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Product Information

Document ID: DDSE-44JR4A

PC Server 310 - Test Programs

Applicable to: World-Wide

Test Programs
The Diagnostics test programs, developed by DiagSoft for IBM, are the primary method of testing the computer. You can use them to test the IBM components of the system and some external devices. The amount of time required to test all components depends on the number of components. The more optional adapters and devices you have attached to your system, the longer the testing takes.

The test programs on the Diagnostic Diskette include the following features:

Feature	Description
Advanced Diagnostic Tests	Identifies most problems associated with the following major components: System board Hard disk drives Diskette drives CD-ROM drives RAM Serial and parallel ports Video adapter Printer Keyboard Mouse
Flexible Test Control	Allows you to: Run groups of tests in batch Specify parameters to use for each test (for example,video modes, disk cylinders,and port addresses) Specify the number of passes you want to run (one to continuous)Log the test results to a text dBase (DBF) format file, Save all test settings for future use View System Information View the server's configuration information. (For example, you can view the IRQ/DMA assignments, memory usage, and device drivers) Select System Utilities Run a low-level format also contains system utilities. Format a diskette

Undetermined Problem
Check the power supply voltages. If the voltages are correct, return here and continue with the following steps.
1. Power-off the computer.
2. Remove or disconnect the following, one at a time:
a. Non-IBM devices
b. External devices (modem, printer, or mouse)
c. Math coprocessor
d. Any adapters
e. Riser card
f. Memory modules Before removing or replacing memory modules, see 'System Board Memory—.
g. Extended video memory
h. External Cache
i. External Cache RAM
j. Hard disk drive
k. Diskette drive

3. Power-on the computer to re-test the system.
4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 until you find the failing device or adapter.

If all devices and adapters have been removed, and the problem continues, replace the system board. See 'System Board Replacement—.

Using the Test Programs
The test programs provide advanced functions and utilities for users and service or support professionals to troubleshoot even the most difficult problems.

Program Navigation
You can maneuver within the test programs by typing the first letter of a menu choice, using the function keys, or using command-line options.

Using the First Letter of a Menu Choice
Throughout the test programs, pressing the first letter of an option on a menu is the same as moving to that item with the cursor and pressing Enter; however, this function is not enabled on Test Group Screens.

Using the Function Keys

Use the following keys to maneuver throughout the test programs:

Keys	Action
Enter	Select an item, run the test module, or run the test
Down Arrow	Moves the cursor down
F1	Calls up the appropriate Help information. Use the up arrow key or the down arrow key to scroll through the information. Pressing F1 from within a Help Screen provides a help index from which you can select different categories. One of the important help categories is function key usage. Pressing Esc exits Help and returns to where you left off.
Esc	Go back to the previous menu

Additional functions are available in the Test Module Selection screen and the Test Group screen using the following keys:

Keys	Action
Tab	Move to test group (or move to parameters
Spacebar	Toggle modules on/off (or toggle tests on/off) View test results log
F2	Local Menu
F10	Next logical unit number (for example, LUN 1, LUN 2, and so on) Previous logical unit number

Command Line Options
The following Command Line Options are available when initially starting the diagnostic program from within its directory.

Type QAPLPRO/XXX (where /XXX represents one of the following from the list below) then press Enter.

Command	Action
/B&W	The /B&W command line option forces the program to load in Black and White (Monochrome) mode, which is often more readable on laptop computers.
/LOG=File	The/Log=file command line option directs the test programs to start using a specified Error Log file
/INT10	The /INT10 command line option forces the test programs to use the BIOS for screen writes.
/Oxxx	The /OXXX command line option, where XXX=test group (for example, MBD/MEM/VID/HDU/FDU/KBD/COM/CO P/LPT, and so on), omits the designated test group from testing.
/USRCONFIG=File	The /UserCONFIG=file command line option tells the test programs to look for a user diagnostic configuration file other than the default USERDIAG CFG
Script=file(,R)	The /Script=(file(,R) command line option with the "R" runs the selected script. Please see "Scripting" for a description of scripting. Note: You can use a "-" instead of a "/" as the command line switch

Viewing the Test Groups
As you move the cursor bar up or down in the Test Module Selection window, the right hand screen changes to show the attributes, parameters, and the selected tests of the corresponding Test Group. The< mark indicates a module selected for testing.

The indicated attributes are characteristics of the selected test module that are used by the test programs to determine which tests to run or how to run selected tests. Attributes are also used to limit the allowable range of parameters (for example, - ending cylinder).

Parameters are values you select to establish the scope of tests. For example, you can select Extended Memory testing parameters and limit the testing to a specific range of test blocks by specifying the starting and ending memory block. This might be appropriate if prior experience indicates that problems are likely to exist in a specific area of memory. By selecting these limiting parameters, you reduce memory testing time.

Scripting
Scripting allows you to select specific groups of tests, testing parameters, and options. Your selection is saved for later use as a test Script. To set up a test script, first select all the appropriate test groups and specific tests you want to run from the Module Testing section under Diagnostics. You should also select appropriate testing parameters and options. See 'Program Navigation—, for instructions to save a test script.

Changing Logical Unit Numbers
In some instances, you can have more than one logical unit number (LUN) for a particular module. LUNs represent individual devices within a test group or module. For example, you might have two diskette drives or two hard disk drives; or, you might have base, extended, shadow, and cache memory installed in the computer. This configuration might result in as many as four or five different LUNs in the Memory Test Group. Or you might have base, extended, shadow, and cache memory installed in the system which might result in as many as four or five different LUNs in the Memory Test Group.

From either the Module Test Menu or the Test Group window, you can change to a different LUN (where applicable) by pressing the plus (+ ) key (next LUN), or the minus (- ) key (previous LUN).

Test Group Specifications
In the upper-right-hand portion of the testing screen (or just the upper portion if you switched to an individual test group screen) are the specifications for the related test group.

Note:
In the Hard Disk Test Group specification area, if a software program was to compress your drive, the indicated size is the compressed size of the logical drive

Starting the Diagnostics Diskette
1. Insert the Diagnostics diskette into drive A.
2. Power-on the computer.
3. When the Diagnostics Main Menu is displayed, press Ctrl+A. (The screen will not change.)
4. Select Diagnostics; then, press Enter. 5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen. If an error is displayed, go to 'Symptom-to-FRU Index Supplement— on.

Module Testing Mode
If the test programs do not find a problem, or you want to perform in-depth testing, the Module Testing mode provides a method to run individual tests on a single module. For example, you can run an individual test for the diskette drive, or you can run groups of tests for several modules.

In the Module Testing mode, you can define how many times each test should run and how the test program should log the errors.

To start the Module Testing mode:
1. Start the Diagnostics diskette. See 'Starting the Diagnostics Diskette—.
2. Select Diagnostic from the Main Menu.
3. Select Module Tests from the next menu.
4. Use the up and down arrow keys (½ andƒ ) to move the highlight bar from one selection to the next.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Note:
As you scroll down the selection menu, the Test Group window to the right changes to correspond to the highlighted Module.

Running Selected Module Tests

To run all selected tests for a test group:
1. Use the up and down arrow keys (½ andƒ ) to move the cursor to your selection.
2. Press Enter.

Note:
A< appears next to your selection.

Running All Selected Modules

To run all selected test modules:
1. Use the down arrow key (ƒ ) to move the cursor to the last choice, Run All Selected Modules.
2. Press Enter.

Note:
A< appears next to your selection.

Changing Selected Tests in Test Groups

To change selected tests in a Test Group:
1. In the Module Tests Menu, use the up and down arrow keys (½ andƒ ) to move the cursor to your selection.
2. Press Tab to move into the expanded Test Group window.
3. Scroll to the test you want to select or deselect.

Attention
Items indicated by a directly adjacent ( red text on color screens) are destructive tests.

4. Press the spacebar at the highlighted test to toggle between select (indicated by a< ) and deselect.

Note:
Pressing the first letter of a test does not activate the test, unlike menu operation.

5. Press Enter.


Running an Individual Test

To run an individual test:
1. Use the up and down arrow keys (½ andƒ ) to move to the highlighted bar to the test you want to run.
2. Press Enter to run the test.

Note:
The results of the test appear in the lower-right-hand Test Log window. Also, if you enabled Test Logging, the results are recorded in the Test Log.

3. When the test completes, press Esc to return to the Test Group Menu.

Stopping the Tests
To stop running a specific test or stop testing after you have started a test, press Esc while the test is running. The test pauses at the first possible opportunity, and the Skip/Abort Test Menu appears with the following options:

Option	Action
Continue	The test program begins testing where it left off
Skip to next test	The test program skips the current test, but the remaining tests for the selected Test Module continue.
Skip to next group	The test program skips the remaining tests in the current test group
Abort all tests	The test program stops and returns to the previous menu.

Vital Product Data
Each computer has a unique vital product data (VPD) code stored in the nonvolatile memory on the system board. After you replace the system board the VPD must be updated. To update the VDP, see 'Flash (BIOS/VPD) Update Procedure—.

	Search Keywords
	Document Category	Diagnostics
	Date Created	27-01-99
	Last Updated	27-01-99
	Revision Date	27-01-2000
	Brand	IBM PC Server
	Product Family	PC Server 310
	Machine Type	8639
	Model
	TypeModel
	Retain Tip (if applicable)
	Reverse Doclinks and Admin Purposes