Diagnostic tools

Tools are available to help you diagnose and solve hardware-related problems.

Power-on self-test (POST) progress codes (checkpoints), error codes, and isolation procedures
The POST checks out the hardware at system initialization. IPL diagnostic functions test some system components and interconnections. The POST generates eight-digit checkpoints to mark the progress of powering up the blade server.

Use the management module to view progress codes.

The documentation of a progress code includes recovery actions for system hangs. See POST progress codes (checkpoints) for more information.

If the service processor detects a problem during POST, an error code is logged in the management module event log. Error codes are also logged in the Linux syslog or AIX® diagnostic log, if possible. See System reference codes (SRCs).

The service processor can generate codes that point to specific isolation procedures. See Service processor problems.
Light path diagnostics
Use the light path diagnostic LEDs on the system board to identify failing hardware. If the system error LED on the system LED panel on the front or rear of the BladeCenter® unit is lit, one or more error LEDs on the BladeCenter unit components also might be lit.

Light path diagnostics help identify failing customer replaceable unit (CRUs). CRU location codes are included in error codes and the event log.

LED locations

See System-board LEDs.

Front panel

See Blade server control panel buttons and LEDs.
Troubleshooting tables
Use the troubleshooting tables to find solutions to problems that have identifiable symptoms.

See Troubleshooting tables.
Dump data collection
In some circumstances, an error might require a dump to show more data. The Integrated Virtualization Manager (IVM) or Hardware Management Console (HMC) sets up a dump area. Specific IVM or HMC information is included as part of the information that can optionally be sent to IBM® support for analysis.

See Collecting dump data for more information.
Stand-alone diagnostics
The AIX-based stand-alone diagnostics CD is in the ship package and is also available from the IBM Web site. Boot the diagnostics from a CD drive or from an AIX network installation manager (NIM) server if the blade server cannot boot to an operating system, no matter which operating system is installed.
Functions provided by the stand-alone diagnostics include:
- Analysis of errors reported by the platform, such as microprocessor and memory errors
- Testing of resources, such as I/O adapters and devices
- Service aids, such as firmware update, format disk, and Raid Manager
Diagnostic utilities for the AIX operating system
Run AIX concurrent diagnostics if AIX is functioning instead of the stand-alone diagnostics. Functions provided by disk-based AIX diagnostics include:
- Automatic error log analysis
- Analysis of errors reported by the platform, such as microprocessor and memory errors
- Testing of resources, such as I/O adapters and devices
- Service aids, such as firmware update, format disk, and Raid Manager
Diagnostic utilities for Linux operating systems
Linux service and productivity tools include hardware diagnostic aids and productivity tools, and installation aids. The installation aids are provided in the IBM Installation Toolkit for Linux, a set of tools that aids the installation of Linux on IBM servers with POWER® architecture. You can also use the tools to update the PS703 or PS704 blade server firmware.

Diagnostic utilities for the Linux operating system are available from IBM at https://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/sas/f/lopdiags/home.html.
Diagnostic utilities for other operating systems
You can use the stand-alone diagnostics CD to perform diagnostics on the PS703 or PS704 blade server, no matter which operating system is loaded on the blade server. However, other supported operating systems might have diagnostic tools that are available through the operating system. See the documentation for your operating system for more information.

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