C H A P T E R 19

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 - 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 19-1 systest Test Parameter Options Dialog Box

Screenshot of the systest Test Parameter Options dialog box

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

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 19-1 `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 19-2 `systest` Supported Test Modes
Test Mode	Description
Exclusive	Performs only the `systest` (full test).

`systest` Command-Line Syntax

TABLE 19-3 `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

systest with default parameter values.

I/O, MEM, and CPU subtests.

One internal pass of linpack and no isolation.

Example 2 invokes the following:

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

systest without the I/O subtest

MEM and CPU subtests.

One internal pass of linpack and no isolation.

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

I/O, MEM, and CPU subtests.

Declares a set of boards free from residual errors after 15 internal passes of the linpack algorithm.

If an error is found, systest performs boards isolation.

Example 4 invokes the following:

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

I/O, MEM, and CPU subtests.

Declares a set of boards and CPUs free from residual errors after 10 internal passes of the linpack algorithm.

If an error is found, systest performs boards AND CPUs isolation.

systest Description

systest Options

systest Test Modes

systest Command-Line Syntax

Command-Line Examples

`systest` Description

`systest` Options

`systest` Test Modes

`systest` Command-Line Syntax