Diagtools User Interface Modes: Graphical Or Text-Based; Hardware Detection; Overview Of Hardware Detection; What Is Detected - HP D6030A - NetServer - E50 User Manual

Chapter 1

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
DiagTools Overview
3