Server Diagnostics Overview - Oracle Sun Netra T5440 Service Manual

1.2 Server Diagnostics Overview
1.2

Server Diagnostics Overview

There are a variety of diagnostic tools, commands, and indicators you can use to monitor and
troubleshoot a server:
LEDs – These indicators provide a quick visual notification of the status of the server and
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of some of the FRUs.
Fault management architecture – FMA provides simplified fault diagnostics through use
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of the /var/adm/messages file, the fmdump command, and a Sun Microsystems web site.
ILOM firmware – This system firmware runs on the service processor. In addition to
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providing the interface between the hardware and OS, ILOM also tracks and reports the
health of key server components. ILOM works closely with POST and Solaris Predictive
Self-Healing technology to keep the system up and running even when there is a faulty
component.
Power-on self-test (POST) – POST performs diagnostics on system components upon
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system reset to ensure the integrity of those components. POST is configurable and works
with ILOM to take faulty components offline if needed.
Solaris OS Predictive Self-Healing (PSH) – This technology continuously monitors the
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health of the CPU and memory, and works with ILOM to take a faulty component offline if
needed. The Predictive Self-Healing technology enables Sun systems to accurately predict
component failures and mitigate many serious problems before they occur.
Log files and console messages – These provide the standard Solaris OS log files and
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investigative commands that can be accessed and displayed on the device of your choice.
SunVTS™ – An application that exercises the system, provides hardware validation, and
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discloses possible faulty components with recommendations for repair.
The LEDs, ILOM, Solaris OS PSH, and many of the log files and console messages are
integrated. For example, a fault detected by the Solaris software will display the fault, log it,
pass information to ILOM where it is logged, and depending on the fault, might light one or
more LEDs.
The diagnostic flowchart in
diagnostics to identify a faulty field-replaceable unit (FRU). The diagnostics you use, and the
order in which you use them, depend on the nature of the problem you are troubleshooting. So
you might perform some actions and not others.
The flowchart assumes that you have already performed some rudimentary troubleshooting
such as verification of proper installation, visual inspection of cables and power, and possibly
performed a reset of the server (refer to the server installation guide and server administration
guide for details).
Use this flowchart to understand what diagnostics are available to troubleshoot faulty hardware.
Use Table 1-1
12 Sun Netra T5440 Server • September 2015
Figure 1-1
to find more information about each diagnostic in this chapter.
and Table 1-1 describes an approach for using the server