HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 5.X Administrator Guide (AA-RVHWB-TE, September 2005)

Fabric OS 5.x administrator guide 129
9 Working with diagnostic features
This chapter provides information on diagnostics and how to display system, port, and specific hardware
information. It also describes how to set up system logging mapping (syslogd) and how to set up the
offloading of error messages (supportSave).
The purpose of the diagnostic subsystem is to evaluate the integrity of the system hardware.
Diagnostics are invoked two ways:
• Automatically during the POST
• Manually using Fabric OS CLI commands
The error messages generated during these test activities are sent to the serial console and system
message logs, whose output formats may differ slightly.
Use the diagHelp command to receive a list of all available diagnostic commands.
See the HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 5.x command reference guide for a complete description of
each command.
Viewing POST
By default, when you power on the system, the boot loader performs POST and loads a Fabric OS kernel
image.
POST provides a quick indication of hardware readiness when hardware is powered up. POST does not
require user input to function. It usually completes within several minutes, and supports minimal validation
because of the restriction on test duration. POST performs a basic health check before a new switch joins
a fabric.
POST is consists of two groups: POST1 and POST2. POST1 validates the hardware interconnect of the
device, and POST2 validates the ability of the device to pass data frames between the ports. The specific
set of diagnostic and test commands run during POST depends on the switch model.
POST1 cannot be bypassed and runs from the boot loader. The factory default configuration is also set to
run POST2, but you can configure your switch to bypass POST2, which runs after the kernel image has
started but before general system services, such as login, are enabled.
Although each test performed during POST2 is configurable, modify a POST2 test only if directed by your
switch provider’s customer service representative.
You can use the diagDisablePost command to disable POST2, and you can reenable it using the
diagEnablePost command. See the HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 5.x command reference guide for
additional information about these commands.