Xserve Apple Xserve Diagnostics User’s Guide For Version 3X103
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1 Contents Chapter 1 4 5 6 Overview and Requirements Overview of AXD Configurations Requirements Chapter 2 8 8 9 11 12 Setup and Installation Setting Up a NetBoot Server Setting Up a Storage Device for AXD Tool Installation Installing AXD EFI Tools Installing AXD Mac OS X Tools Chapter 3 14 14 Starting Up AXD Tools Changing the Startup Disk Chapter 4 20 20 22 25 Using AXD Tools Setting AXD to Host, Client, or Local Mode Using AXD EFI Tools Using AXD Mac OS X Tools Appendix 31 31 32 36 AXD To
1 Overview and Requirements 1 Apple Xserve Diagnostics tests your Intel-based Xserve for hardware issues.
Note: This guide describes how to use AXD version 3X103. If you’re using a different version of AXD, the instructions in this guide might not work. AXD version 3X103 is included on the Admin Tools and Xserve Diagnostics CD version 10.5. You can find out which version of AXD tools you’re running by opening AXD Mac OS X tools and choosing AXD > About Apple Xserve Diagnostics.
Option Considerations Install AXD Mac OS X tools on an internal volume Advantages:  Allows you to use AXD Mac OS X tools  Don’t need physical access to Xserve to run AXD remotely (if you have Apple Remote Desktop) Disadvantages:  Requires an empty volume on the Xserve with 7 GB free  Must install Mac OS X Server on the empty volume Install AXD Mac OS X tools on a portable storage device Advantages:  Allows you to use AXD Mac OS X tools  You can use the same portable storage device to test multipl
You can run both AXD tools by having two empty volumes on the same Xserve or portable storage device. You need at least one of the following: Goal Requirement Run AXD EFI tools A volume on the Xserve that has at least 15 MB free, but doesn’t have Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server installed Run AXD Mac OS X tools An empty volume on the Xserve with at least 7 GB free Test multiple Xserves and run AXD EFI tools A USB 2.0 flash drive, or USB 2.
2 Setup and Installation 2 Before you can run AXD, you must set up your testing environment and install AXD. Make sure you meet AXD requirements before attempting setup and installation. For more information, see “Requirements” on page 6. Setting Up a NetBoot Server Before you set up a NetBoot server, make sure you have an available server that meets the requirements described in “NetBoot Server Requirements” on page 7. After you set up a NetBoot server, you install the AXD NetBoot image.
subnet, open Network Utility (located in /Applications/Utilities/) on your NetBoot server and your Xserve. In the Info pane, choose different network interfaces on the NetBoot server and your Xserve and compare the IP Address fields. Usually, computers are on the same subnet if their IP addresses start with same few numbers (for example, they both start with 192.168.2). 7 In the volume list, select the Images and Client Data checkboxes for the volume that will store the AXD NetBoot image.
If you’re installing AXD Mac OS X tools on one of the volumes, the storage device should use the GUID Partition Table partition scheme. To view the storage device’s partition scheme, open Disk Utility, and select the storage device. Make sure you select the storage device and not a volume within the storage device. At the bottom of the Disk Utility window, Partition Scheme should say GUID Partition Table. You can’t use these instructions on any storage device that is currently in use.
Installing AXD EFI Tools Before you install AXD EFI tools, make sure that your storage device has a volume that has at least 15 MB available, but doesn’t have Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server installed. For more information, see “Setting Up a Storage Device for AXD Tool Installation” on page 9. To perform these instructions, you’ll need the Admin Tools and Xserve Diagnostics CD version 10.5 or later included with the Xserve. You can also download the latest Admin Tools and Xserve Diagnostics CD image from www.
c Choose Format > Make Plain Text. d Choose File > Save As. e Name the file axd_set_ip_address, and then change the location of the file to the volume with AXD EFI tools installed. f Select “If no extension is provided, use ‘.txt’,” and then click Save. Installing AXD Mac OS X Tools Before you install AXD Mac OS X tools, make sure that your storage device uses the GUID Partition Table partition scheme and that it has an empty volume with 7 GB of available space.
When the Installer finishes installing Mac OS X Server, the computer restarts and the Mac OS X Server setup assistant opens. 6 In the Server Configuration step of the setup assistant, select Advanced. 7 Continue through the setup assistant and enter information as requested. Don’t enable any services. When you finish entering information in the setup assistant, the login window appears. 8 Log in with the user name “root” and the password of the user you created in the setup assistant.
3 Starting Up AXD Tools 3 This chapter describes several methods that let you change the startup disk to the volume with AXD tools installed. Before you start up AXD tools, make sure you’ve properly installed and configured the tools. For more information, see Chapter 2, “Setup and Installation,” on page 8. Changing the Startup Disk If you want to test a client Xserve remotely, you’ll need to first start up AXD tools on the host computer, and then start up AXD tools on the client Xserve.
Changing the Startup Disk in System Preferences If Mac OS X Server starts up by default on your Xserve, you can use System Preferences to change the startup disk. The list of startup volumes includes internal volumes and connected portable storage device volumes. When you change the startup disk in System Preferences, you can’t select a startup disk with AXD EFI tools installed. To change the startup disk to the volume with AXD EFI tools installed, change the startup disk at startup.
Replace username with the short name of a user who can authenticate as the root account on the server. Replace serveraddress with the URL, IP address, or host name of the server. 3 Enter the following, and authenticate as the root account when requested: sudo bless -folder “/Volumes/volumename/System/Library/CoreServices” -setBoot Replace volumename with the name of the volume you want to start up from. When you’re done using AXD tools, change the startup disk back to the volume you were using previously.
If you want to start up AXD tools from a NetBoot image hosted on a NetBoot server, press and hold the F1 key instead of the Option key. Both of these alternatives immediately start up AXD EFI tools and bypass the list of volumes described in the next step. 3 If you displayed the list of volumes instead of immediately starting up AXD tools, select the volume with AXD tools, and then click the arrow button to start up. The AXD EFI tools volume is listed as AXD EFI 3X103.
3 Continue holding the system identifier button until the top row of lights move right to left. Release the system identifier button. Top row of lights blink right to left, then left to right. If the two rows of lights on the front panel blink once and the Xserve resumes its startup sequence, a firmware password is enabled. You’ll need to disable the password. For information about disabling the firmware password, see the next section, “Disabling the Firmware Password.” Both rows of lights blink once.
7 When the leftmost light is on, press and hold the system identifier button until all the lights in the top row are on. Release the system identifier button. Top row of lights come on. When you release the button, the Xserve starts up using the AXD EFI tools NetBoot disk image. After you’ve run AXD EFI tools and restart, the Xserve starts up using its default startup volume.
4 4 Using AXD Tools AXD Mac OS X tools and AXD EFI tools have different interfaces and functionality. This chapter describes how to use both AXD tools. Before you can use AXD tools, make sure you’ve properly started up the tools. For more information, see Chapter 3, “Starting Up AXD Tools,” on page 14.
If you’re logged in as root on an Intel-based Xserve, and then you run AXD Mac OS X tools, you can choose which mode to enter. Remotely Testing a Client Xserve If you want to test a client Xserve, you must first start up AXD tools on the host computer, set it to connect to a client Xserve, and then start up the AXD tools on the client Xserve and set it to be a client of a remote host. The host computer must run AXD Mac OS X tools. The client Xserve can run AXD EFI tools or AXD Mac OS X tools.
There are several ways to determine whether the host computer and client Xserve have established a successful connection: Â The IP address field in the AXD window on the host computer should match the IP address assigned to the client Xserve. Â The name of the AXD window on the host computer is “AXD remote log,” not “AXD local log.” Â The log area of the client Xserve uses more of the AXD window. The Shut Down, Restart, and a few other buttons are removed.
 Shut down the Xserve Click these tabs to view the Controls or Test Selections panes Test Test category Test log Test settings and detailed status For information about AXD EFI tools, see the following topics:  “Customizing AXD EFI Tools Test Settings” on page 23  “Clearing the Test Log” on page 24  “Viewing the Hardware Profile” on page 24  “Shutting Down or Restarting the Xserve” on page 24 Customizing AXD EFI Tools Test Settings You can customize AXD test settings in several ways by choosing whi
To customize AXD EFI tools test settings: 1 In AXD EFI tools, select the test settings you want. To do this Do this Choose which tests are run In the Test Selections pane, do the following: Â To select a test, select the checkbox next to the test. Â To select a specific test within a category of tests, click the disclosure triangle next to the category, and then select individual tests. Â To select all tests, click Select All. Â To remove all tests, click Deselect All.
Using AXD Mac OS X Tools AXD Mac OS X tools changes its look based on whether you’re running it locally, as a client, or as a host. In client mode, you can’t change test settings, select different tests, or shut down or restart the Xserve. Therefore, the test log uses most of the window. In local and host mode, you can access all AXD Mac OS X features in the main window.
To customize AXD Mac OS X tools test settings: 1 In AXD Mac OS X tools, select the test settings you want. To do this Do this Choose which tests are run In the Test Selections list, do the following: Â To select a test, select the checkbox next to the test. Â To select a specific test within a category of tests, click the disclosure triangle next to the category, and then select individual tests. Â To select all tests, click the Select All (+) button.
When you create or delete a test group, that test group is created or deleted in the set of test groups you’re currently using. For example, if you create a test group for Xserves running AXD Mac OS X tools, it doesn’t become available for Xserves running AXD EFI tools. There are several test groups included with AXD. These test groups stop when an error occurs and aren’t looped. Tool used Test group Test selections AXD Mac OS X tools Default All memory, fan, hard drive, sensor, and power supply tests.
Log type Description Hardware Info Listing and description of all installed hardware System All of the logs that are also available in System Profiler (located in /Applications/Utilities/) You can also view logs stored on other volumes.
When AXD Mac OS X tools saves a log, it overwrites any existing log of the same name. Log preferences can automatically customize the name of the log file so that the log files aren’t overwritten. If you don’t use any of the naming options, the log is saved as: AXD_mode_autosave_log.txt If you are testing locally, mode is replaced by “local.” If you are testing remotely, mode is replaced by “remote.
Shutting Down or Restarting the Xserve If you’re running AXD Mac OS X tools on the local Xserve, or on a host computer, you can shut down or restart the Xserve. However, if the Xserve is in client mode, you can’t shut down or restart the Xserve locally. To shut down or restart the Xserve, click Shut Down or Restart. Quitting AXD Mac OS X Tools While a Test is Running If you try to quit AXD Mac OS X tools while a test is running, you won’t be able to print or save any logs from the current AXD session.
Appendix AXD Tools Test Reference This reference describes all the tests available in AXD and gives estimates for how long the tests take to complete. The types of tests available depend on if you’re using AXD EFI tools or AXD Mac OS X tools. Comparison of Available Tests The following table compares the tests available by component, depending on if you’re using AXD EFI tools or AXD Mac OS X tools.
Component tested Available in AXD EFI tools Available in AXD Mac OS X tools USB port % % Video controller % % Notes AXD Mac OS X tools have more tests than AXD EFI tools. AXD EFI Tools Tests These tests are available if your Xserve is running AXD EFI tools. Startup Tests These tests are automatically run when you start up AXD EFI tools. SMBIOS tests check to see if bad memory was detected and mapped out at Xserve startup.
Hard Drive Tests Test Estimated completion time Description Full Read 30 minutes for an 80 GB drive; 4 hours for a 750 GB drive Performs a DMA full-read scan at 1250 RPM. This checks the entire hard drive for slow-read failures. Memory (Simple) Tests Simple memory tests test the first 2.5 GB of memory. To test all memory, run extended memory tests. Even though simple memory tests don’t test all memory, run these tests to detect intermittent memory issues.
Test Estimated completion time Description Walking Spread Bit 32 5 minutes Walks 0b01 up and then walks 0b10 down memory Walking Bit Flip 32 5 minutes Alternates words with walking 1 and walking 0, and then alternates with walking 0 and walking 1 Memory (Multicore) Tests Multicore memory tests test the first 2.5 GB of memory using all available CPU cores. In AXD EFI tools, all memory tests (simple, multicore, and extended) are grouped under Memory tests.
Test Estimated completion time Description Extended Memory Test P02F 5 seconds Tests memory using pattern 2. This fails if an error occurs. Extended Memory Test P03F 5 seconds Tests memory using pattern 3. This fails if an error occurs. Extended Memory Test P04F 5 seconds Tests memory using pattern 4. This fails if an error occurs. Extended Memory Test P05F 5 seconds Tests memory using pattern 5. This fails if an error occurs.
Video Controller Tests Test Estimated completion time Description PCI-E 8 LinkWidth Verification 1 second Verifies PCI link width is 8 Framebuffer Address as Data Tests the framebuffer using framebuffer addresses as data 2 minutes AXD Mac OS X Tests These tests are available if your Xserve is running AXD Mac OS X tools. Startup Tests These tests are automatically run when you start up AXD Mac OS X tools. SMBIOS tests check to see if bad memory was detected and mapped out at Xserve startup.
Test Estimated completion time Description MAC Data Loop 1 minute Verifies that there’s no data mismatch between sent and received data while looping within the MAC (a sublayer of the datalink layer in the ISO network reference model) PHY Data Loop 1 minute Verifies that there’s no data mismatch between sent and received data while looping within the physical transport medium (PHY) Test Estimated completion time Description Threaded Surface Scan 30 minutes for an 80 GB drive; 4 hours for a 750
Fan Tests Test Estimated completion time Description Verify Motor +/– 10%, 10 Reads High, 20 Low 2 minutes Verifies the minimum and maximum fan speeds. Sets the minimum and maximum builds within 10% of the threshold and then does 10 consecutive reads at the maximum and 20 at the minimum. Verify Motor Automatically +/ 2 minutes – 15% Verifies the minimum and maximum fan speeds. Sets the minimum and maximum builds within 15% of the threshold.
Video Controller Tests To run these tests, a display must be attached to any graphics cards being tested. The displays can’t be asleep. For example, if you have two graphics cards, they both need displays attached and both displays must not be asleep.
