Chapter 8. Hardware Problem Determination
This chapter provides information on using standalone or online diagnostics to help you
solve hardware problems.
You may obtain more extensive problem isolation by running online diagnostics in
service mode. This requires that the partition be rebooted (in a logical partitioned
system) with no other users on that partition or that the system be rebooted (in a full
system partition) with no other users on the system. Alternatively,if AIX online
diagnostics are installed on the partition or system, you can run online diagnostics in
concurrent mode. If the system or partition does not have AIX diagnostics installed, or if
you cannot boot AIX or online diagnostics in service mode, run standalone diagnostics
instead.

Problem Determination Using the Standalone or Online Diagnostics

Use this procedure to obtain a service request number (SRN) when you load the
standalone or online diagnostics. If you are unable to load the standalone or online
diagnostics, go to “Problem Determination When Unable to Load Diagnostics” on
page 151. The service organization uses the SRN to determine which field replaceable
units (FRUs) are needed to restore the system to correct operation.

Step 1. Considerations before Running This Procedure

Note: See the

IBM Hardware Management Console for pSeries Installation and

Operations Guide

to find the key sequences you need for your Hardware
Management Console for pSeries (HMC) virtual terminal window to respond to
the diagnostic programs.
vThe diagnostics may be run within a virtual terminal window on the HMC connected
to the system.
vThis procedure requires that you select the type of diagnostics you want to run.
vGo to “Step 2”.
Step 2 Are the online diagnostics installed on this system?
NO Go to “Step 6” on page 147.
YES Go to “Step 3” on page 146.
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