Apple 3X108 manual Overview of Server Diagnostics Configurations, Option Considerations

Overview of Server Diagnostics Configurations

You can install and run Server Diagnostics in a variety of ways, so choose the method that best suits your needs. There are several options, each with advantages and disadvantages:

Option	Considerations
Use the preinstalled Server Diagnostics EFI	Advantages:
	ÂÂ	You can use Server Diagnostics EFI.
	ÂÂ	You don’t need a portable storage device.
	ÂÂ	No installation is necessary.
	Disadvantages:
	ÂÂ	You need physical access to the server.
	ÂÂ	Damage to the startup volume may prevent
		access to Server Diagnostics EFI.
	ÂÂ	You can’t save logs or screenshots locally.
	ÂÂ	You must restore Server Diagnostics if you
		erase the volume it’s installed on.
Install Server Diagnostics EFI on a portable	Advantages:
storage device	ÂÂ	You can use Server Diagnostics EFI.
	ÂÂ	You can use the same portable storage device
		to test multiple servers.
	ÂÂ	You can save logs and screenshots locally.
	Disadvantages:
	ÂÂ	You need physical access to the server.
	ÂÂ	You need a volume on the portable storage
		device that has 100 MB of available space and
		that doesn’t have Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server
		installed.
	ÂÂ	The portable storage device must be physically
		connected to the server.
Host a NetBoot server	Advantages:
	ÂÂ	You can use Server Diagnostics EFI.
	ÂÂ	You don’t need to install Server Diagnostics
		on an internal volume on the server or on a
		portable storage device.
	ÂÂ	You can use a single Server Diagnostics install
		image to test multiple servers.
	Disadvantages:
	ÂÂ	You need physical access to the server.
	ÂÂ	You need a server to host NetBoot service and
		the Server Diagnostics install image.
	ÂÂ	The server must be on the same subnet as the
		NetBoot server.
	ÂÂ	You can’t save logs or screenshots locally.

Chapter 1    Overview and Requirements

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