Chapter 3. Diagnostics
This chapter describes the diagnostic tools that are available to help you solve
problems that might occur in the server.
If you cannot locate and correct a problem by using the information in this chapter,
see Appendix A, “Getting help and technical assistance,” on page 279 for more
information.
Diagnostic tools
The following tools are available to help you diagnose and solve hardware-related
problems:
v Troubleshooting tables
These tables list problem symptoms and actions to correct the problems. See
“Troubleshooting tables” on page 43.
v Light path diagnostics
Use the light path diagnostics to diagnose system errors quickly. See “Light path
diagnostics” on page 62 for more information.
v Dynamic System Analysis Preboot (DSA) diagnostic programs
The DSA Preboot diagnostic programs provide problem isolation, configuration
analysis, and error log collection. The diagnostic programs are the primary
method of testing the major components of the server and are stored in
integrated USB memory. The diagnostic programs collect the following
information about the server:
– System configuration
– Network interfaces and settings
– Installed hardware
– Light path diagnostics status
– Service processor status and configuration
– Vital product data, firmware, and IBM's implementation of UEFI configuration
– Hard disk drive health
– RAID controller configuration
– ServeRAID controller and service processor event logs, including the following
information:
- System-event logs
- Temperature, voltage, and fan speed information
- Tape drive presence and read/write test results
- Systems management analysis and reporting technology (SMART) data
- USB information
- Monitor configuration information
- PCI slot information
The diagnostic programs create a merged log that includes events from all
collected logs. The information is collected into a file that you can send to IBM
service and support. Additionally, you can view the server information locally
through a generated text report file. You can also copy the log to removable
media and view the log from a Web browser. See “Running the diagnostic
programs” on page 72 for more information.
v IBM Electronic Service Agent
IBM Electronic Service Agent is a software tool that monitors the server for
hardware error events and automatically submits electronic service requests to
IBM service and support. Also, it can collect and transmit system configuration
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