C H A P T E R 5 - Exercising the System

C H A P T E R 5

Exercising the System

Sometimes a server exhibits a problem that cannot be isolated definitively to a particular hardware or software component. In such cases, it may be useful to run a diagnostic tool that stresses the system by continuously running a comprehensive battery of tests. Sun provides the SunVTS software that you can use with the Netra 440 server.

This chapter describes the tasks necessary to use SunVTS software to exercise your Netra 440 server.

Tasks covered in this chapter include:

Exercising the System Using SunVTS Software

Checking Whether SunVTS Software Is Installed

If you want background information about the tools and when to use them, turn to Chapter 1 and Chapter 2.

Note - The procedures in this chapter assume that you are familiar with the OpenBoot firmware and that you know how to access the ok prompt. For background information and instructions, refer to the Netra 440 Server System Administration Guide.

Exercising the System Using SunVTS Software

The SunVTS 5.1 Patch Set 4 (PS4) software, and future compatible versions, are supported on the Netra 440 server. You can download the most recent SunVTS software from http://www.sun.com/oem/products/vts/.

Before you begin, the Solaris OS must be running. You also need to ensure that SunVTS validation test software is installed on your system. See Checking Whether SunVTS Software Is Installed.

SunVTS software requires that you use one of two security schemes. The security scheme you choose must be properly configured in order for you to perform this procedure. For details, see:

SunVTS User's Guide

SunVTS Software and Security

SunVTS software features both character-based and graphics-based interfaces. This procedure assumes that you are using the graphical user interface (GUI) on a system running the Common Desktop Environment (CDE). For more information about the character-based SunVTS TTY interface, and specifically for instructions on accessing it bby TIP or telnet commands, refer to the SunVTS User's Guide.

SunVTS software can be run in several modes. This procedure assumes that you are using the default Functional mode. For a synopsis of the modes, see Exercising the System Using SunVTS Software.

This procedure also assumes that the Netra 440 server is "headless"--that is, it is not equipped with a monitor capable of displaying bitmapped graphics. In this case, you access the SunVTS GUI by logging in remotely from a machine that has a graphics display.

Finally, this procedure describes how to run SunVTS tests in general. Individual tests may presume the presence of specific hardware, or may require specific drivers, cables, or loopback connectors. For information about test options and prerequisites, refer to:

SunVTS Test Reference Manual

SunVTS Documentation Supplement

To Exercise the System Using SunVTS Software

1. Log in as superuser to a system with a graphics display.

The display system should be one with a frame buffer and monitor capable of displaying bitmapped graphics such as those produced by the SunVTS GUI.

2. Enable remote display. On the display system, type:

# /usr/openwin/bin/xhost + test-system

where test-system is the name of the Netra 440 server being tested.

3. Remotely log in to the Netra 440 server as superuser.

Use a command such as rlogin or telnet.

4. Start SunVTS software. Type:

# /opt/SUNWvts/bin/sunvts -display display-system:0

where display-system is the name of the machine through which you are remotely logged in to the Netra 440 server.

If you have installed SunVTS software in a location other than the default /opt directory, alter the path in the above command accordingly.

The SunVTS GUI appears on the display system's screen.

FIGURE 5-1 The SunVTS GUI Screen

This figure shows the SunVTS GUI for the Netra 440 server and the various buttons and areas on the GUI screen.

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5. Expand the test lists to see the individual tests.

The interface's test selection area lists tests in categories, such as "Network," as shown below. To expand a category, right-click the This graphic shows the expand category icon, which looks like a plus sign and appears to the left of the category name. icon to the left of the category name.

This screen capture shows a small portion of the test selection area in the SunVTS graphical interface.

6. (Optional) Select the tests you want to run.

Certain tests are enabled by default, and you can choose to accept these.

Alternatively, you can enable and disable individual tests or blocks of tests by clicking the checkbox next to the test name or test category name. Tests are enabled when checked, and disabled when not checked. TABLE 5-1 lists tests that are especially useful to run on a Netra 440 server.

Note - TABLE 5-1 lists FRUs in order of the likelihood they caused the test to fail.

7. (Optional) Customize individual tests.

You can customize individual tests by right-clicking on the name of the test. For instance, in the illustration under Step 5, right-clicking on the text string ce0(nettest) brings up a menu that lets you configure this Ethernet test.

TABLE 5-1 Useful SunVTS Tests to Run on a Netra 440 Server
SunVTS Tests	FRUs Exercised by Tests
`cputest`, `fputest`, `iutest`, `l1dcachetest` -- indirectly: `l2cachetest`, `l2sramtest`, `mptest`, `mpconstest`, `systest`	CPU/memory module, motherboard
`disktest`	Disks, cables, SCSI backplane
`dvdtest`, `cdtest`	DVD device, cable, motherboard
`env6test`, `i2c2test`	Power supplies, fan trays, LEDs, motherboard, ALOM card, system configuration card (SCC), CPU/memory module, DIMMs, SCSI backplane
`nettest`, `netlbtest`	Network interface, network cable, motherboard
`pmemtest`, `vmemtest`	DIMMs, CPU/memory module, motherboard
`ssptest`	ALOM card
`sutest`	Motherboard (serial port `ttyb`)
`usbkbtest`, `disktest`	USB devices, cable, motherboard (USB controller)
`nalmtest`	Alarm card test
`ramtest`	Memory test
`bustest`	System bus test

8. Start testing.

Click the Start button, located at the top left of the SunVTS window, to begin running the tests you enabled. Status and error messages appear in the test messages area located across the bottom of the window. You can stop testing at any time by clicking the Stop button.

During testing, SunVTS software logs all status and error messages. To view these, click the Log button or select Log Files from the Reports menu. This opens a log window from which you can choose to view the following logs:

Information - Detailed versions of all the status and error messages that appear in the test messages area.

Test Error - Detailed error messages from individual tests.

VTS Kernel Error - Error messages pertaining to SunVTS software itself. You should look here if SunVTS software appears to be acting strangely, especially when it starts up.

UNIX Messages (/var/adm/messages) - A file containing messages generated by the operating system and various applications.

Log Files (/var/opt/SUNWvts/logs) - A directory containing the log files.

For further information, refer to the manuals that accompany SunVTS software. These are listed in the section Related Documentation.

Checking Whether SunVTS Software Is Installed

SunVTS software consists of optional packages that may or may not have been loaded when your system software was installed.

In addition to the SunVTS packages themselves, SunVTS software starting with version 5.1 requires certain XML and run-time library packages that may not be installed by default on Solaris software.

This procedure assumes that the Solaris OS is running on the Netra 440 server, and that you have access to the Solaris command line. For more information, refer to the Netra 440 Server System Administration Guide.

To Check Whether SunVTS Software Is Installed

1. Check for the presence of SunVTS packages. Type:

% pkginfo -l SUNWvts SUNWvtsx SUNWvtsmn

If SunVTS software is loaded, information about the packages is displayed.

If SunVTS software is not loaded, you see an error message for each missing package.

ERROR: information for "SUNWvts" was not found

ERROR: information for "SUNWvtsx" was not found

...

The pertinent packages are as follows.

Package	Description
`SUNWvts`	SunVTS kernel, user interface, and 32-bit binary tests
`SUNWvtsx`	SunVTS 64-bit binary tests and kernel
`SUNWvtsmn`	SunVTS man pages

2. (Solaris 8 only) Check for additional needed software.

This applies only if you intend to install and run SunVTS 5.1 software (or later compatible versions) under Solaris 8.

SunVTS 5.1 software requires additional packages that may not be installed with Solaris 8 software. To find out, type the following:

% pkginfo -l SUNWlxml SUNWlxmlx SUNWzlib SUNWzlibx

This tests for the presence of the following packages.

Package	Description	Notes
`SUNXlxml`	XML library (32-bit)	Required by SunVTS 5.1
`SUNWlxmlx`	XML library (64-bit)
`SUNWzlib`	Zip compression library (32-bit)	Needed by XML libraries
`SUNWzlibx`	Zip compression library (64-bit)	Needed by XML libraries

3. If necessary, load any missing packages.

Use the pkgadd utility to load onto your system any SunVTS and support packages that you determined you needed in Step 1 or Step 2.

For Solaris 8, the SunVTS and XML packages are included on the Software Supplement CD. The zlib packages are included on the Solaris primary installation CD in the Entire Solaris Software Group.

Note that /opt/SUNWvts is the default directory for installing SunVTS software.

4. Load SunVTS patches, if appropriate.

Patches to SunVTS software are available periodically on the SunSolve Online^SM Web site. These patches provide enhancements and bug fixes. In some cases, there are tests that will not run properly unless the patches are installed.

For installation information, refer to the SunVTS User's Guide, the appropriate Solaris documentation, and the pkgadd man page.