HP LH4r HP Netserver DiagTools v1.0x User Guide - Page 7

Hardware Detection, About Error Messages, Advantages and Limitations of Hardware Diagnostics

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Chapter 1 DiagTools Overview DiagTools User Interface Modes: Graphical or Text-Based DiagTools has two different types of interface modes. The graphical interface operates from a DiagTools diskette made while HP NetServer Navigator is running. The text-based mode operates when the Utility Partition is installed. To run DiagTools remotely, it must be installed in the Utility Partition of the NetServer to be tested. For more details, see the section of chapter 2 entitled "Preparing for Remote Operation" and the section of chapter N entitled "Running DiagTools Remotely." Hardware Detection Overview of Hardware Detection Hardware detection determines which tests are appropriate for your HP NetServer. For example, if your server has an IDE or SCSI hard disk, the boot sector of the disk will be checked as part of the basic system test. In the Advanced System Tests, some functions will be disabled if they are not appropriate for your NetServer. For example, if you do not have a SCSI controller (or if your SCSI controller is not responding), the SCSI menu in the Advanced System Tests will be disabled. What is Detected A list of items detected is shown in Table 3-1. About Error Messages Each error message in DiagTools is designated by a hexadecimal number, a short note on the type of error, and a list of one or more steps the user can take in response. When you run a test, it exercises many aspects of the hardware, so the number of possible error messages exceeds 300. Most of these are encountered rarely, if ever. You can view error codes on line from the Misc Menu of the Advanced System Tests, or you can refer to Chapter 5 of this guide, which lists the error messages in order. Advantages and Limitations of Hardware Diagnostics Off-line diagnostic software is useful in making sure that hardware has been eliminated as the cause for possible system problems. Such diagnostic tools can easily be shipped with a server, and they are easy to use. However, limitations for off-line diagnostic software mean that it should be used only by experienced personnel who can take a wider view of its limitations, which include: • rebooting the server one or more times whenever off-line diagnostics are run • an offline diagnostic runs on the system under test so it cannot control and observe all aspects of that system • no access to network operating system error logs, since the NOS is not operating at the same time as the diagnostic tools • ability to test only a single component at a time (Batch testing can overcome this to some degree.) • use of only non-destructive tests limits the exercising of system components, especially storage devices 3

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Chapter 1
DiagTools Overview
3
DiagTools User Interface Modes: Graphical or Text-Based
DiagTools has two different types of interface modes. The graphical interface operates from a DiagTools
diskette made while HP NetServer Navigator is running. The text-based mode operates when the Utility
Partition is installed. To run DiagTools remotely, it must be installed in the Utility Partition of the
NetServer to be tested. For more details, see the section of chapter 2 entitled “Preparing for Remote
Operation” and the section of chapter N entitled “Running DiagTools Remotely.”
Hardware Detection
Overview of Hardware Detection
Hardware detection determines which tests are appropriate for your HP NetServer. For example, if your
server has an IDE or SCSI hard disk, the boot sector of the disk will be checked as part of the basic system
test.
In the Advanced System Tests, some functions will be disabled if they are not appropriate for your
NetServer. For example, if you do not have a SCSI controller (or if your SCSI controller is not responding),
the SCSI menu in the Advanced System Tests will be disabled.
What is Detected
A list of items detected is shown in Table 3-1.
About Error Messages
Each error message in DiagTools is designated by a hexadecimal number, a short note on the type of error,
and a list of one or
more steps the user can take in response. When you run a test, it exercises many aspects
of the hardware, so the number of possible error messages exceeds 300. Most of these are encountered
rarely, if ever.
You can view error codes on line from the Misc Menu of the Advanced System Tests, or you can refer to
Chapter 5 of this guide, which lists the error messages in order.
Advantages and Limitations of Hardware Diagnostics
Off-line diagnostic software is useful in making sure that hardware has been eliminated as the cause for
possible system problems. Such diagnostic tools can easily be shipped with a server, and they are easy to
use.
However, limitations for off-line diagnostic software mean that it should be used only by experienced
personnel who can take a wider view of its limitations, which include:
•
rebooting the server one or more times whenever off-line diagnostics are run
•
an offline diagnostic runs on the system under test so it cannot control and observe all aspects of that
system
•
no access to network operating system error logs, since the NOS is not operating at the same time as
the diagnostic tools
•
ability to test only a single component at a time (Batch testing can overcome this to some degree.)
•
use of only non-destructive tests limits the exercising of system components, especially storage
devices