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7.1 About Diagnostic Tools
The system provides both firmware-based and software-based diagnostic tools to
help you identify and isolate hardware problems. These tools include:
Power-on self-test (POST) diagnostics
OpenBoot Diagnostics (OBDiag)
SunVTS
TM
software
Sun Enterprise SyMON
TM
software
POST diagnostics verify the core functionality of the system, including the main logic
board, system memory, and any on-board I/O devices. You can run POST even if the
system is unable to boot. For more information about POST, see Section 7.2 “About
Power-On Self-Test (POST) Diagnostics” on page 187.
OBDiag tests focus on system I/O and peripheral devices. Like POST, you can run
OBDiag even if the system is unable to boot. For more information about OBDiag,
see Section 7.5 “About OpenBoot Diagnostics (OBDiag)” on page 192.
The SunVTS system exerciser is a graphics-oriented UNIX application that permits
the continuous exercising of system resources and internal and external peripheral
equipment. For more information about SunVTS, see Section 7.8 “About SunVTS
Software” on page 206.
UNIX-based Sun Enterprise SyMON allows you to monitor the system hardware
status and operating system performance of your server. For information about
SyMON, see Section 7.11 “About Sun Enterprise SyMON Software” on page 211.
Which method or tool you use to diagnose system problems depends on the nature
of those problems:
If your machine is not able to boot its operating system software, you need to run
POST and OBDiag tests.
If your machine is “healthy” enough to start up and load its operating system
software, you can use Sun Enterprise SyMON software and SunVTS software to
diagnose system problems.
The following chart provides an overview of when to use the various diagnostic
tools to diagnose hardware problems.
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Sun Enterprise 220R Server Service Manual ♦ January 2000, Revision A