If you experience a problem with your blade, run the diagnostics before calling for technical assistance. The purpose of the diagnostics is to test your blade's hardware without requiring additional equipment or risking data loss. If you are unable to fix the problem yourself, service and support personnel can use diagnostics test results to help you solve the problem.
Using Server Administrator Diagnostics
To assess a blade problem, first use the online Server Administrator diagnostics. If you are unable to identify the problem, then use the system diagnostics.
To access the online diagnostics, log into the Server Administrator home page, and then click the Diagnostics tab. For information about using diagnostics, see the online help. For additional information, see the Server Administrator User's Guide.
System Diagnostics Features
The system diagnostics provides a series of menus and options for particular device groups or devices on a blade. The system diagnostics menus and options allow you to:
Run tests individually or collectively
Control the sequence of tests
Repeat tests
Display, print, or save test results
Temporarily suspend testing if an error is detected or terminate testing when a user-defined error limit is reached
View help messages that briefly describe each test and its parameters
View status messages that inform you if tests are completed successfully
View error messages that inform you of problems encountered during testing
When to Use the System Diagnostics
If a major component or device in the blade does not operate properly, component failure may be indicated. As long as the microprocessor and the blade's input/output devices (monitor, keyboard, and diskette drive) are functioning, you can use the system diagnostics to help identify the problem.
Running the System Diagnostics
The system diagnostics can be run from either the utility partition on your hard drive or a USB flash drive.
NOTICE: Use the system diagnostics to test only your blade. Using this program with other blades may cause invalid results or error messages. In addition, use only the program that came with your blade (or an updated version of that program).
From the Utility Partition
As the blade boots, press <F10> during POST.
From the utility partition main menu under Run System Utilities, select
Run System Diagnostics.
NOTE: If the utility partition has been removed from the drive, download the Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics from support.dell.com and install the diagnostics to a USB flash drive, as described in the following section.
From a USB Flash Drive
Format the USB flash drive to emulate a hard drive.
See the documentation that came with your USB flash drive for instructions.
Configure the USB flash drive to be a bootable device.
See the documentation that came with your USB flash drive for instructions. Dell also provides a USB memory key boot utility for download at support.dell.com.
Install DKMS DOS on the USB flash drive.
Create a directory for the system diagnostics on the USB flash drive.
Copy the system diagnostics files into the directory.
Ensure that you have the USB flash drive connected to the blade.
Enter the System Setup program and ensure that the USB Flash Drive
Emulation Type option is set to Auto and set the USB flash drive as the
first device in the Hard-Disk Drive Sequence option.
NOTE: If you power up or reboot the blade without the USB flash drive connected to the blade, you must reset the options in the System Setup program again.
Ensure that you have the USB flash drive connected to the blade.
When you start the system diagnostics, a message is displayed stating that the diagnostics are initializing. Next, the Diagnostics menu appears. The menu allows you to run all or specific diagnostics tests or to exit the system diagnostics.
NOTE: Before you read the rest of this section, start the system diagnostics so that you can see the utility on your screen.
System Diagnostics Testing Options
To select an option from the Diagnostics menu, highlight the option and press <Enter>, or press the key that corresponds to the highlighted letter in the option.
Table 6-1 provides a brief explanation of testing options.
Table 6-1. System Diagnostics Testing Options
Testing Option
Function
Quick Tests
Performs a quick check of the blade. Select Test All Devices and then select Quick Tests. This option runs device tests that do not require user interaction. Use this option to quickly identify the source of your problem.
Test One Device
Tests a particular device.
Extended Tests
Performs a more thorough check of the blade. Select Test All Devices and then select Extended Tests.
Advanced Testing
Checks a particular area of the blade.
Information and Results
Displays test results.
Program Options
Sets various test parameters.
Device Configuration
Displays an overview of the devices in the blade.
Exit to MS-DOS
Exits the diagnostics and returns to the System Utilities menu.
Using the Advanced Testing Options
When you select Advanced Testing from the Diagnostics menu, the main screen of the diagnostics appears and displays the following information:
Two lines at the top of the screen identify the diagnostics utility, the version number, and the system's service tag number.
The left side of the screen under Device Groups liststhe diagnostic device groups in the order that they are tested if you select All under the Run Tests submenu. Press the up- or down-arrow keys to highlight a particular device group. Press the left- or right-arrow keys to select the options on the menu. As you move from one menu option to another, a brief explanation of the highlighted option appears at the bottom of the screen.
The right side of the screen under Devices for Highlighted Group lists the specific devices within a particular test group.
The menu area consists of two lines at the bottom of the screen. The first line lists the menu options that you can select; press the left- or right-arrow key to highlight an option. The second line provides information about the highlighted option.
For more information about a device group or device, highlight the Help option and press <Enter>. Press <Esc> to return to the previous screen.
Error Messages
When you run a system diagnostics test, you may receive an error message during testing. Record the message on a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist. For a copy of the Diagnostics Checklist and instructions for obtaining technical assistance, see Getting Help.
