C H A P T E R 5

SunVTS

This chapter contains information about SunVTS.

5.1 SunVTS

SunVTS is a software suite that performs system, subsystem, and configuration testing. You can view and control a SunVTS session over a network. Using a remote system, you can view the progress of a testing session, change testing options, and control all testing features of another machine on the network.

You can run SunVTS software in three different test modes:

Connection mode verifies the presence of device controllers on all subsystems. This typically takes no more than a few minutes and is a good way to "sanity check" system connections.

Functional mode exercises only the specific subsystems you choose. This is the default mode.

Auto Config mode automatically detects all subsystems and exercises them in one of two ways:

Confidence testing - performs one pass of tests on all subsystems, and then stops. For typical system configurations, this requires one or two hours.

Comprehensive testing - tests all subsystems repeatedly for up to 24 hours.

Since SunVTS software can run many tests in parallel and consume many system resources, you should take care when using it on a production system. If you are stress-testing a system using SunVTS software's Comprehensive test mode, do not run anything else on that system at the same time.

A server must be running the Solaris OS for SunVTS software to be able to test it. Since SunVTS software packages are optional, they may not be installed on your system. See To Find Out Whether SunVTS Is Installed for instructions.

5.1.1 SunVTS Software and Security

During SunVTS software installation, you must choose between Basic or Sun Enterprise Authentication Mechanism^TM security. Basic security uses a local security file in the SunVTS installation directory to limit the users, groups, and hosts permitted to use SunVTS software. Sun Enterprise Authentication Mechanism security is based on the standard network authentication protocol Kerberos and provides secure user authentication, data integrity and privacy for transactions over networks.

If your site uses Sun Enterprise Authentication Mechanism security, you must have Sun Enterprise Authentication Mechanism client and server software installed on your network and configured properly in both Solaris and SunVTS software. If your site does not use Sun Enterprise Authentication Mechanism security, do not choose the Sun Enterprise Authentication Mechanism option during SunVTS software installation.

If you enable the wrong security scheme during installation, or if you improperly configure the security scheme you choose, you may find yourself unable to run SunVTS tests. For more information, see the SunVTS User's Guide and the instructions accompanying the Sun Enterprise Authentication Mechanism software.

5.1.2 Using SunVTS

SunVTS, the Sun Validation and Test Suite, is an online diagnostics tool that you can use to verify the configuration and functionality of hardware controllers, devices, and platforms. It runs in the Solaris OS and presents the following interfaces:

command-line interface

serial (tty) interface

SunVTS software lets you view and control testing sessions on a remotely connected server. The following is a list of some of the tests that are available:

TABLE 5-1 SunVTS Tests
SunVTS Test	Description
`cputest`	Tests the CPU.
`disktest`	Tests the local disk drives.
`dvdtest`	Tests the DVD-ROM drive.
`fputest`	Tests the floating-point unit.
`nettest`	Tests the Ethernet hardware on the system board and the networking hardware on any optional PCI cards.
`netlbtest`	Performs a loopback test to check that the Ethernet adapter can send and receive packets.
`pmem`	Tests the physical memory (read only).
`sutest`	Tests the server's on-board serial ports.
`vmem`	Tests the virtual memory (a combination of the swap partition and the physical memory).
`env6test`	Tests temperature sensors, power supply status, fan speeds, and keyswitch position. Test LEDs by toggling them on and off.
`ssptest`	Tests functionality of ALOM hardware. Test onboard Ethernet, flash ram, SEEPROM, TOD, I²C connections from ALOM to the host system, and serial ports.
`i2c2test`	Verifies all available I²C devices and the system bus connections. Performs data checking for SCC and FRU SEEPROM devices.

Table is a summary of SunVTS diagnostics tests that you can use to verify server operation.

5.1.3 To Find Out Whether SunVTS Is Installed

Type the following:

# pkginfo -l SUNWvts

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

If SunVTS software is not loaded, you see the following error message:

ERROR: information for "SUNWvts" was not found

5.1.4 Installing SunVTS

By default, SunVTS is not installed on the Sun Fire V210 and V240 servers. However, it is available on the software supplement CD supplied with the Solaris OS. For information about downloading it from this CD, refer to the Sun Hardware Platform Guide for the release of the Solaris OS you are using.

To find out more about using SunVTS, refer to the SunVTS documentation that corresponds to the Solaris OS release that you are running.

5.1.5 Viewing SunVTS Documentation

SunVTS documents are included on the Software Supplement CD that is part of each Solaris Media Kit release and is also accessible at http://docs.sun.com.

For further information, you can also consult the following SunVTS documents:

SunVTS User's Guide describes how to install, configure, and run the SunVTS diagnostic software.

SunVTS Quick Reference Card provides an overview of how to use the SunVTS CDE interface.

SunVTS Test Reference Manual provides details about each individual SunVTS test.