User`s guide

FS0054603-00 C 10-1
Section 10
Performing Diagnostics
Diagnostic tests interrupt normal HBA operations. The HBA’s state before the tests
are restored at the completion of the testing. Note the following:
■ Run these tests when no other activities are required of the HBA.
■ Tests read and write to sensitive areas on the HBA.
■ Disruption of some diagnostic tests may require a complete update of the HBA’s
critical memory areas.
NOTE: Although SANsurfer FC HBA Manager protects against normal operation
interruption and testing disruption, it is your responsibility to ensure that
the diagnostics are run without causing interruptions to other processes
and disruptions to the actual testing process.
The following diagnostic tests are available:
■ Loopback Test. The loopback test is external to the HBA. If the HBA port is in
loop mode, you can run the loopback test with a loopback connector. If the HBA
port is in point-to-point mode and attached to a switch, an echo test is run instead
(no loopback connector is used). In addition, some driver versions do not require
a loopback connector. See section 10.1.2 for information.
The test evaluates the ports (transmit and receive transceivers) on the HBA.
More specifically, the loopback test transmits and receives (loopback) the
specified data and checks for the frame CRC, disparity, and length errors.
Perform the following steps to run a loopback test:
1. Prepare for the test (see section 10.1).
2. Set the diagnostic test parameters (see section 10.2).
3. Run the diagnostic test (see section 10.3).
4. View the diagnostic test results (see section 10.4).
5. Prepare for normal HBA operations (see section 10.5).
■ Read/Write Buffer Test. The read/write buffer test sends specified data through
the SCSI Write Buffer command to a target device (disk or tape). It then reads
the data back through the SCSI Read Buffer command and compares the data
for errors. The test also compares the link status of the device before and after
the read/write buffer test. If errors occur, the test indicates a broken or unreliable
link between the HBA port and the device.