Tools to Collect Data
Emulex provides tools to collect data about a problem or behavior with Emulex products. Sometimes, more importantly, these tools provide information about general SAN operation, even if the problem appears to be outside of Emulex's domain.
Driver Tools
All Emulex OS device drivers can log additional events beyond critical errors. This can be useful in troubleshooting. By default, Emulex drivers log only severe errors, but can be configured to log more events. Examples of events: FC timer expiration, RSCN reception, SCSI errors (such as Check Condition errors, Busy or Queue Full), and FC errors (to detect bad cables or transceivers). Emulex considers this type of event logging a powerful troubleshooting tool.
Note: Drivers for Linux only: Emulex's provides a "grab" tool to collect pertinent adapter, driver and system information for processing by Emulex and stores it in a tarball file. This tarball file is available for download from the Support section of the Emulex Web site.
The HBAnyware Utility
•HBAnyware GUI interface. The HBAnyware utility can show all targets and LUNs an adapter port has detected on the SAN. Problems such as fabric zoning and array configuration can be detected. Detect persistent binding problems: if the target shows in the HBAnyware utility and is not seen in the OS storage management tool, the persistent binding entries should be checked.
•HBAnyware port statistics. All FC ports contain link quality data (Link Error Status Block). This structure counts events such as link transitions, CRC errors received, invalid transmission words received and other statistics. These counters can detect bad cables or ports or misbehaving devices. The HBAnyware utility can display these counters for selected Emulex adapter ports.
•Version Checking. Ensure that all versions of Emulex adapters, firmware, drivers, and software are correct. This is critical to ensuring a stable SAN. The HBAnyware utility can collect and display this data all in one place.
•Diagnostic Dump. If necessary, use the HBAnyware utility to keep a record of all the attributes of a server's adapter installation The HBAnyware Diagnostic Dump feature collects attributes such as adapter models, firmware, driver, and software versions, driver configuration parameters and stores it in a standard text file. The dump stops the selected adapter port and dumps the adapter memory to a file for analysis by Emulex. This is not often required, but can be useful when it is needed. Emulex Technical Support can advise when the adapter memory dump file is required.
•Diagnostic tests. Use the HBAnyware utility to test the adapter port hardware and firmware. These tests are similar to the tests used in Emulex manufacturing and can help identify malfunctioning adapter hardware.
Other ways to Collect Data
Other SAN component manufactures provide tools to collect additional data. For example most fabric switches provide ways to dump the port and switch configurations which can provide the switch firmware revision, detailed information about zones, the display the port error counters for each switch port.
Troubleshooting and Maintenance Manual for LightPulse Adapters | Page 10 |
