The Pc-Check diagnostics software detects and tests motherboard components, ports, slots, and installed components on the Sun Ultra 27 workstation. Pc-Check is included on the Sun Ultra 27 workstation Tools and Drivers DVD.
If you encounter a hardware-related error message (such as a memory error or hard disk error) on your Sun Ultra 27 workstation, run one of the following tests:
Advanced Diagnostics Test: Specific hardware component tests
Immediate Burn In Test: Sun-supplied diagnostic scripts for the Sun Ultra 27 workstation
The following sections describe how to start and use the diagnostics, and provide detailed descriptions of menu items and tests.
A diagnostic partition is required for the test scripts to write their log files. Without a diagnostic partition, the only output is the display on the diagnostic screens.
The diagnostic partition is preinstalled on the Sun Ultra 27 workstation. You do not need to reinstall the diagnostic partition unless you removed it.
If you removed the diagnostic partition, you can re-create it using the Create Diagnostic Partition option on the Tools and Drivers DVD. See Create Diagnostic Partition Option for instructions.
Prerequisites
Your workstation must be running a Sun-supported OS. For a list of supported operating systems, see the Sun Ultra 27 Workstation Product Notes.
You must access and execute Pc-Check from the Sun Ultra 27 workstation Tools and Drivers DVD.
Insert the Sun Ultra 27 workstation Tools and Drivers DVD into your DVD drive, and reboot the system.
The system boots to the Sun Ultra 27 workstation Tools and Drivers DVD main menu.
Type 1 to run the Hardware Diagnostics Software.
The system information loads, the Diagnostics main menu opens, and the following menu options appear:
System Information Menu
Advanced Diagnostics Tests
Immediate Burn In Testing
Deferred Burn In Testing
Create Diagnostic Partition
Show Results Summary
Print Results Report
About Pc-Check
Exit to DOS
The entries in the Diagnostics main menu are described in the following sections of this chapter.
To test a specific hardware component, choose Advanced Diagnostics Tests.
To run one of the Sun-supplied test scripts, choose Immediate Burn In Testing.
Navigation instructions are shown at the bottom of each screen.
Use the keyboard’s arrow keys to navigate through menus.
Press the Enter key to choose a menu option.
Press the Escape key to exit a menu (or submenu).
Table 4–1 describes each option in the System Information menu.
Table 4–1 System Information Menu Options
Option |
Description |
---|---|
System Overview |
Includes basic information about your system, motherboard, BIOS, processor, memory cache, drives, video, modem, network, buses, and ports. |
Hardware ID Image |
Enables you to create a document showing information about your system, including comparisons between the updates and the newest versions of your system. XML is the format used to create and display this information, although you can also choose a text format (.txt) as well. |
System Management Information |
Provides information obtained from the system about the BIOS type, system, motherboard, enclosure, processors, memory modules, cache, slots, system event log, memory array, memory devices, memory device mapped addresses, and system boot. |
PCI Bus Information |
Includes details about specific devices from pci-config space within the system, similar to the System Management Information section. |
IDE Bus Information |
Shows the master-slave devices on the primary and secondary IDE controllers. |
PCMCIA/CardBus Info |
Not relevant to the Sun Ultra 27 workstation. |
Interrupt Vectors |
Details device interrupt vector information. |
IRQ Information |
Shows hardware interrupt assignments. |
Device Drivers |
Shows device drivers loaded under Open DOS. |
APM Information |
Tests the Advanced Power Management (APM) capabilities of the system. You can choose to change the power state, view the power status, indicate CPU usage, get a PM event, or change the interface mode. |
I/O Port Browser |
Shows the I/O port assignment for the hardware devices on the system. |
Memory Browser |
Enables you to view the mapped memory for the entire system. |
Sector Browser |
Reads sector information from the hard disks and DVD disks sector by sector. |
CPU Frequency Monitor |
Tests the processor speed. |
CMOS RAM Utilities |
Shows the CMOS settings of the system. |
SCSI Utilities |
Not applicable to the Sun Ultra 27 workstation. |
Text File Editor |
Opens a text editor. |
Start-Up Options |
Enables you to set up options for diagnostics testing. |
Table 4–2 gives the name and a brief description of each option in the Advanced Diagnostics Tests menu.
Table 4–2 Advanced Diagnostics Tests Menu Options
Option |
Description |
---|---|
Processor |
Details information about the processor and includes a Processor Tests menu to test the processor on the system. |
Memory |
Details information about the memory and includes a Memory Tests menu to test the memory on the system. Also lists each type of memory in the system, such as system, cache, or video memory. |
Motherboard |
Details information about the motherboard and includes a Motherboard Tests menu to test the motherboard on the system. |
Diskettes |
Not applicable to the Sun Ultra 27 workstation. |
Hard Disks |
Details information about the hard disk and includes a Hard Disk Tests menu to test hard disks on the system. Refer to , for detailed information about testing hard disks and script information. |
CD-ROM/DVD |
Includes a CD-ROM/DVD menu to test DVD devices on the system. |
ATAPI Devices |
Not applicable to the Sun Ultra 27 workstation. |
Serial Ports |
Not applicable to the Sun Ultra 27 workstation. |
Parallel Ports |
Not applicable to the Sun Ultra 27 workstation. |
Modems |
Not applicable to the Sun Ultra 27 workstation. |
ATA |
Includes an ATA test menu. |
USB |
Details information about the USB devices on the system and includes a USB Tests menu to test the USB. |
FireWire |
Details information about FireWire devices and includes a FireWire Tests menu. |
Network |
Performs network register controller tests. |
Keyboard |
Includes a Keyboard Test menu with options for performing different tests on the keyboard. |
Mouse |
Details information about the mouse and includes a menu to test the mouse on the system. |
Joystick |
Details information about a third-party joystick (not available from Sun) and includes a menu to test the joystick. |
Audio |
Details information about the audio devices on the system and includes an Audio Tests menu to test audio device information. A PCI audio card is required to run this test. |
Video |
Details information about the video card. Initially, the monitor might flicker, but then it displays a Video Test Options menu that enables you to perform various video tests. |
Printers |
Not applicable to the Sun Ultra 27 workstation. |
Firmware - ACPI |
Details information about Advanced Configurable Power Interface (ACPI) and includes an ACPI Tests menu to test ACPI. |
Table 4–3 Parameters for the HD Tests
Option |
Description |
---|---|
Media Test Settings |
Enables you to select the test time duration, the percentage of the hard disk to test, and the sectors to be tested on the hard disk. |
Device Test Settings |
Enables you to select the test time durations of the devices and the test level. |
Number of Retries |
Enables you to select the number of times to retry testing a device before terminating the test. |
Maximum Errors |
Enables you to select the number of errors allowed before terminating the test. |
Check SMART First |
SMART stands for Smart Monitoring Analysis Reporting Test. SMART-enabled drives provide predictive failure analysis and diagnostic information. |
HPA Protection |
HPA stands for Host Protected Area. |
Exit |
Exits the menu. |
This test performs extensive testing on system hard drives.
From the Diagnostics main menu, choose Advanced Diagnostics Tests.
The Advanced Diagnostics menu appears.
From the Advanced Diagnostics menu, choose Hard Disks.
The Select Drive menu appears.
From the Select Drive menu, choose the hard disk you are testing.
The Hard Disk Diagnostics window opens, showing both the information for the hard disk you selected and the Hard Disk Tests menu.
The Hard Disk Tests menu displays the following options:
Select Drive
Test Settings
Read Test
Read Verify Test
Non-Destructive Write Test
Destructive Write Test
Mechanics Stress Test
Internal Cache Test
View Error Log
Utilities Menu
Exit
The Hard Disk Tests perform diagnostics on both the media and the device. The media diagnostic options are the Read Test, the Read Verify Test, the Non-Destructive Write Test, and the Destructive Write Test. These tests are relevant to testing the media associated with the HD hardware, such as the physical disk.
Running the Destructive Write Test destroys any data that is on the HD.
The device diagnostic options include the Mechanics Stress Test and the Internal Cache Test. These tests are relevant to testing nonmedia-related devices associated with the HD hardware, such as the head and internal cache.
If errors occur during diagnostic testing, the errors are written to the error log. You can examine the error log using the View Error Log option.
As well as choosing any of these tests, you can also define several test parameters. You can change the parameters within the Test Settings option. (table) gives the options within Test Settings.
The Immediate Burn In Testing option enables you to run Burn In test scripts on your workstation. Three scripts are provided for testing your system:
quick.tst – This script performs a non-detailed test of all hardware components, including those components that require user input, as well as a more in-depth memory test. You must interact with the Pc-Check software to progress through these interactive tests. These interactive tests cannot be run unattended and do not contain any “timeout” facilities. The interactive tests will wait until you provide the correct input.
noinput.tst – The script performs a non-detailed test of most hardware components, excluding those components that require user input (keyboard, mouse, sound, video). This test does not require user input.
full.tst – This script performs the most detailed and comprehensive test on all hardware components, including those components that require user input. This script contains a more in-depth memory test than quick.tst, as well as external port tests (which might require loopback connectors). You must interact with the test utility to progress through these interactive tests.
Each of these scripts tests the operating status of your entire system. If you want to test only a certain percentage of your system’s hard drives, see To Test Hard Drives for information about how to change the test options.
When you select the Immediate Burn In Testing menu option, the Continuous Burn In Testing window appears. The window includes the list of options shown in Table 4–4 for running the tests. When a quick.tst, noinput.tst, or full.tst script is loaded, the defaults indicated in the third column are automatically loaded.
Table 4–4 Continuous Burn In Testing Options
Option |
Default – General |
Default Using quick.tst, noinput.tst, or full.tst Script |
All Possible Choices |
---|---|---|---|
Pass Control |
Overall Time |
Overall Passes |
Individual Passes, Overall Passes, or Overall Time |
Duration |
01:00 |
1 |
Type any number to choose the time duration of the test |
Script File |
N/A |
quick.tst, noinput.tst, or full.tst |
quick.tst, noinput.tst, or full.tst |
Report File |
None |
None |
User-defined |
Journal File |
None |
D:\noinput.jrl, D:\quick.jrl, or D:\full.jrl |
User-defined |
Journal Options |
Failed Tests |
All Tests, Absent Devices, and Test Summary |
Failed Tests, All Tests, Absent Devices, and Test Summary |
Pause on Error |
N |
N |
Y or N |
Screen Display |
Control Panel |
Control Panel |
Control Panel or Running Tests |
POST Card |
N |
N |
Y or N |
Beep Codes |
N |
N |
Y or N |
Maximum Fails |
Disabled |
Disabled |
1-9999 |
Perform script-based burn-in tests using one of the provided scripts or one of your own scripts.
From the main menu, choose Immediate Burn In Testing.
The top portion of the window lists the options described in Table 4–4, and the bottom portion of the window lists the following Burn In testing menu options:
Load Burn In Script
Type one of the following:
quick.tst, noinput.tst, or full.tst
If you created and saved your own script, type d:\testname.tst
where testname is the name of the script that you created.
Save Burn In Script
To save a Burn In script that you created, type d:\testname.tst
where testname is the name of the script that you created.
Change Options
Opens the Burn In Options menu, which enables you to modify the various options listed in Table 4–4 for the currently loaded test script.
Select Tests
Opens a listing of the tests available for your workstation configuration and the currently loaded test script.
Perform Burn In Tests
Starts to run the currently loaded Burn In test script.
Use the Deferred Burn In Testing option to create and save your own scripts to run at a later time.
From the main menu, choose Deferred Burn In Testing.
The top portion of the window lists the options described in Table 4–4, and the bottom portion of the window lists the following Burn In menu options:
Load Burn In Script
Type one of the following:
quick.tst, noinput.tst, or full.tst
If you created and saved your own script, type d:\testname.tst
where testname is the name that you created.
Save Burn In Script
To save a Burn In script that you created, type d:\testname.tst
where testname is the name of the script that you created.
Change Options
Opens the Burn In Options menu, which enables you to modify the various options listed in Table 4–4 for the currently loaded test script.
Select Tests
Opens a listing of all of the possible types of tests available for you to run for the currently loaded test script.
The diagnostic partition is preinstalled on the Sun Ultra 27 workstation. You need to reinstall the diagnostic partition only if you reformatted your hard drive. Using the Erase Primary Boot Hard Disk utility on the Tools and Drivers DVD preserves the diagnostic partition (see the Sun Ultra 27 Workstation Linux and Solaris Operating System Installation Guide).
The Create Diagnostic Partition option installs a diagnostic partition on the first bootable disk seen by the workstation. The first bootable disk is on the primary or master storage (for example, SATA) device.
The following sections explain how to create and access the diagnostic partition on the Sun Ultra 27 workstation:
From the boot loader, Pc-Check can view only the first or second hard disk on the system. The software automatically installs the diagnostic partition on the first bootable disk. To add the diagnostic partition on the first bootable disk:
Insert the Tools and Drivers DVD into the DVD drive.
Reboot the workstation.
The workstation boots from the DVD drive.
If the workstation does not boot from the DVD drive, access the BIOS Setup Utility and make the DVD drive the primary boot device.
At the Tools and Drivers DVD main menu, type 1 to run Hardware Diagnostics.
The Hardware Diagnostics menu appears.
From the main menu, choose Create Diagnostic Partition.
If the first bootable disk is clear of partitions, the Sun Microsystems Partitioning Utility window appears. It states
“Your primary hard disk is not partitioned. Would you like to partition it now?” |
Select Yes, and press the Enter key.
A window appears stating:
“Partitioning complete. Your machine will now be restarted.” |
If the first bootable disk is not clear of partitions, a window appears stating that the software is unable to create a hardware diagnostic partition because there are already partitions on the disk.
If this happens, repeat this procedure after you remove the partitions as described in the section, To Erase the Currently Installed OS in Sun Ultra 27 Workstation Linux and Solaris Operating System Installation Guide or in the section, Chapter 4, Preparing Disks for the Operating System, in Sun Ultra 27 Workstation Windows Operating System Installation Guide.
Press the Enter key to reboot your workstation.
All the scripts that are loadable with the hardware diagnostics software are predefined with logging to the diagnostic partition enabled. The names of log files correspond to the name of the script. For example, a script named noinput.tst creates a log file named noinput.jrl.
The following instructions show an example of how to create and access a log file on the diagnostic partition for the noinput.tst script.
Insert the Tools and Drivers DVD into the DVD drive.
Reboot the workstation.
From the Tools and Drivers DVD main menu, choose 1 to run the Hardware Diagnostics software.
The Hardware Diagnostics menu appears.
From the Hardware Diagnostics main menu, choose Immediate Burn In Testing.
Select Load Burn In Script.
Do one of the following actions:
Select Perform Burn In Tests to run the script.
When the tests are complete, press the Escape key to exit the Display Results window.
Select Exit to DOS and press the Enter key.
At the DOS prompt, type the following:
C:> d:
Type the following to list the contents of the diagnostic partition.
D:> dir
The noinput.jrl log appears.
Remove the Tools and Drivers DVD from the DVD drive.
Reboot the workstation and start the Red Hat Linux OS.
Log in as superuser.
To determine whether your diagnostic partition is configured to be mounted, type the following command:
# ls /diagpart
If this command does not list the log files created by the hardware diagnostics software, then the OS was not configured to mount the diagnostic partition. Continue to Step 5.
If the command lists the log files created by the hardware diagnostics software, then the OS is configured to mount the diagnostic partition. All users have read access to this partition. Only the superuser has read/write access to this partition. You do not need to continue this procedure.
Insert the Tools and Drivers DVD into the DVD drive.
When the DVD mounts, open a terminal window.
Type the following command:
# cd mountpoint/drivers/linux/linux_version
where mountpoint is the DVD mountpoint
where linux_version is the version of Linux that you installed. For example:
# cd /mnt/cdrom/drivers/linux/red_hat
Type the following command to install the diagnostic partition:
# ./install.sh
Press the Enter key.
The following lines appear if the diagnostic partition is mounted successfully:
Mounting Diagnostic Partition Installation Successful |
Type the following command:
# ls /diagpart
The contents of the diagnostic partition are listed.
Remove the Tools and Drivers DVD from the DVD drive.
Reboot the machine, and start the Solaris 10 Operating System.
Log in as superuser.
Type the following command to determine if your diagnostic partition is configured to be mounted:
# ls /diagpart
If this command does not list the log files created by the hardware diagnostics software, then the OS is not configured to mount the diagnostic partition. Continue to Step 5.
If this command lists the log files created by the hardware diagnostics software, then the OS is configured to mount the diagnostic partition. All users have read access to this partition. Only the superuser has read/write access to this partition. You do not need to continue this procedure.
Insert the Tools and Drivers DVD into the DVD drive.
When the DVD mounts, open a terminal window.
Type the following to change directories:
# cd /cdrom/cdrom0/drivers/sx86
Type the following command to install the diagnostic partition:
# ./install.sh
Press the Enter key.
The following lines appear if the diagnostic partition is mounted successfully:
Mounting Diagnostic Partition Installation Successful |
Type the following command to list the contents of the diagnostic partition:
# ls /diagpart
If you are running Windows XP on the Sun Ultra 27 workstation, you cannot access the diagnostic partition using Windows XP.
The only way to retrieve the contents (log files) on the diagnostic partition is to attach a USB diskette drive to the Sun Ultra 27 workstation and complete the following procedure.
Connect the USB diskette drive to any USB port on the Sun Ultra 27 workstation.
Insert the Tools and Drivers DVD into the DVD drive.
Reboot the workstation.
At the Tools and Drivers DVD main menu, type 4 to exit to DOS.
To change to the d: drive, enter the following at the DOS command prompt.
C:> d:
Copy the log file to the diskette.
For example, to copy a file named noinput.jrl to the diskette, enter:
D:> copy d:\noinput.jrl a:\
The journal file is now saved to the diskette in the USB diskette drive.
The summary lists the tests run and shows the results. Pass, Fail, or N/A (not applicable) appears for each option.
Table 4–5 lists all possible options that are available with the Tools and Drivers DVD. Some options might not appear when the Show Results Summary appears if they are not applicable to your workstation’s configuration.
Table 4–5 Show Results Summary
Option |
Description |
---|---|
Processor |
This section shows the following tests conducted against the processor: Core Processor Tests, AMD 64-Bit Core Tests, Math Co-Processor Tests – Pentium Class FDIV and Pentium Class FIST, MMX Operation, 3DNow! Operation, SSE Instruction Set, SSE2 Instruction Set, and MP Symmetry. |
Motherboard |
This section shows the following tests conducted against the motherboard: DMA Controller Tests, System Timer Tests, Interrupt Test, Keyboard Controller Tests, PCI Bus Tests, and CMOS RAM/Clock Tests. |
Memory, Cache Memory, and Video Memory |
This section shows the following tests conducted against the various types of memory: Inversion Test Tree, Progressive Inv. Test, Chaotic Addressing Test, and Block Rotation Test. |
Input Device |
This section shows the following tests conducted against the input device: Verify Device, Keyboard Repeat, and Keyboard LEDs. |
Mouse |
This section shows the following tests conducted against the mouse: Buttons, Ballistics, Text Mode Positioning, Text Mode Area Redefine, Graphics Mode Positions, Graphics Area Redefine, and Graphics Cursor Redefine. |
Video |
This section shows the following tests conducted against the video: Color Purity Test, True Color Test, Alignment Test, LCD Test, and Test Cord Test. |
Multimedia |
This section shows the following tests conducted against the multimedia components: Internal Speaker Test, FM Synthesizer Test, PCM Sample Test, CD/DVD Drive Read Test, CD/DVD Transfer (KB/Sec), CD/DVD Transfer Rating, CD/DVD Drive Seek Test, CD/DVD Seek Time (ms), CD/DVD Test Disk Read, and CD/DVD Tray Test. |
ATAPI Devices |
N/A |
Hard Disk |
This section shows the following tests conducted against the hard disk: Read Test, Read Verify Test, Non-Destructive Write Test, Destructive Write Test, Mechanics Stress Test, and Internal Cache Test. |
USB |
This section shows the following tests conducted against the USB: Controller Tests and Functional Tests. |
Hardware ID |
The compare test is used to determine the machine ID for the system. This test is not available for the Sun Ultra 27 workstation. |
The Print Results Report option enables you to print the results of the diagnosis of your system. Ensure that your workstation is connected to a printer, and then type the required information to print the results.
The About Pc-Check window includes general information about Pc-Check software, including resident and nonresident components, such as mouse devices.
The Exit to DOS option exits Pc-Check and returns you to the DOS prompt.