA, VTT lines in real-time. This can also be tested with a non-ECC RAM.
Device Operation
This section covers the functions of the ECC Tester and how to use it to
diagnose issues related to ECC RAM.
Injecting Memory Errors
Memory errors are injected using either the provided Windows software (command
line interface or ECCTest application), or by pressing one of the four buttons
located along the edges of the ECC Tester are pressed. Figure 1 shows where
these buttons can be found, each of the buttons are also labelled underneath
as either S1, S2, S3, or S4. The type of error injected by each button when it
is pressed is configured through the provided Windows software, see section
Monitoring Software (ECCTest) for more information on how to use the software
to perform error injection.
Verifying Your ECC RAM Works Correctly
If your ECC RAM is functioning correctly, then the computer will identify and
report memory corruptions that have been created from the ECC Tester. The
location of where this memory error is reported varies based on your operating
system, below it will be explained how to find this information using either
MemTest86 or Windows 10. If after injecting an error these reports do not
appear or the computer crashes, then the ECC RAM is not working correctly.
Verifying with MemTest86
While running the tests in MemTest86, any errors related to ECC memory will be
detected and displayed in red writing as shown in Figure 2. To inject an error
into MemTest86 while it is running, press a button on the ECC Tester that has
been configured to generate an error. If you see an ECC related error message
appear in MemTest86, then your ECC RAM is functioning correctly.
Verifying with Windows 10
Some operating systems provide information when a memory error is detected and
corrected. For Windows 10, this information can be obtained from the Event
Viewer program; this program can be found by typing “Event Viewer” into the
Windows search bar. In Event Viewer, open the “Windows Logs” dropdown and
click on “System” to view the reported memory errors. An example of what will
appear when the ECC RAM is working correctly after an error is injected by the
ECC Tester is shown in Figure 3.
Voltage Monitoring
The voltage of the VDD, VPP, VREFCA, VTT lines can be monitored in real-time
through either using the command line interface or ECCTest application. Using
the ECCTest application, a log of these voltages can also be generated in the
background and written to a file for further processing, the process to do
this is described in the Log Window section under Monitoring Software
(ECCTest).
Cables
The ECC Tester comes with 1 cable that has a USB A (male) connector at one end, and at the other end a custom connector that attaches to the ECC Tester. When using any software that interacts with the ECC Tester (Windows ECCTest application or the command line interface), this cable must be connected to the ECC Tester and a USB port on the computer to allow communication. Refer to Figure 4 for where the cable is connected to on the ECC Tester.
Monitoring Software (ECCTest)
The Windows application ECCTest can be used to configure and interact with the ECC Tester from a computer. An image of the main window is shown in Figure 5 and the features and options of this application are described below.
Device
The device dropdown box will list all the COM ports that a ECC Tester has been
detected as being connected to. Selecting an option from the list will connect
the application to the corresponding ECC Tester. If “None Connected” is
displayed in the box, then no ECC Tester is connected to the application.
Memory Error Injection
This box can be used to send a command to the ECC Tester to corrupt the memory
lines without having to press the buttons. The memory lines to be corrupted is
selected through the “Data Error” and “Checksum Error” dropdown boxes, and the
amount of time the memory line is corrupted is entered in the duration box.
Clicking the “Inject Error” button will send the command to the ECC Tester
where the error will be injected.
Enable voltage logging
Ticking this box will begin writing the measured voltages to the log window.
The rate at which messages are logged can be adjusted by changing the value in
the text box.
Log Window
The log window displays information about when ECC testers are detected and
connected, as well as contains the voltage log if enabled. This log can be
saved to a file by clicking the Save Log button, and the log can be reset by
clicking the Clear Log button.
Voltages
The minimum, maximum and average voltage of some RAM lines are monitored from
when an ECC Tester is connected. These results are displayed in the table
here.
The table can be reset by reconnecting the ECC Tester, and for obtaining real-
time voltage values the voltage logging feature should be used instead.
Configuration
Opens the window where the error generated by the buttons can be customized,
this window is shown in Figure 6. The Duration is the length of time (in
milliseconds) the data lines will stay corrupted, Number of pulses is the
number of times the error will
be repeated on a single button press, and Interval is the time (in
milliseconds) between errors if more than one is generated. To choose which
memory lines are corrupted, the Data error and Checksum error dropdown boxes
are used. The button this setting is attached to can be identified by looking
for the button on the ECC Tester that has the matching label underneath.
Driver Installation
Starting from Windows 10, the STSW-STM32102 driver is no longer required, and
the usage of the native inbox driver (Microsoft driver) is recommended
instead. For other operating systems please follow the below procedure.
Windows Installation (Win7 & Win8) Step1 – connect the device
With the computer turned on and running, connect the ECC Tester to the USB
port on the computer to be used with the provided cable.
Step 2 – Install the device driver
Download the latest driver from the following address and extract the package.
https://www.passmark.com/products/ecc-tester/download.php
The STSW-STM32102 software package contains four installation files based on
the various versions of the Microsoft® operating system. Run the setup file
according to the version of your operating system. E.g., run
‘CP_V1.5.0_Setup_W7_x64_64bits.exe’ if you have a 64-bit version of Windows 7
installed on your computer.
Technical Specification
| Product Code | PM141 |
|---|---|
| Supported SDRAM Class | DDR4 (unbuffered or fully buffered) |
| CPU | ARM Cortex MO onboard controller |
| Memory | 6KB RAM, 32K Flash onboard memory |
| User Interface | 4x Programable Buttons |
| Error Injection | Single bit or double bit error injection on DQO, DQ2, CBO, |
CB2 lines
Operational Voltage| USB: 3.5V — 6.0V or from VDDSPD line on DIMM slot: 2.25V
— 2.75V
Operational Current| 30mA
Voltage Measurement| VDD, VPP, VREFCA and VTT at a sampling rate of 10ms
Maximum Voltage Ratings| VDD: +4V
VPP: +4V
VREFCA: +4V VTT: +4V
Measurement Error (V)| ±1%
PC Communication| USB 2 Full Speed
Dimensions| 147mm x 50mm x 5mm (5.8 x 2.0 x 0.2 inches)
Weight| 25g (0.88 oz)
Storage Temperature| -30 °C to + 80 °C
Usage Temperature| 0 °C to + 50 °C
Part number| PM 141
RoHS (Lead free)| Yes
The ECC Tester firmware is software upgradeable in the field.
Software Compatibility
The command line interface and ECCTest application are supported on Windows 7,
8, and 10. Error injection can be performed manually with the buttons on any
system. Additional Information For more information, please see the ECC Tester
FAQ page.
Disclaimer
This product is not warranted nor intended to be used for medical, life
support, lifesaving, critical control or safety applications, unless pursuant
to an express written agreement with PassMark Software. Furthermore, PassMark
Software does not authorize this product for use as critical components in
life-support systems where a malfunction or failure may reasonably be expected
to result in significant injury to the user. The inclusion of this PassMark
Software product in life-support systems application implies that the
manufacturer assumes all risk of such use and in doing so indemnifies PassMark
Software against all charges.
Document Edition: 1.1
Date: 12 January 2023
Web site:[ www.passmark.com](http://www.passmark.com)
Documents / Resources
|
PASSMARK SOFTWARE PM141 ECC
Tester
[pdf] User Guide
PM141 ECC Tester, PM141, ECC Tester, Tester
---|---
References
- PassMark Software - PC Benchmark and Test Software
- PassMark ECCTest and ECC Tester device driver downloads