14.398 bytes

Product Information

Document ID: DDSE-42TLWH

Netfinity 3500 - Diagnostic Test Programs

Applicable to: World-Wide

Diagnostic Test Programs

The server diagnostic test programs are stored on the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics CD-ROM that comes with the server. These programs are the primary method of testing the system board, memory, and other standard features of the Netfinity 3500 server. You can also use them to test some external devices.

Also, if you cannot determine whether a problem is caused by the hardware or by the software, you can run the test programs to confirm that the hardware is working properly.

The IBM Enhanced Diagnostics programs will isolate the server hardware from software that is installed on the hard disk. The programs run independently of the operating system, and must be run either from CD or diskette.

The server diagnostic test programs can identify most problems associated with major components of the server:
the system board, Ethernet controller, video adapter or controller, random-access memory (RAM), diskette drive, serial port, parallel port, keyboard, and mouse.

An IBM Enhanced Diagnostic CD-ROM comes with the server.

In addition to the server test programs, the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics CD contains utility programs that provide information about the server hardware, including the hardware configuration. This information might be useful in helping to isolate problems related to the operating system and device drivers.

The IBM Enhanced Diagnostics CD also contains additional diagnostic programs for non-IBM devices.

See "Running the Diagnostic Test Programs" on page 9 for information on running the diagnostic programs that come with the server.

Power-on Self-Test (POST)
When you power-on the server, it performs a series of tests to check the operation of server components and some options. This series of tests is called the power-on self-test, or POST.

POST does the following:
Checks the operation of some basic system-board operations
Checks the memory operation
Compares the current server configuration with the stored server configuration information
Configures PCI adapters
Starts the video operation
Verifies that the drives (such as the diskette, CD-ROM, and hard disk drives) are connected properly

If Power-On Self-Test is set to [Enhanced], numbers that show the amount of memory being tested appear in the top-left corner of the screen until the total amount of memory in the system is reached. Options for running a quick POST or accessing the Configuration/Setup Utility program appear in the lower-left corner of the screen. Quick mode is the default mode of operation. To change the mode to [Enhanced], select Start Options from the Configuration/Setup Utility program menu and follow the prompts on the screen.

Note The amount of available memory shown might be somewhat less than expected because of BIOS shadowing in RAM.

If POST finishes without detecting any problems, the first screen of the operating system or application program appears (if you have not set a power-on password). If you have set a power-on password, a password prompt appears. You must enter the password before the first screen of the operating system or application program will appear. (For further information on using passwords, see "System Security" on page 21.)

If Power-On Status is set to [Enabled] and POST detects a problem, you will hear multiple beeps or no beep. In most cases, an error code appears in the top left corner of the screen, and in some cases, a description of the error is displayed beside the code. (Note that the screen will
sometimes display multiple error codes and descriptions.)

If you hear no beep at all during POST, see "Symptom-to-FRU Index".

POST Beep Codes
POST also generates beep codes to indicate successful completion or the detection of an error.

One beep and the startup of the operating system or application program indicates successful completion of POST.

More than one beep indicates that POST detected an error. If you receive an error indication

Error Messages
Error messages indicate that a problem exists.

Hardware error messages that occur can be text, numeric, or both. Messages generated by the software generally are text messages, but they also can be numeric.

POST Error Messages and Beep Codes:

POST error messages and beep codes occur during startup when POST finds a problem with the hardware or detects a change in the hardware configuration. POST error messages are 3-, 4-, 5-, 8-, or 12-character alphanumeric messages and include brief explanations (except I999XXXX errors).

SCSI Error Messages: These messages appear if a problem or conflict is detected by the SCSI subsystem. Refer to the SCSI documentation in the ServerGuide package that comes with the server for information about these messages.

Diagnostic Error Messages: Diagnostic error messages occur when a test finds a problem with the server hardware. The messages present text information that can be used to identify a failing part. These error messages are alphanumeric. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Software-Generated Error Messages: These messages occur if a problem or conflict is found by an application program, the operating system, or both. Error messages for operating-system and other software problems are generally text messages, but they also can be numeric messages. For information about these software error messages, refer to the information that comes with the operating system or application program, or both.

Symptom-to-FRU Index
The Symptom-to-FRU Index lists beeps, errors, symptoms, and the possible causes. The most likely cause is listed first. Use the "Symptom-to-FRU Index" on page 103 to help you decide which FRUs to have available when servicing the computer.

Installing Files from Option Diskettes
An optional device or adapter might come with a diskette. Diskettes that are included in option packages usually contain files that the system needs for recognizing and activating the options. Until you install the necessary files, the new device or adapter might cause error messages.

If the optional device or adapter comes with a diskette, you might need to install some configuration (.CFG) files or diagnostic files (.EXE or .COM) from the diskette to the hard disk. Refer to the documentation that comes with the option to see if you need to install files.

Running the Diagnostic Test Programs

Note See "Diagnostic Test Programs" on page 6 for a description of the diagnostic programs that come with the server.

To start the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics using the CD that comes with the server, do the following:

1. Power-off the server and any attached devices.

Note Do not press Ctrl+Alt+Del.

2. Power-on all attached devices; then, power-on the server.
3. Place the IBM Enhanced Diagnostic CD in the CD-ROM drive.
4. Select Exit Setup and follow the prompts. The diagnostics program will load. Follow the instructions on the screen to run the diagnostics program.

Attention 1. When you finish running diagnostic and utility programs, remove the CD from the CD-ROM drive and turn off the server. 2. Do not discard this CD. Store it in a safe place for later use.

Make a backup copy of the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics CD information on a diskette. To do this:
1. Insert a blank, 3.5-inch diskette into diskette drive A.
2. Follow the previous instructions for starting the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics CD.
3. Select the menu choice for making a backup diskette.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen.

To start the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics using the backup diagnostic diskette, do the following:
1. Power-off the server and any attached devices.
2. Insert the IBM Enhanced Diagnostics backup diskette into diskette drive A.
3. Power-on all attached devices; then, power-on on the server.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Power-On Self-Test (POST) Messages
If you receive an error message during the power-on self-test (POST), completing the steps outlined in this section might enable you to resolve the problem.

Note If you have just added, removed, or changed the location of a device and you receive an error message, you must reconfigure the server.

1. Write down all error code numbers and descriptions that appear on the screen as you start the server. (Note that a single problem can cause several error messages to appear. When you correct the cause of the first error message, the other error messages probably will not appear on the screen the next time that you power-on the server.)

2. If you have set a power-on password and have the password prompt set to On or Dual, a password prompt appears. If you have set both power-on and administrator passwords, you can type either of the passwords at the password prompt. However, if you think you might need to change any settings in the Configuration/Setup Utility program, you must type the administrator password at the password prompt. If you type the power-on password, you will be able to view the error codes and error code descriptions that are displayed on the POST Startup Errors screen;
you will also be able to view limited information in the Configuration/Setup Utility program. However, you will not be able to change any settings.

3. In the case of most errors, the Configuration/Setup Utility program starts automatically so that you can attempt to identify and correct the problem. When the Configuration/Setup Utility program starts, a screen titled POST Startup Errors appears. (Note that the POST Startup Errors screen does not appear immediately. You must wait approximately one minute.)

4. At the POST Startup Errors screen, select Continue if you want to access the Configuration/Setup Utility program menu. Select Exit Setup if you want to exit from the Configuration/Setup Utility program. (For more information on exiting from the Configuration/Setup Utility program, go to the Attention: section that follows step 5d on page 11.)

To select an item, press the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key to highlight the item; then, press Enter.

5. If you selected Continue in step 4 on page 10, the Configuration/Setup Utility program menu appears on the screen. You will see a pointer next to any menu items that indicate components that are malfunctioning or that have been changed since the last time you powered-on the server. If you did not knowingly make a change to a flagged component, that component is probably malfunctioning. If you made a change, continue here. If you did not make a change, go to the Attention: section that follows step 5d.

To use the Configuration/Setup Utility program, do the following:

a. Select the menu item that is flagged (or that you want to view) by pressing the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key; then, press Enter.
b. A new menu specific to the item that you selected appears. Press the Left Arrow or Right Arrow key to toggle between choices for a menu item. (Note that each menu item has a Help screen. To view the Help screen, select the menu item; then, press F1.)
c. When you have finished viewing and changing settings, press Esc to return to the Configuration/Setup Utility program menu.
d. Before you exit from the program, select Save Settings. When you exit from the Configuration/Setup Utility program menu (see step 5e on page 12), the operating system will start automatically (unless there is an unresolved problem with the startup device).

Attention:
If you did not change any settings in the Configuration/Setup Utility program, note the following:

You will get an error message if you exit from the Configuration/Setup Utility program without selecting Save Settings. The operating system will not start, but the server will automatically restart. When the server restarts, you will get a POST error message, and then the Configuration/Setup
Utility program will again start automatically. You will not get an error message if you select Save Settings and then exit from the Configuration/Setup Utility program. The system will save all settings as they currently appear in the Configuration/Setup Utility program, and the operating system will start (unless there is an unresolved problem with the startup device).

e. To exit from the Configuration/Setup Utility program, press Esc and follow the instructions on the screen.

	Search Keywords
	Document Category	Diagnostics
	Date Created	03-12-98
	Last Updated	03-12-98
	Revision Date	03-12-99
	Brand	IBM PC Server
	Product Family	Netfinity 3500
	Machine Type	8644
	Model	ALL
	TypeModel
	Retain Tip (if applicable)
	Reverse Doclinks and Admin Purposes