Diagnostics - Netfinity 7000

Resolving The Problem

Diagnostics
The following tools are available to help you identify and resolve hardware-related problems:
 
Power-on self-test (POST)
POST beep codes
Test programs
Error messages
Error Log (Event Log)
Option Diskettes
 
Power-On Self-Test (POST)
Each time you power-on the system, it performs a series of tests that check the operation of the system and some options. This series of tests is called the power-on self-test, or POST. POST does the following:

• Checks some basic system-board operations
• Checks the memory operation
• Starts the video operation
• Detects and initializes ISA devices
• Detects and configures EISA devices
• Detects and configures PCI devices
• Verifies that the diskette drive, hard disk drive, and other installed devices are working

• View the error log
• Copy the error log to a diskette.

• Test allows you to specify an individual module (or device such as a diskette drive) for testing, or specify a group of tests for several modules. In addition, you can specify how many times to run an individual test and how the test program should note and log any errors it finds.
• Errors displays the error messages that the system has captured.
• Summary lists all tests that have been run, the run times, the number of times passed, the number of times failed, and the error messages.
• Configuration allows you to save a test configuration to run at a later time.
• Options allows you to set or change defaults that affect the reporting, error logging, and presentation of the error information.

 
Run Netfinity 7000 Memory Test (Quick - 5 min/64 MB): Provides a quick test of the system memory.
Run Netfinity 7000 Memory Test (Extensive - 15 min/64 MB): Provides a more extensive test of the system memory.
Run Advanced System Management Adapter Diagnostics. Provides a more extensive test of the processor(s).
 
Program Navigation
You can maneuver within the test programs by typing the first letter of a menu choice, or using the function keys.

The following additional keys are active on the Test window. Press the TAB key from the Test window to view a description of all keys.

Command Line Options
The Command Line Options allow you to define specific conditions for running the diagnostic programs from the DOS command line or at startup time.
 
At the operating system prompt, type t xxxx yyyy (where xxxx represents a test and yyyy is a flag.
 
The test can be identified either by the module name or by it's position in the .PKG file, for example:

A command line option can contain the following flags:

Run-Time Flags: The run-time flags are the commands that control execution of the tests. The Edit Run-Time Flags selection on the Options Menu provides access for editing the run-time flags.

Starting the Diagnostic Programs
To start the test programs from the System CD-ROM:

1. Use the Setup program to define the CD-ROM drive as the First Boot Device. Refer to Defining the Startup Device.
2. Insert the System CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.
3. Power-on the system. Or, if the system is powered on, press Ctrl+Alt+Del.
4. Use the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key to select Run System Diagnostics from the Startup Menu.
5. Use the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key to move the highlight bar to your desired Startup Menu selection.
6. Press Enter.

• If a user password is set, you must enter it to access thetest programs. If you have set user and administrative passwords, you can enter either one.
• If a configuration error occurs, a prompt appears before the operating system starts (see Configuration Conflicts ).
• To stop running a specific test or stop testing after you have started a test, press CNTL+Break while the test is running. The test stops at the first possible opportunity.

1. Start the diagnostic programs, see Starting the Diagnostic Programs on page 13 of the HMM.
2. Select Run Server Diagnostics from the Startup Menu; then, press Enter.
3. Use the Left and Right arrow keys to select Test. Use the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key to move the highlight barfrom one selection to the next within the Test window. You can also enter the number of your desired test to move the highlight bar.
4. Press Enter at the highlight bar of the desired test module.
5. Press the Spacebar at the highlight bar to enable the desired sub-test.
6. Press F2 to run the selected sub-test.
7. Select the number of passes and the length of processing time; then, press Enter. If you want to run all enabled sub-tests, you can do so by pressing ALT+F2.

1. Select Run Server Diagnostics from the Startup Menu; then press Enter.
2. Select Test from the Diagnostics Menu.
3. Select the tests, sub-tests, and parameters.
4. Select Configuration from the Diagnostics Menu.
5. Select Save Test Configuration.
6. Type in a file name and press Enter.
7. To load and run the test program with this test setting, type: T /CF filename and then, press Enter.

POST Error Codes and Messages
Error Codes and Messages might appear on the screen during the power-on self-test (POST).
 
Sometimes the first error to occur causes additional errors. In this case, the system displays more than one error message. Always follow the suggested action instructions for the first error message that appears.
 
POST error codes are also written to the error log in the Extended BIOS Data Area and can be viewed using the event log utility. For a complete list of error codes and messages, see Symptom-to-FRU Index .
 
SCSI Messages
NOTE: If the server has a CD-ROM drive, but does not have a hard disk drive, ignore any message that indicates that the BIOS is not installed.