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Chapter 6. Using the Online and Standalone Diagnostics
The AIX diagnostics consist of online diagnostics and standalone diagnostics.
Attention:
The AIX operating system must be installed in order to run online diagnostics. If the AIX
operating system is not installed, use the standalone diagnostic procedures.
Online diagnostics, when they are installed, reside with AIX in the file system. They can be booted:
v In single user mode (referred to as service mode)
v To run in maintenance mode (referred to as maintenance mode)
v To run concurrently with other applications (referred to as concurrent mode)
Standalone diagnostics must be booted before they can be run. If booted, the diagnostics have no access
to the AIX error log nor the AIX configuration data on the system hard drive.
Does the system have AIX diagnostics preinstalled?
YES
Go to "Running the Online Diagnostics in Service Mode" on page 186.
NO
Go to "Running the Standalone Diagnostics with CD-ROM" on page 189.
If standalone diagnostics will be run from a NIM server, go to "Running Standalone
Diagnostics from a Network Installation Management (NIM) Server" on page 189.
Operating Considerations for Online and Standalone Diagnostics
Note: When possible, run online diagnostics in service mode. Online diagnostics perform additional
functions compared to standalone diagnostics. Running online diagnostics in service mode ensures
that the error state of the system that has been captured in NVRAM is available for your use in
analyzing the problem. The AIX error log and certain SMIT functions are only available when
diagnostics are run from the disk drive.
When diagnostics are installed, the device support for some devices might not get installed. If this is the
case, that device does not display in the diagnostic test list when running disk-based diagnostics.
Identifying the Terminal Type to the Diagnostics
When you run diagnostics, you must identify which type of terminal you are using. If the terminal type is
not known when the FUNCTION SELECTION menu is displayed, the diagnostics do not allow you to
continue until a terminal is selected from the DEFINE TERMINAL option menu.
Undefined Terminal Types
If you specify an undefined terminal type from the DEFINE TERMINAL option menu, the menu prompts the
user to enter a valid terminal type. The menu redisplays until either a valid type is entered or you exit the
DEFINE TERMINAL option. If the AIX operating system is being used, from the command line, type:
export term=vt320
Resetting the Terminal
Pressing Ctrl-C to reset the terminal. The screen display that results from this reset depends on the mode
in which the system is being run:
v Online Normal or Maintenance Mode - The command prompt displays.
v Standalone Mode or Online Service Mode - The terminal type is reset to dumb, the Diagnostic Operating
Instruction panel displays, and you are required to go through the DEFINE TERMINAL process again.
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