Chapter 9. Hardware Diagnostics

Online and Standalone Diagnostics are used to diagnose your hardware. Online Diagnostics are optionally installed with the AIX operating system and can be run in concurrent or service mode. Standalone Diagnostics are stored on removable media and are run in service mode.

Some system types do not have an operator panel display or a mode switch. Some system types do not support Online and Standalone Diagnostics. If needed, refer to your system guides to determine what your system supports and how to load the diagnostics in service mode. If your system does not support Online and Standalone Diagnostics, then refer to the system guides to do diagnostics.

Diagnose your system by doing the following:

• Load a Diagnostics Program
• Choose Test Options

Refer to the following information for help with running diagnostics:

• Identify Your Hardware
• Interpret Values in the Operator Panel Display
• Gather Information about Your System Configuration

Consider the following before running this procedure:

• The diagnostic can use either direct-attached displays or a tty terminal attached to the S1 port.

  Note: See the operator guide for your type tty terminal to find the key sequences you need when responding to the diagnostic.

• ISA adapters cannot be detected by the system. When running Standalone Diagnostics, the ISA adapter Configuration Service Aid allows the identification and configuration of ISA adapters. ISA adapters must be identified and configured before they can be tested.
• The DIAGNOSTIC OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS screen does not appear on a console display attached to a 5085 or 5086. It appears on the console display attached to the system.
• If the procedure instructs you to stop the operating system and you are operating a system that is attached to one or more other systems, consider how actions you take with one system can affect the attached systems. Consult with the operator of the attached system whenever you think your operations might affect another system.

  The following actions can affect or be affected by the operation of an attached system: starting and stopping communication with the other system, running diagnostics on the system, using wrap plugs with a diagnostic program, and analyzing error log information.

  Isolate a system unit from any attached systems before stopping the operating system or running diagnostic programs. Some system cabling changes (such as installing wrap plugs or removing a device from the configuration) may require action by the operator of the attached system before you make the cabling changes on your system.

• For more information on service request numbers (SRNs), refer to system service guides.