Sun Microsystems 280R manual Improved System Diagnostics Software

Automated remote event notification of system problems is configurable through RSC software. For more information about RSC software, see “Using the Sun Remote System Control (RSC) Card” on page 74.

Control over the system’s ASR firmware functionality is provided by the OpenBoot PROM commands. These are described in the current version of the document OpenBoot Command Reference Manual.

Improved System Diagnostics Software

For enhanced serviceability and availability, the system provides different tools for diagnostic testing and monitoring, namely:

■Power-on self-test (POST)

■OpenBoot Diagnostics

■SunVTS diagnostics

■Sun Management Center diagnostics

■Remote System Control (RSC) software

POST and OpenBoot Diagnostics are firmware-residentdiagnostics that can run even if the server is unable to boot the operating system. Application-level diagnostics, such as SunVTS and Sun Management Center, offer additional troubleshooting capabilities once the operating environment is running. The RSC software offers monitoring and remote notification while the operating environment software is running, and in addition provides access to the ok firmware prompt if the operating environment is not running.

POST diagnostics provide a quick but thorough check of the most basic hardware functions of the system. For more information about POST, see “How to Isolate Failures Using Power-OnSelf-Test (POST)” on page 179, “About Isolating Failed Components” on page 165, and “Isolating Failed Components” on page 72.

OpenBoot Diagnostics provide a more comprehensive test of the system, including external interfaces. OpenBoot Diagnostics is described in “About Using Diagnostic Tools to Monitor, Diagnose, and Exercise the System” on page 162, in “How to Isolate Failures Using OpenBoot Diagnostics” on page 181, and in “Isolating Failed Components” on page 72.

At the operating environment level, you have access to SunVTS diagnostics. Like OpenBoot Diagnostics, SunVTS provides a comprehensive test of the system, including its external interfaces. SunVTS also allows you to run tests remotely over a network connection, for example using RSC. You can only use SunVTS software if the operating system is running. For more information about SunVTS, see “About Exercising the System Using SunVTS Software” on page 173, and “How to Check Whether SunVTS Software Is Installed” on page 198.

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