Chapter 6. Using the Online and Standalone Diagnostics

Sources for the Diagnostics

The diagnostics consist of Standalone Diagnostics and Online Diagnostics.
Standalone Diagnostics are packaged on removable media. They must be booted or
mounted before they can be run. If booted, they have no access to the AIX Error Log
or the AIX Configuration Data. However, if mounted, they have access to the AIX
Error Log and the AIX Configuration Data. Online Diagnostics, when installed, reside
with AIX in the file system. They can be booted in single user mode (referred to as
service mode), run in maintenance mode (referred to as maintenance mode), or run
concurrently (referred to as concurrent mode) with other applications. They have
access to the AIX Error Log and the AIX Configuration Data.

Standalone and Online Diagnostics Operating Considerations

Note: When possible, run Online Diagnostics in Service Mode. Online Diagnostics
perform additional functions, compared to Standalone Diagnostics.
The following items identify some things to consider before using the diagnostics.
1. Online Diagnostic support is optionally installed with the AIX operating system
and therefore may not be installed on some systems. When diagnostics are
installed, the device support for some devices may not get installed. If this is the
case, that device does not appear in the diagnostic test list when running disk
based diagnostics.
2. Support for some TTY terminals is optionally installed. If you attach a TTY
terminal to a system to run diagnostics be aware that it may not work properly
since the AIX support for the terminal may not be installed.

Selecting a Console Display

When you run Standalone Diagnostics and under some conditions Online
Diagnostics, you need to select the console display. The diagnostics display
instructions on any graphics display and the terminal attached to the Serial 1 port.

Identifying the Terminal Type to Diagnostics

Note: This is not the same as selecting a console display.
When you run diagnostics, the diagnostics must know what type of terminal you are
using. If the terminal type is not known when the FUNCTION SELECTION menu is
displayed, the diagnostics do not allow you to continue until a terminal is selected
from the DEFINE TERMINAL option menu. Select lft for graphical displays.
Chapter 6. Using the Online and Standalone Diagnostics 6-1