C H A P T E R  56

System Test (systest)


systest Description

The systest checks the overall functionality of a Sun system by exercising the CPU, I/O, and memory channels.

The test ensures the concurrency of the different channels by the use of Solaris threads. The test aims at stimulating failures that might be caused due to the interaction of the various different hardware modules in the system. It is very stressful on the CPU, and stresses the parallel computational capability of a multiprocessor system.



caution icon

Caution - This is an exclusive mode test. This test can not be run in parallel with any other tests or applications.




systest Options

To reach the following dialog box, right-click on the test name in the System Map and select Test Parameter Options. If you do not see this test in the System Map, you might need to expand the collapsed groups, or your system might not include the device appropriate to this test. Refer to the SunVTS User's Guide for more details.


FIGURE 56-1 systest Test Parameter Options Dialog Box

Screenshot of the systest Test Parameter Options dialog box




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Caution - Use discretion when defining the syspass parameter. One linpack pass (syspass=1) takes approximately 40 minutes on a server with 12 UltraSPARC® III processors. If the syspass value is set to a high value, it also increases the probability of detecting residual errors.





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Caution - Use strong discretion when defining the System Isolation (sysiso) parameter. Be aware that sysisomay online / offline CPUs in the system. Do not use sysisoon production servers. If you choose CPUs (sysiso=2) isolation, the run time may be much higher than for board(s) (sysiso=1) isolation. The total run time for isolation can not be precisely estimated. If a residual error is found in the initial evaluation phase, the isolation functionality will online or offline CPUs in order to detect the defective boards and CPUs in the system.





Note - Users are advised to not use the Processor Affinity option for this test. Doing so reduces the effectiveness of the test.




TABLE 56-1 systest Options

systest Options

Description

Asynch I/O Test

Enables or disables the Asynch I/O subtest. The default is enable.

Memory Test

Enables or disables the Memory subtest. The default is enable.

CPU Test

Enables or disables the CPU/FPU subtests. The default is enable.

Internal System Passes

Defines the number of internal linpack passes. A set of boards and CPUs will be declared good after syspass number of passes. The default is 1.

System Isolation

Defines the type of isolation that systest needs to perform if a residual error is found in the initial evaluation phase.

0 = No isolation (default)

1 = Board(s) isolation only

2 = Board(s) and CPUs isolation


Use the default values for an initial evaluation of the system.


systest Test Modes


TABLE 56-2 systest Supported Test Modes

Test Mode

Description

Exclusive

Performs only the systest (full test).



systest Command-Line Syntax

/opt/SUNWvts/bin/systest standard-arguments -o -io=enable|disable
-mem=enable|disable, -cpu=enable|disable, -dev=system, -syspass=1,2000, -sysiso=0|1|2


TABLE 56-3 systest Command-Line Syntax

Argument

Description

io=enable|disable

Enables or disables the Asynch I/O subtest.

mem=enable|disable

Enables or disables the Memory subtest.

cpu=enable|disable

Enables or disables the CPU/FPU subtests.

dev=system

Specifies the pseudo device name.

syspass=1,2000

Defines the number of internal linpack passes. A set of boards and CPUs is declared good after syspass number of passes. The default is 1.

sysiso=0|1|2

Defines the type of isolation that systest needs to perform if a residual error is found in the initial evaluation phase.

0 = No isolation

1 = Board(s) isolation only

2 = Board(s) and CPUs isolation


Command-Line Examples

The following examples assume you execute systest from the command-line with verbose enabled.

Example 1 invokes the following:


# ./systest  -xv

Example 2 invokes the following:


# ./systest  -xv -o io=Disable,mem=Enable,cpu=Enable,dev=system



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Caution - Do not perform the following systestexamples (3 and 4) on production servers, because systestmay online or offline CPUs.



Example 3 invokes the following:


# ./systest  -xv -o syspass=15,sysiso=1

Example 4 invokes the following:


# ./systest  -xv -o syspass=10,sysiso=2