Compaq NonStop S-Series computers are very large multiprocessors. Specially trained Service specialists service them. Today, the training classes include labs where students can diagnose and repair hardware problems introduced into the lab equipment. Unfortunately, the lab equipment is very costly, so students have very limited time to practice problems on very small hardware systems. This project extends a software simulator to add a "Problem Control Panel" so the instructor can inject hardware problems into the simulator.

The S-Series simulator is built of a number of components:

The image at the end of this report shows a typical TSM GUI display. An example of a .dcf file used to produce the image is attached to the electronic version of the proposal.

Provide a GUI program that allows an training class instructor to select a specific problem to inject into the simulator. The output of the "Problem Control Panel" is a set of commands that sends the state changes associated with the problem to the TSM GUI.

The project team will design the GUI and build it. The will also design the interface to the existing simulator. (The simplest solution would be to create a new "commands" file and force the existing simulator to read it. However, the team may find this less than satisfying.) The project team should at least be able to inject the problems already described in the existing commands files. In addition, the team could decide to add more interesting failures or state changes and build the XML needed to generate these changes.

The entire existing simulator package will be supplied both as a runnable set of binaries, support and control files, and also as a full set of C++ source (on the Microsoft visual C++ toolset). All code runs on Win2000 or WinNT industry standard desktop or Notebook computers. The project will include a TOI (Transfer Of Information) to let the team learn the key interfaces and control syntax.