OpenBoot 2.x Command Reference Manual

Running Diagnostics

Several diagnostic routines are available from the Forth Monitor. These on-board tests let you check devices such as the network controller, the floppy disk system, memory, installed SBus cards and SCSI devices, and the system clock. User-installed devices can be tested if their firmware includes a self-test feature.

The following table lists diagnostic test commands. Remember: device-specifier refers to either a device path name or a device alias.

Table 2-4 Diagnostic Test Commands


Command	Description
`probe-scsi`	Identify devices attached to the built-in SCSI bus.
`probe-scsi-all` [`device-path`]	Perform `probe-scsi` on all SCSI buses installed in the system below the specified device tree node. (If `device-path` is absent, the root node is used.)
`test` `device-specifier`	Execute the specified device's self-test method. For example: `test floppy` - test the floppy drive, if installed `test /memory` - test number of megabytes specified in the `selftest-#megs` NVRAM parameter; or test all of memory if `diag-switch?` is `true` `test net` - test the network connection
`test-all` [`device-specifier`]	Test all devices (that have a built-in self-test method) below the specified device tree node. (If `device-specifier` is absent, the root node is used.)
`watch-clock`	Test the clock function.
`watch-net`	Monitor the network connection.

Testing the SCSI Bus

To check the built-in SCSI bus for connected devices, type:

ok probe-scsi 
Target 1
  Unit 0  Disk  SEAGATE ST1480  SUN04246266  Copyright (C) 1991 Seagate  
All rights reserved 
Target 3
  Unit 0  Disk  SEAGATE ST1480  SUN04245826  Copyright (C) 1991 Seagate  
All rights reserved 

ok

To test all SCSI buses installed in the system, type:

ok probe-scsi-all
/iommu@f,e0000000/sbus@f,e0001000/esp@3,200000
Target 6
  Unit 0  Disk  Removable Read Only device   SONY   CD-ROM CDU-8012 3.1d

/iommu@f,e0000000/sbus@f,e0001000/espdma@f,400000/esp@f,800000
Target 1
  Unit 0  Disk  SEAGATE ST1480  SUN04246266  Copyright (C) 1991 Seagate  
All rights reserved 
Target 3
  Unit 0  Disk  SEAGATE ST1480  SUN04245826  Copyright (C) 1991 Seagate  
All rights reserved 

ok

The response depends on the devices on the SCSI bus.

Testing Installed Devices

To test a single installed device, type:

ok test device-specifier

This executes the device method (named selftest) of the specified device node. Response depends on the self-test of the device node.

To test a group of installed devices, type:

ok test-all

All devices below the root node of the device tree are tested. The response depends on the devices that have a self-test method. If you use the device-specifier option with the test-all command, all devices below the specified device tree node are tested.

Testing the Diskette Drive

The diskette drive test determines whether the diskette drive is functioning properly. A formatted, high-density (HD) disk must be in the diskette drive for this test to be successful.

To test the diskette drive, type:

ok test floppy
Testing floppy disk system. A formatted
disk should be in the drive.
Test succeeded.
ok

If the test fails, you see an error message.

To eject the diskette, type:

ok eject-floppy 
ok

If this command fails, you can physically eject the diskette by inserting a straightened paper clip into the little hole near the diskette slot.

Testing Memory

When you use the memory testing routine, the system tests the number of megabytes of memory specified in the NVRAM parameter selftest-#megs. (See Chapter 3, Setting Configuration Parameters, for information about NVRAM parameters.) One megabyte of memory is tested as the default. If either the hardware diagnostic switch (if the system has one) or the NVRAM parameter diag-switch? is enabled, all the memory is tested.

To test memory, type:

ok test /memory 
Testing 16 megs of memory at addr 4000000 11
ok

In the preceding example, the first number (4000000) is the base address of the testing, and the following number (11) is the number of megabytes to go.

There will be a delay while the PROM tests the system. If the system fails this test, you see an error message.

Testing the Ethernet Controller

To test the on-board Ethernet controller, type:

ok test net 
Internal Loopback test - (result)
External Loopback test - (result)
ok

The system responds with a message indicating the result of the test.

Note -

The external loopback portion of this test will fail unless the system is connected to Ethernet.

Testing the Clock

To test the clock function, type:

ok watch-clock 
Watching the'seconds' register of the real time clock chip.
It should be ticking once a second.
Type any key to stop.
1 
ok

The system responds by incrementing a number once a second. Press any key to stop the test.

Monitoring the Network

To monitor the network connection, type:

ok watch-net 
Internal Loopback test - succeeded
External Loopback test - succeeded
Looking for Ethernet packets.
'.' is a good packet. 'X' is a bad packet.
Type any key to stop
....................X.....X...............
ok

The system monitors network traffic, displaying " ."each time it receives an error-free packet and "X" each time it receives a packet with an error that can be detected by the network hardware interface.

Note -

Not all OpenBoot 2.x systems include this test word.