7.5 About OpenBoot Diagnostics (OBDiag)

The OpenBoot Diagnostics (OBDiag) utility resides in flash PROM on the main logic board. OBDiag can isolate errors in the following system components:

• Main logic board

• Diskette drive (if applicable)

• CD-ROM drive

• Tape drive

• Disk drives

• Any option card that contains an on-board self-test

On the main logic board, OBDiag tests not only the main logic board but also its interfaces:

• PCI

• SCSI

• TPE Ethernet including MII Ethernet

• Serial

• Parallel

• Keyboard/mouse

OBDiag reports some test results by flashing or steadily illuminating the LEDs on the system front panel. See "7.12.1 Error Indications" for more information about LEDs and error messages.

OBDiag also displays detailed diagnostic and error messages on a local console or terminal, if one is attached to the system.

OBDiag tests run automatically under certain conditions. You can also run OBDiag interactively from the system ok prompt. For information about running OBDiag, see "7.6 How to Use OpenBoot Diagnostics (OBDiag)".

When you run OBDiag interactively from the ok prompt, OBDiag displays a menu that lists all of the diagnostic tests that OBDiag can perform. For information about the OBDiag menu, see "7.5.1 OBDiag Menu".

The system also provides configuration variables that you can set to alter the operation of the OBDiag tests. For information about the configuration variables, see "7.5.2 Configuration Variable".

7.5.1 OBDiag Menu

The OBDiag menu is created dynamically whenever you invoke OBDiag in interactive mode. Therefore, the menu entries may vary from system to system, depending on the system configuration. OBDiag also determines whether any optional devices are installed in the system. If the device has an on-board self-test, OBDiag incorporates the test name into the list of menu entries. It displays the menu entries in alphabetical order and numbers them accordingly. Consequently, the number and position of menu items may vary from system to system, depending on the system configuration. For example, the Keyboard and Mouse test options are displayed only if your system includes a keyboard and mouse.

The OBDiag menu displays the core tests that exercise parts of the basic system. These tests can be seen in the sample OBDiag menu displayed below. For a description of each test, see "7.6.2 OBDiag Tests".

 OBDiag Menu

  0 ..... PCI/Cheerio
  1 ..... EBUS DMA/TCR Registers
  2 ..... Ethernet
  3 ..... Keyboard
  4 ..... Mouse
  5 ..... Parallel Port
  6 ..... Serial Port A
  7 ..... Serial Port B
  8 ..... NVRAM
  9 ..... Audio
 10 ..... SCSI
 11 ..... All Above
 12 ..... Quit
 13 ..... Display this Menu
 14 ..... Toggle script-debug
 15 ..... Enable External Loopback Tests
 16 ..... Disable External Loopback Tests

Enter (0-11 tests, 12 -Quit, 13 -Menu) ===> 

7.5.2 Configuration Variable

The following table provides information about the OpenBoot PROM configuration variable stored in NVRAM. This variable affects the operation of OBDiag. Use the printenvs command to show current values and the setenv command to set or change a value. Both commands are described in "7.12.2 Software Commands".