Filter
Top Products
Chapter 5. Using the Online and Standalone Diagnostics
The diagnostics consist of Online Diagnostics and Standalone diagnostics.
Online Diagnostics, when they are installed, reside with AIX in the file system. They
can be booted:
in single user mode (referred to as
service mode
)
run in maintenance mode (referred to as
maintenance mode
)
run concurrently (referred to as
concurrent mode
) with other applications.
If the system is not booted, the Online Diagnostics have access to the AIX error log
and the AIX configuration data.
Standalone Diagnostics are packaged on removable media and must be booted
before they can be run. If booted, they have no access to the AIX error log or the
AIX configuration data.
Online and Standalone Diagnostics Operating Considerations
Note: When possible, run Online Diagnostics in service mode. Online Diagnostics
perform additional functions, compared to Standalone Diagnostics. Running Online
Diagnostics in service mode ensures that the error state of the system is captured in
NVRAM for your use in fixing the problem. The AIX error log and certain SMIT
functions are only available when diagnostics are run from the disk drive.
Consider the following items before using the diagnostics:
When diagnostics are installed, the device support for some devices might not
get installed. If this is the case, that device does not appear in the diagnostic
test list when running disk-based diagnostics.
Support for some TTY terminals is optionally installed. If you attach a TTY
terminal to a system to run diagnostics, it might not work correctly because the
AIX support for the terminal might not be installed.
Selecting a Console Display
When you run Standalone Diagnostics (and under some conditions, Online
Diagnostics), you must select the console display. The diagnostics can display
instructions on any graphical display and the terminal attached to the S1 serial port.
Chapter 5. Using the Online and Standalone Diagnostics 95