Dell 200, 6100 manual Scsi Devices Test Group, Why Run a Parallel Ports Test?

Subtests

The subtests in the Parallel Ports Test Group and the port functions they confirm follow:

•Internal Test

Checks several internal functions of the parallel port.

•External Loopback Test

Tests the functionality of the control lines through an external loopback connector, if an external loopback connector is available.

•External Interrupt Test

Tests the parallel port’s ability to generate interrupts from all possible sources, if an external loopback connector or printer is available.

•Printer Pattern Test

Tests a printer and tests the parallel port’s ability to send a pattern to the printer, if connected.

Why Run a Parallel Ports Test?

If the diagnostics does not recognize the computer’s par- allel port, enter the system setup program and check the Parallel Port ECP-DMA category to see if the port has been disabled. The subtests in the Parallel Ports Test Group cannot test a port unless it is enabled.

When a port is faulty, it may not be immediately evident that the port, and not the device connected to the port, is faulty. Instead, the peripheral (such as a printer) might behave erratically or not operate at all. If the external device is not properly installed through the software, it also may not function properly. Try operating the periph- eral from different programs or through the operating system. If it still does not work, you can eliminate the software setup as the cause of the problem.

Another possible cause for errors is the external device. Use the documentation that came with the peripheral to troubleshoot it and confirm that it is working properly.

Most printers have a self-test.

After you eliminate incorrect system configuration infor- mation settings, peripheral malfunctions, and software errors as potential causes of port problems, you can run the subtests in the Parallel Ports Test Group to check the hardware. Although the following symptoms can be

caused by faulty peripherals or software errors, they might also suggest a port problem:

•If a peripheral works intermittently or produces intermittent errors, the port may be faulty.

•If the computer displays an error message that is related to the external device connected to a port, but corrections to the device do not resolve the error, run the appropriate subtest in the Parallel Ports Test Group.

•If the software and the diagnostics do not recognize that you have a parallel port, you should check the Parallel Port ECP-DMA category in the system setup program, and if necessary, run the appropriate sub- test in the Parallel Ports Test Group.

SCSI Devices Test Group

The subtests in the SCSI Devices Test Group check the functionality of up to four small computer system inter- face (SCSI) host adapters and all the SCSI devices attached to them.

NOTES: Before conducting these subtests on CD-ROM drives, insert a CD with audio and data tracks (such as a multimedia CD) into each CD-ROM drive. All of the sub- tests require a CD with data tracks.

If a CD-ROM drive is empty or if it contains a CD that does not have the required data or audio tracks (depend- ing on the subtest[s] being conducted), the subtest(s) will fail.

Subtests

The subtests in the SCSI Devices Test Group and the drive functions they confirm follow:

•Internal Diag. Test

Causes the device to run its internal self-test.

•Seek Test

Checks the device’s ability to search for a specified track on the device and to position its read/write heads to all tracks.

5-16 Dell PowerEdge 6100/200 System Installation and Troubleshooting Guide