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Service Hints & Tips

Document ID: MCGN-3PSQFA

This document is provided to IBM and our Business Partners to help sell and/or service IBM products. It is not to be distributed beyond that audience or used for any other purpose.

PCServer330 - Diagnostics and Test Information

Applicable to: World-Wide

Diagnostics and Test Information
The following tools are available to help identify and resolve hardware-related problems:

Power-on self-test (POST)
POST beep codes
Test programs
Error messages
Option Diskettes

Power-On Self-Test (POST)
When you power-on the system, it performs a series of tests to 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
- Compares the current system configuration with the stored system configuration information
- Starts the video operation
- Verifies that drives (such as the diskette, CD-ROM, and hard disk drives) are working

If a power-on password or administrator password set, you must type the password and press Enter before POST will continue.

The level of password protection determines the number of choices that are available on the Configuration/Setup utility program menu.

While the memory is being tested, the amount of available memory appears on the screen. These numbers advance as the system progresses through POST. If POST finishes without detecting any problems, a single beep sounds and the first screen of your operating system or application program appears.

If POST detects a problem, an error message appears on your screen. A single problem might 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 you turn on the system.

POST Beep Codes
POST generates beeping sounds 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.

For a complete list of beep codes, see Symptom-to-FRU Index.

Test Programs
The PC Server Diagnostics program includes the diagnostic test programs, which are stored in nonvolatile read-access memory (NVRAM) in the server. These programs are the primary method of testing the system board, memory, and many other options that you can install in the PC Server 330.

You can use the programs to test the IBM components of the system and some external devices. The more optional adapters and devices you have attached to your system, the longer the testing takes.

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 correctly.

The PC Server Diagnostics programs include tests that identify most problems associated with major components of your system, such as the serial ports, the video controller, the keyboard and the mouse.

Types of Error Messages
Error messages indicate that a problem exists.

Messages generated by the software generally are text messages, but they also can be numeric. There are four types of error messages: POST error messages, beep codes, diagnostic error messages, and software-generated messages.

POST Error Messages: POST error messages appear when, during startup, POST finds problems with the hardware or detects a change in the hardware configuration. A list of these error messages is given in POST Error Message Table on page 21.

Diagnostic Error Messages: Diagnostic error messages appear when a test program finds a problem with a hardware option. Normally, these messages are text, but they can include an alphanumeric identifier.

When the diagnostic tests automatically start following a signal from NetFinity, the server saves the errors in the error buffer. Otherwise, the error messages display on the screen, and can be stored in nonvolatile read-access memory.

Software-Generated Error Messages: These messages appear if a problem or conflict is found by an application program, the operating system, or both. For an explanation of these messages, refer to the information that comes with your software package.

About the Test Programs
The following is useful information about navigating through the test programs, as well as procedures for starting and stopping them. These programs are designed to test the PC Server 330 - Type 8640. Non-IBM products tested with these programs might present misleading error messages or unexpected system responses. If you want to test a non-IBM product, refer to the information that comes with that product.

You can start the diagnostics programs from the Configuration/Setup utility program.

Characteristics of the Diagnostics
Menu driven
Supports single runs or multiple runs of selected diagnostic tests
Reports errors to screen
Saves errors to the Diagnostic Log

Using the System Diagnostics: To start the diagnostic program:

1. Power-on the server and watch the screen. Or, if the system is turned on already, press Ctrl+Alt+Del.
2. When the Press F1 to enter Configuration/Setup message appears, press F1. If a power-on or administrator password is set, the system prompts you for it. The Diagnostic/Setup Utility Menu appears.
3. Select Diagnostic Utility; then, press Enter.
4. After a few moments, the Diagnostics Utility Menu appears.
a. Select Run Diagnostic to choose which system components to test, and the number of times the server will run the tests.
b. Select Diagnostic Log to display the results of the most recent diagnostic tests.

If the server stops during testing and you cannot continue, replace the device that was being tested when the test stopped.

Program Navigation: You can use the following keys to maneuver within the test programs:

Diagnostics Mode
When you start the diagnostic test programs from the Configuration/Setup menu, you can select the tests and the number of times the tests run.

Some choices on the Diagnostic menu display a menu, so that you can further customize the test program.

Notes 1. You can only run the diagnostic tests when you start the server with the highest level password. That is, if you enter the power-on password, and an administrator password is set, you can perform diagnostic tests. You can only view the test results in the diagnostic log. 2. You might have to install a wrap connector on your active parallel or serial port to obtain accurate test results for these ports.

Running the Diagnostics: To use the Diagnostics:

1. Power-on the server and watch the screen. Or, if the system is powered on already, press Ctrl+Alt+Del.
2. When the message "Press F1 to enter Configuration/Setup" appears, press F1. If a password is set, the system prompts you for it. The Diagnostic/Setup Utility Menu appears.
3. Select Diagnostic Utility; then, press Enter. The Diagnostic Utility Menu appears.
4. Select Run Diagnostic; then, press Enter. The server displays the "How Many?" menu:
Stop on Error stops the test programs when the Single or Loop diagnostic tests encounter an error. The Endless Loop choice automatically stops on error.
Reset Run List clears previously defined diagnostic test selections from memory.
Reset Result Buffer clears the results of the last diagnostic tests.
Single runs the selected tests one time.
Loop Count runs the selected tests up to a maximum of 254 times, and saves all tests results. Running the test multiple times can be useful to confirm that a hardware or software change has corrected a component failure.
Endless Loop runs the selected tests until stopped manually or until the tests encounter an error. Running the test over an extended time can help to identify the cause of an intermittent component failure.
5. Press Enter. The test selection menu displays.
6. Press the arrow keys to move between the choices on the menu. Press Enter to select or deselect the choice.

All runs all tests on the menu. When you select this choice, all of the other choices change to Y (selected).
System Board tests the CMOS, RTC, and timers
CPU tests the microprocessor(s) on the processor board.
DRAM Memory tests all system memory in all DIMM slots.
Diskette A tests the diskette drive and controller.
Parallel port tests the parallel port.
Serial port tests the serial port.
Keyboard tests the keyboard.
Ethernet tests on-board Ethernet functions.
SCSI refers to the Diagnostic and Test section of the HMM to test using the SCSI diagnostic diskette.
Mouse tests the device connected to the mouse port.
Video to test the monitor.

7. Select Run Diagnostics. The diagnostic program then runs the tests for each of the selected devices or modules.
8. Press Esc twice to return to the Diagnostic Utility Menu.
9. Select Diagnostic Log to view the results of the diagnostic tests.
10. Press Esc to return to the Diagnostic Utility Menu.
11. Press Esc to exit from the Diagnostic/Setup Utility Menu. The server restarts.

Viewing the Test Results: To view the results of the system diagnostics:
1. Power-on the server and watch the screen. Or, if the system is turned on already, press Ctrl+Alt+Del.
2. When the message Press F1 to enter Configuration/Setup appears, press F1. If a password is set, the system prompts you for it. The Diagnostic/Setup Utility Menu appears.
3. Select Diagnostic Utility; then, press Enter. The Diagnostic Utility Menu appears.
4. Select Diagnostic Log. The server displays the test results.
5. Press Page Down to view any additional test results.
6. Press Esc to return to the Diagnostic Utility Menu.
7. Press Esc to exit from the Diagnostic/Setup Utility Menu. The server restarts.

SCSI Tests (Adaptec) Diskette
The following information supports the diagnostic tests on the SCSI Test (Adaptec) diskette (form number S430-6816-00)

Notes Always boot the system from the SCSI Test (Adaptec) diskette when running the SCSI tests. To test a CD-ROM device you will need to install a scratch-free data CD or scratch-free IBM test CD in the drive. Scratches on the CD can cause false errors. To test a SCSI tape device you need to install a formatted blank tape in the device. If you receive an error, refer to Symptom-to-FRU Index (SCSI Test - Adaptec).

Running the Tests:

To start SCSI Test (Adaptec) Diskette, do the following.
1. Power-off the server.
2. Insert the SCSI Test (Adaptec) Diskette into diskette drive A:
3. Power-on the server. The following menu is displayed:

SCSI TEST MENU ) EXIT 1) SCSI Tests (Standard mode) 2) SCSI Tests (Advanced mode)

Note If you start the test in advanced mode, a warning screen is displayed to warn you that due to the nature of the test functions available in this mode, data loss may occur.

4. Select the mode you want to run; then, press Enter. See "SCSI Test Modes".

5. Select the SCSI device you want to test. See "Selecting a SCSI Device".

Note
If the SCSI bus scan fails to find a device that you know is installed in the server and you want to test it, see Manually Selecting a SCSI Device.

6. Select the test you want to run.

- If you selected Standard Mode, see "Selecting a Test (Standard Mode)".
- If you selected Advanced Mode, see "Selecting a Test (Advanced Mode)".

SCSI Test Modes:
Two modes for testing are available.

Modes	Description
Standard	Offers a set of basic non-destructive test (with the exception of the read/write test) which do not require extensive SCSI subsystem knowledge.
Advanced	Offers a greater choice of test. To fully utilize the functions available in advanced mode you should be familiar with SCSI subsystems and SCSI command blocks.

Selecting a SCSI Device:

After you select the mode you want to run, a window displays the following information about the SCSI devices.

SCSI ID
LUN
Vendor name
Product name
Revision level
Capacity
SCSI device type

Use the Up/Down arrow keys to select the device you want to test; then, press Enter. After you select a device, the test menu for the test mode you selected is displayed. See "Selecting a Test (Advanced Mode)" and "Selecting a Test (Standard Mode)".

Manually Selecting a SCSI Device:

If the test fails to find a installed device, the device might be defective. To manually select the device, do the following.

1. Press F5 to access the User Selection Menu.
2. Highlight the correct device (option); then, press Enter.
3. Enter the SCSI ID and LUN of the device. After you select a device, the test menu for the test mode you selected is displayed. See "Selecting a Test (Advanced Mode)" and "Selecting a Test (Standard Mode). "

Selecting a Test (Standard Mode):

The following test are available in standard test mode for the devices listed.

Device	Test
SCSI Hard Disk Drives	0 - Device Diagnostics 1 - Test Unit Ready 2 - Get Device Status 3 - Read Test 4 - Read / Write Test
SCSI CD-ROM Drives	0 - Device Diagnostics 1 - Test Unit Ready 2 - Get Device Status 3 - Read Test
SCSI Tape Drive Drives	0 - Device Diagnostics 1 - Test Unit Ready 2 - Get Device Status

Test Descriptions (Standard Mode)

Test	Description
Device Diagnostics	Sends a command requesting the SCSI device to perform a self diagnostics. The status indicator will display busy during the test. When the test is complete a message stating whether the test were completed successfully or unsuccessfully.
Test Unit Ready	Sends a SCSI Test Unit Ready command to the device and will indicate if the device is ready or not.
Get Device Status	Displays the status of the last command sent to the device and is displayed as: Device sense key status: 00 (NO SENSE ERROR) A non zero value indicates an error, see Symptom-to-FRU Index (SCSI Test - Adaptec).
Read Test	Reads the entire media of the SCSI device. A status bar showing the test progress is displayed during the test. A message is displayed when the test completes successfully or an error occurs.
Read / Write Test	Attention This test will destroy all data on the device. Issues a write command and then a read command to verify the integrity on the device.

	Search Keywords
	Hint Category	Hardware Maintenance Information
	Date Created	15-12-97
	Last Updated	04-06-98
	Revision Date	03-06-99
	Brand	IBM PC Server
	Product Family	PC Server 330
	Machine Type	8640
	Model	11Y; 21Y; PB0; PM0; PT0
	TypeModel
	Retain Tip (if applicable)
	Reverse Doclinks and Admin Purposes