Xserve Apple Xserve Diagnostics User’s Guide For Version 3X102
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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 15 16 16 17 19 Loading AXD Tools Changing the Startup Disk in System Preferences Changing the Startup Disk Using the Command-Line Interface Changing the Startup Disk Using Apple Remote Desktop Changing the S
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 3X102. If you’re using a different version of AXD, the instructions in this guide might not work. AXD version 3X102 is included in Mac OS X Server Administration Tools version 10.4.10 and later. 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 6 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.
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.
the same subnet if their IP addresses start with same few numbers (for example, they both start with 192.168.2). 6 In the volume list, select the Images and Client Data checkboxes for the volume that will store the AXD NetBoot image. The volume must have at least 15 MB free. 7 Click Save. 8 In the Finder, navigate to the AppleXserveDiagnostics folder in your Mac OS X Server Administration Tools disc, and then open AppleXserveDiagnosticsNetBoot.pkg.
Note: Some portable storage devices aren’t fast enough to use as startup volumes. If you insert your portable storage device and a dialog appears asking you to eject a CDROM, this signifies that your drive isn’t fast enough. If your drive isn’t fast enough to use as a startup volume, it can’t be used for AXD tools. You can’t use these instructions on any storage devices that are 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 Mac OS X Server Administration Tools disc included with Mac OS X Server version 10.4.10 or later.
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 6 GB of available space.
When the Installer finishes installing Mac OS X Server, it restarts the computer and Server Assistant opens. 6 Enter information in Server Assistant as requested. Don’t enable any services. When you finish entering information in Server Assistant, Mac OS X Server loads. 7 Log in with the user name “root” and with the password of the user you created in Server Assistant. You must set up and run AXD Mac OS X tools as root. Otherwise, you won’t be able to test the Xserve you’ve installed AXD Mac OS X tools on.
3 3 Loading AXD Tools Before you load AXD tools, make sure you’ve properly installed and configured the tools. For more information, see Chapter 2, “Setup and Installation,” on page 8. If you want to remotely test a client Xserve, you’ll need to first load AXD tools on the host computer, and then load the AXD tools on the client Xserve. To load AXD tools, set the startup volume of the Xserve to the volume or disk image containing the AXD tools.
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. For more information, see “Changing the Startup Disk Temporarily at Startup” on page 16. To change the startup disk in System Preferences: 1 Open System Preferences on the Xserve, and then select Startup Disk.
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. Changing the Startup Disk Using Apple Remote Desktop If you have Apple Remote Desktop, you can change the startup disk of remote computers to an internal volume or connected portable storage device volume.
Both of these alternatives immediately load AXD EFI tools and bypass the list of volumes described in the next step. 3 If you loaded the list of volumes instead of immediately loading AXD tools, select the volume with AXD tools, and then click the arrow button to load it. The AXD EFI tools volume is listed as AXD EFI 3X102. After you’re done using AXD EFI tools, when you restart the Xserve, it starts up using its original startup volume.
If the two rows of lights on the front panel blink once and the Xserve resumes its startup sequence, an 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. Disable the firmware password. 4 When you release the system identifier button, the rightmost light in the bottom row should turn on. Bottom, rightmost light comes on.
Disabling the Firmware Password If a firmware password is enabled, you can’t:  Load an AXD EFI tools NetBoot image using the Xserve’s front panel  Temporarily change the startup volume by pressing and holding F1 or D at startup If a firmware password is enabled and you try to temporarily change the startup volume by pressing and holding Option at startup, you must authenticate. To disable the firmware password: 1 Insert the Mac OS X Server Install disc.
4 4 Using AXD Tools Before you can use AXD tools, make sure you’ve properly loaded the tools. For more information, see Chapter 3, “Loading AXD Tools,” on page 14. AXD Mac OS X tools and AXD EFI tools have different interfaces and functionality. This chapter describes how to use both AXD tools.
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 load AXD tools on the host computer, set it to connect to a client Xserve, and then load 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.
Customizing AXD EFI Test Settings You can customize AXD test settings in several ways by choosing which tests are run, whether to loop tests, and whether to stop or continue testing when an error occurs. 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.
Shutting Down or Restarting the Xserve You can shut down or restart the Xserve in AXD EFI tools. To shut down or restart the Xserve, click Shut Down or Restart.
For more information, see the next section, “Working With Test Groups.” 3 To run the test, click Start Testing. Working With Test Groups You can create test groups based on your customized test settings. These are similar to templates because they allow you to reuse your test settings without having to change each setting individually. After choosing a test group, you can still change its settings. There are two sets of test groups, which change based on the type of AXD tools run by the Xserve.
To do this Do this Export a test group Choose File > Export Test Group, choose a location, name the test group, and click Save. Import a test group Choose File > Open, select an .axdconfig file, and click Open.
To do this Do this Clear logs Choose Logs > Clear current Log or choose Logs > Clear All Logs. The name of the currently viewed log replaces current. Refresh logs Choose Logs > Refresh Current Log or choose Logs > Refresh All Information Logs. Setting Log Preferences You can set up log preferences so that the AXD test logs are automatically saved to a file at a location you choose. AXD test logs are created every time you start a new AXD session.
4 Configure the test log naming options. To do this Do this Ensure newly created log files don’t overwrite old log files Select “Use unique name.” Append the Ethernet address of the Xserve that’s being tested Select “Append Ethernet Address.” Append the run time and date of the session’s first tests Select “Append time and date.” 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.
Appendix AXD Tools Test Reference This reference describes all the tests available in AXD and provides 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 % Memory (ECC) Power supply % % Sensor % % USB port % % Video controller % % Notes Tests for memory ECC errors. This test clears the error count, so it should be run first (before running any other memory tests). AXD Mac OS X tools has an additional sensor test. 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.
Test Estimated completion time Description Long Motor 15 seconds Verifies that the fan motor can reach speeds of within 10% of its high and low limits in 15 seconds. While the test is running, all fans that aren’t being tested are left under system control. Long Motor Fans Full 15 seconds Verifies that the fan motor can reach speeds of within 10% of its high and low limits in 15 seconds. While the test is running, all fans that aren’t being tested are set to their maximum speed.
Test Estimated completion time Description Block Checkerboard 32 10 seconds Alternates 32-bit words with all 1s and all 0s, and then with all 0s and all 1s Bit Checkerboard 32 10 seconds Alternates bits with all 1s and all 0s, and then with all 0s and all 1s Sequential Byte Block 32 14 minutes Fills all bytes sequentially with patterns starting at 0x00 and ending at 0xFF Walking One 32 5 minutes Walks 1s up and down memory Walking Zero 32 5 minutes Walks 0s up and down memory Walking Sprea
In AXD EFI tools, all memory tests (simple, multicore, extended, and SMBIOS) are grouped under Memory tests. Note: The time required to complete memory tests correlates to the size of memory being tested. These estimates are based on testing 1 GB of memory Test Estimated completion time Description Extended Memory Test P00F 5 seconds Tests memory using pattern 0. This fails if an error occurs. Extended Memory Test P01F 5 seconds Tests memory using pattern 1. This fails if an error occurs.
Power Supply Tests Test Estimated completion time Description Good Bit 1 second Checks if the power supply’s good bit is set. If it’s not set, this could indicate that the power supply isn’t seated well, is bad, or that there’s no AC connected. Quick 5 seconds This is available only if you have more than one power supply. This turns off the redundant power supplies so that only one power supply is used.
AXD Mac OS X Tests These tests are available if your Xserve is running AXD Mac OS X tools. Ethernet Controller Tests Data loop tests can add to network traffic. Consider disconnecting from the network before running the data loop tests.
Memory (SMBIOS) Tests SMBIOS tests check to see if memory has been mapped out correctly. When the Xserve tests memory at startup, it automatically maps out bad memory. Mac OS X doesn’t see this mapped out memory, so the non-SMBIOS memory tests don’t test it. The SMBIOS test reports these mapped out DIMMS. Because memory is mapped only once, you should run this test once and not loop it.
Power Supply Tests Test Estimated completion time Description Good Bit 1 second Checks if the power supply’s good bit is set. If it’s not set, this could indicate that the power supply isn’t seated well, is bad, or that there’s no AC connected. Quick 5 seconds This is available only if you have more than one power supply. This turns off the redundant power supplies so that only one is run on.
Test Estimated completion time Description OpenGL Cube with Fog 10 seconds Verifies video controller using a 3D cube with fog test OpenGL Wireframe 10 seconds Verifies video controller using a 3D wireframe test OpenGL Solid Red Model 10 seconds Verifies video controller using a 3D solid red model test OpenGL Solid Red Model with Fog 10 seconds Verifies video controller using a 3D solid red model with fog test Appendix AXD Tools Test Reference
