Diagnostic Tools

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The server and its accompanying software and firmware contain diagnostic tools and features that can help you isolate component problems, monitor the status of a functioning system, and exercise one or more subsystems to disclose more subtle or intermittent hardware-related problems.

Each diagnostic tool has its own specific strength and application. Review the tools listed in this section and determine which tool might be best to use for your situation. Once you have determined the tool to use, you can access it locally (while at the server) or remotely.

The selection of diagnostic tools available for your server range in complexity from a comprehensive validation test suite (Oracle VTS) to a chronological event log (Oracle ILOM System Log). The selection of diagnostic tools also include standalone software packages, firmware-based tests, and hardware-based LED indicators.

The following table summarizes the diagnostic tools that you can use when troubleshooting or monitoring your server.

Diagnostic Tool	Type	What It Does	Accessibility	Remote Capability
Oracle ILOM	SP firmware	Monitors environmental conditions and component functionality sensors, generates alerts, performs fault isolation, and provides remote access.	Can function on either standby power mode or full power mode and is not OS dependent.	Designed for remote and local access.
Preboot Menu	SP firmware	Enables you to restore some Oracle ILOM default settings when Oracle ILOM is not accessible.	Can function on standby power and when operating system is not running.	Local, but remote serial access is possible if the SP serial port is connected to a network-accessible terminal server.
Hardware-based LED indicators	Hardware and SP firmware	Indicates status of overall system and particular components.	Available when system power is available.	Local, but sensor and indicators are accessible from Oracle ILOM web interface or command-line interface (CLI).
Power-on Self-Test (POST)	Host firmware	Tests core components of system: CPUs, memory, and motherboard I/O bridge integrated circuits.	Runs on startup. Available when the operating system is not running.	Local, but can be accessed through Oracle ILOM Remote Console.
U-Boot	SP firmware	Initializes and tests aspects of the service processor (SP) prior to booting Oracle ILOM and the operating system. Tests SP memory, SP, network devices and I/O devices.	Can function on standby power and when operating system is not running.	Local, but remote serial access is possible if the SP serial port is connected to a network-accessible terminal server.
UEFI Diagnostics	System BIOS	The UEFI diagnostics can test and detect problems on all CPU, memory, disk drives, and network ports. It is used on systems that support UEFI.	You can use either the Oracle ILOM web interface or the command-line interface (CLI) to run UEFI diagnostics.	Remote access through Oracle ILOM Remote Console.
Oracle Solaris commands	Operating system software	Displays various kinds of system information.	Requires operating system.	Local, and over network.
Oracle Linux commands	Operating system software	Displays various kinds of system information.	Requires operating system.	Local, and over network.
Oracle VTS	Diagnostic tool standalone software	Exercises and stresses the system, running tests in parallel.	Requires operating system. Install Oracle VTS software separately.	View and control over network.