Apple Server Diagnostics User Manual
Apple Server Diagnostics User Guide
For Version 3X106
Apple Inc. K
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Contents
5 Chapter 1: Overview and Requirements
6 Overview of Server Diagnostics Congurations
9 Requirements
9 General Requirements
9 Storage Device Requirements
10 Local and Remote Requirements
11 NetBoot Server Requirements
12 Chapter 2: Setup and Installation
12 Setting Up a Storage Device for Server Diagnostics Installation
14 Installing Server Diagnostics EFI
15 Restoring Server Diagnostics EFI
16 Installing Server Diagnostics Mac OS X
18 Setting Up a NetBoot Server
20 Deleting the Server Diagnostics NetBoot Image
21 Chapter 3: Starting Up Server Diagnostics
21 Changing the Startup Disk
22 Changing the Startup Disk in System Preferences
22 Changing the Startup Disk Using the Command-Line Interface
23 Changing the Startup Disk Using Apple Remote Desktop
23 Changing the Startup Disk Temporarily at Startup
24 Starting Up a Server Diagnostics EFI NetBoot Image Using the Xserve Front Panel
26 Disabling the Firmware Password
27 Starting Up Mac OS X Server in 32-Bit Mode
27 Conguring Mac OS X Server to Start Up in 32-Bit Mode
28 Temporarily Starting Up Mac OS X Server in 32-Bit Mode
29 Chapter 4: Using Server Diagnostics
29 Setting Server Diagnostics to Host, Client, or Local Mode
30 Remotely Testing a Client Server
31 Testing the Local Server Using Server Diagnostics EFI
32 Testing the Local Server Using Server Diagnostics Mac OS X
32 Using Server Diagnostics EFI
3
33 Customizing Server Diagnostics EFI Test Settings
34 Clearing the Test Log
34 Viewing the Hardware Prole
35 Shutting Down or Restarting the Server
35 Viewing Saved Logs
35 Taking Screenshots
36 Using Server Diagnostics Mac OS X
36 Customizing Server Diagnostics Mac OS X Test Settings
37 Working with Test Groups
38 Viewing Logs
39 Setting Log Preferences
41 Shutting Down or Restarting the Server
41 Quitting Server Diagnostics Mac OS X While a Test is Running
42 Appendix: Server Diagnostics Test Reference
42 Comparison of Available Tests
44 Server Diagnostics EFI Tests
44 Startup Tests
44 AirPort Tests
45 Boot ROM Tests
45 Ethernet Controller Tests
45 Hard Drive Tests
45 Memory Tests
48 Power Supply Tests
48 Processor Tests
49 Sensor Tests
49 SMC PID Sensor Tests
49 USB Tests
49 Video Controller Tests
50 Server Diagnostics Mac OS X Tests
50 Startup Tests
50 AirPort Tests
51 Bluetooth Tests
51 Ethernet Controller Tests
52 Fan Tests
52 Hard Drive Tests
52 Memory Tests
53 Power Supply Tests
53 Sensor Tests
53 USB Tests
54 Video Controller Tests
4 Contents
Overview and Requirements
1
Apple Server Diagnostics tests your server for hardware
issues.
Apple Server Diagnostics, also referred to as Server Diagnostics, runs a customizable set
of tests to help you diagnose issues with the following components:
AirPort Â
Bluetooth Â
Boot ROM Â
Ethernet controller Â
Fan Â
Hard drive Â
Memory Â
Power supply Â
Processor Â
Sensor Â
USB ports Â
Video controller Â
®
You can run Apple Server Diagnostics in Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI), which
is referred to as Server Diagnostics EFI, or in Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server, which is
referred to as Server Diagnostics Mac OS X.
By running Server Diagnostics EFI, you can diagnose hardware issues that prevent
Mac OS X Server from successfully starting up. You can also run tests without
interference from Mac OS X Server, and test more than 2.5 gigabytes (GB) of memory.
However, Server Diagnostics Mac OS X provides an enhanced interface and has
more extensive sensor, hard drive, and video controller tests. For a comparison and
description of all available tests, see “Server Diagnostics Test Reference” on page 42.
5
You can test the server by running Server Diagnostics directly on the server. You can
also run Server Diagnostics remotely on a computer with a network connection to
the server.
Note: This guide describes how to use Apple Server Diagnostics version 3X106, which
is included on the Admin Tools disc (Mac OS X Server version 10.6 or later).
Overview of Server Diagnostics Congurations
You can install and run Server Diagnostics in a variety of ways, so choose the
method that best suits your needs. There are several options, each with advantages
and disadvantages:
6 Chapter 1 Overview and Requirements
Option Considerations
Use the preinstalled Server Diagnostics EFI Advantages:
 You can use Server Diagnostics EFI
 You don’t need a portable storage device
 Server Diagnostics EFI typically loads faster
than any other method
 No installation is necessary
Disadvantages:
 Requires a server with Mac OS X Server 10.6
or later preinstalled
 You need physical access to the server
 Damage to the startup volume may prevent
access to Server Diagnostics EFI
 You can’t save logs or screenshots locally
 You must restore Server Diagnostics if you
erase the volume it’s installed on
Install Server Diagnostics EFI on a portable
storage device
Advantages:
 You can use Server Diagnostics EFI
 You can use the same portable storage device
to test multiple servers
 You can save logs and screenshots locally
Disadvantages:
 You need physical access to the server
 You need a volume on the portable storage
device that has 30 MB free and that doesn’t
have Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server installed
 The portable storage device must be physically
connected to the server
Install Server Diagnostics EFI on the hard disk Advantages:
 You can use Server Diagnostics EFI
 You don’t need a portable storage device
 You can save logs and screenshots locally
Disadvantages:
 You need physical access to the server
 You need a volume on the server that has
30 MB free and doesn’t have Mac OS X or
Mac OS X Server installed
Chapter 1 Overview and Requirements 7
Option Considerations
Host a NetBoot server Advantages:
 You can use Server Diagnostics EFI
 You don’t need to install Server Diagnostics on
an internal volume on the server or on
a portable storage device
 You can use a single Server Diagnostics install
image to test multiple servers
 If you’re testing an Xserve and have access
to its front panel, you can start up Server
Diagnostics without an input device
connected to the Xserve
Disadvantages:
 You need physical access to the server
 You need a server to host NetBoot service and
the Server Diagnostics install image
 The server must be on the same subnet as the
NetBoot server
 You can’t save logs or screenshots locally
Start up the Server Diagnostics EFI located on the
Admin Tools disc
Advantages:
 You can use Server Diagnostics EFI
 You can use the same disc to test multiple
servers
Disadvantages:
(if your server has an optical drive)
 You need physical access to the server
 You must insert the disc in the server
 You can’t save logs or take screenshots
Disadvantages:
(if your server doesn’t have an optical drive)
 You need a computer with an optical drive and
remote access to the server
 You can’t save logs locally
Install Server Diagnostics Mac OS X on a portable
storage device
Advantages:
 You can use Server Diagnostics Mac OS X
 You can use a single portable storage device to
test multiple servers
Disadvantages:
 You need an empty volume on the portable
storage device with 10 GB free
 You must install Mac OS X Server on the empty
volume
 The portable storage device must be physically
connected to the server
8 Chapter 1 Overview and Requirements
Option Considerations
Install Server Diagnostics Mac OS X on an internal
volume
Advantages:
 You can use Server Diagnostics Mac OS X
 You don’t need physical access to the server to
run Server Diagnostics Mac OS X remotely (if
you have Apple Remote Desktop)
Disadvantages:
 You need an empty volume on the server with
10 GB free
 You must install Mac OS X Server on the empty
volume
Requirements
Before you can run Server Diagnostics, you must meet general, storage device, and
local and remote requirements.
General Requirements
To run Server Diagnostics, you need the following:
An Intel-based Xserve or a Mac mini with Mac OS X Server version 10.6 or later Â
installed
The  Mac OS X Server Install DVD and Admin Tools disc included with the Xserve or
Mac mini (both discs should be version 10.6 or later)
Storage Device Requirements
Depending on whether you want to run Server Diagnostics EFI, Server Diagnostics
Mac OS X, or both, you need empty volumes on the server or on a portable storage
device.
If you want to run Server Diagnostics Mac OS X, the storage device must use the
GUID Partition Table partition scheme. If you’re running only Server Diagnostics EFI on
the storage device, you don’t need to use the GUID Partition Table partition scheme.
You can run both versions of Server Diagnostics by having two empty volumes on the
same server or portable storage device. You need at least one of the following:
Chapter 1 Overview and Requirements 9
In order to You need
Run Server Diagnostics EFI A volume on the server that has at least 30 MB
free, but doesn’t have Mac OS X or Mac OS X
Server installed
Run Server Diagnostics Mac OS X An empty volume on the server with at least
10 GB free, which will be be used for a dedicated
Mac OS X Server installation
Test multiple servers and run Server Diagnostics
EFI
Test multiple servers and run Server Diagnostics
Mac OS X
A USB 2.0 ash drive, or USB 2.0 or FireWire hard
drive with a volume that has at least 30 MB free
but doesn’t have Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server
installed
A USB 2.0 or FireWire hard drive that has an
empty volume with at least 10 GB free
Local and Remote Requirements
To run Server Diagnostics locally on the server, you need to connect a keyboard,
mouse, and display.
To run Server Diagnostics remotely, you need the following:
A Macintosh computer with Mac OS X version 10.6 or later installed. This computer is Â
referred to as the host computer.
A server with Mac OS X Server version 10.6 or later installed. This server is referred to Â
as the client server.
A network connection with DHCP active or a direct Ethernet connection from the Â
host computer to the client server.
If the client server is going to run Server Diagnostics EFI and use a network Â
connection, the network connection must use a built-in Ethernet port, and not an
Ethernet adapter card.
The client server must have Server Diagnostics installed either on an internal Â
volume or on a connected portable storage device; or it must be able to run Server
Diagnostics from a NetBoot server.
The host computer must run Server Diagnostics Mac OS X. The client server can run Â
Server Diagnostics EFI or Server Diagnostics Mac OS X.
If the client server is running Server Diagnostics Mac OS X, you must be able to Â
log in as the root account. The root account gives a system administrator complete
access to the server.
10 Chapter 1 Overview and Requirements
NetBoot Server Requirements
To host Server Diagnostics EFI on a NetBoot server, your NetBoot server must:
Have Mac OS X Server version 10.5 (10.5.8 or later recommended) installed. Â
Be on the same subnet as the server being tested. Â
Have 30 MB of hard disk space available for a Server Diagnostics NetBoot image. Â
Chapter 1 Overview and Requirements 11
Setup and Installation
2
Before you can run Server Diagnostics, you must set up your
testing environment and install Server Diagnostics.
Make sure you meet Server Diagnostics requirements before attempting setup and
installation. For information, see “Requirements” on page 9.
Server Diagnostics EFI is preinstalled on the server. The instructions in this chapter
show you how to install Server Diagnostics in a dierent location or set up
a NetBoot server.
Setting Up a Storage Device for Server Diagnostics Installation
To set up an internal volume or portable storage device for Server Diagnostics
installation, you need at least 30 MB of available space for Server Diagnostics EFI
or at least 10 GB of available space for Server Diagnostics Mac OS X, which requires
installing Mac OS X Server. These requirements are described in detail in “Storage
Device Requirements” on page 9.
If you’re installing Server Diagnostics Mac OS X on one of the volumes, the storage
device should use the GUID Partition Table partition map scheme. To view the storage
device’s partition map scheme, open Disk Utility and select the storage device.
Make sure you select the storage device and not a volume within the storage device.
At the bottom of the Disk Utility window, Partition Map Scheme should be GUID
Partition Table.
If you want to repartition an in-use storage device, run Disk Utility from the Mac OS X
Server Install DVD or run Disk Utility while your server is connected to another
computer and is in target disk mode. Both of these methods erase the contents of
your server’s hard disk and require you to reinstall and recongure Mac OS X Server.
WARNING: The following instructions could erase all data on your storage device.
Back up critical data before performing the following instructions.
12
To create and format empty storage device volumes:
1 Insert the Mac OS X Server Install DVD.
2 Open the Install Mac OS X Server application, click Restart, and authenticate if
necessary.
The computer restarts and opens the Mac OS X Server Installer.
3 Select a language and click Next (right-arrow).
4 Choose Utilities > Disk Utility.
5 Select the storage device that you want to set up.
Make sure you select a storage device, and not volumes within the storage device.
Volumes within a storage device are indented one level.
6 Click the Partition tab.
7 If the partition map scheme of the storage device isn’t GUID Partition Table and you’re
going to install Server Diagnostics Mac OS X, choose something besides “Current” in
the Volume Scheme pop-up menu, then click Options, select GUID Partition Table, and
click OK.
Changing the volume scheme erases all data on the storage device.
8 Review the partition sizes and adjust them to meet Server Diagnostics storage
requirements.
To do this Do this
Display a partition’s size Click the partition and review the Size eld.
Set the size of the partition Edit the Size eld.
Create more partitions Select a partition and click the Add (+) button.
Delete partitions Select it and click the Delete (–) button.
Name a partition Select it and enter a name in the Name eld.
Because this name is used when selecting which
volume to start up Mac OS X from, choose a
name that identies the volume as being used
for Server Diagnostics.
9 If you’re installing Server Diagnostics EFI on a volume, select the volume and choose
MS-DOS (FAT) from the Format pop-up menu.
If you’re installing Server Diagnostics Mac OS X on a volume, select the volume and
choose Mac OS Extended (Journaled).
10 Click Partition.
Chapter 2 Setup and Installation 13
11 Choose Disk Utility > Quit Disk Utility, and then choose Mac OS X Installer > Quit
Mac OS X Installer.
After you nish setting up volumes, you can install Server Diagnostics EFI or Server
Diagnostics Mac OS X. For information, see the following topics:
“ Â Installing Server Diagnostics EFI” on page 14
“ Â Installing Server Diagnostics Mac OS X” on page 16
Installing Server Diagnostics EFI
Before you install Server Diagnostics EFI, make sure that your storage device has
a volume that has at least 30 MB available and is formatted as MS-DOS (FAT). The
volume will be erased, so make sure all important data on the volume is backed
up. For more information, see “Setting Up a Storage Device for Server Diagnostics
Installation” on page 12 .
To perform these instructions, you need the Admin Tools disc (version 10.6 or later)
included with the server.
If you perform this task to install Server Diagnostics EFI on an internal volume on the
server, you need administrator access to the server. If you perform this task to install
Server Diagnostics EFI on a portable storage device, you can use any computer that
you have administrator access to.
If you want to connect a host computer directly to the server, and the host computer
doesn’t provide DHCP service on the port used to directly connect to the server, you
need to create a le on the server that assigns an IP address to the server. However,
if the host computer provides DHCP service, don’t create this le. For information
about how to nd out if a computer is providing DHCP service, see Network Services
Administration at:
www.apple.com/server/macosx/resources
To install Server Diagnostics EFI:
1 If the server has an optical drive, insert the Admin Tools disc. If it doesn’t have an optical
drive, do the following:
a Insert the Admin Tools disc in a computer with an optical drive.
The computer must be on the same subnet as the server.
b On the computer with the optical drive, open System Preferences and click Sharing.
Select “DVD or CD Sharing.”
14 Chapter 2 Setup and Installation
c On the server, open a Finder window and select Remote Disc (under Devices on
the left). Select the computer with the disc inserted. If the disc isn’t listed, click “Ask
to use.” On the computer with the disc inserted, click Accept when a dialog appears
asking if you want to give permission for your server to use your DVD drive.
After doing this, you can use the disc as if it’s inserted in the server.
2 On the server, open AppleServerDiagnosticsEFI.pkg (located in /Diagnostics/ on the
disc).
3 Follow the onscreen instructions, and at the Select Destination step, choose a volume
that has at least 30 MB of space available and doesn’t have Mac OS X Server installed.
4 If you’re asked to authenticate, authenticate as a user with administrator privileges.
5 If you want to connect a host computer directly to the server and the host computer
doesn’t provide DHCP service on the port used to directly connect to the server, do
the following:
a Open TextEdit (located in /Applications/).
b In a new le, enter an IP address that’s not in use by the host computer. For example,
enter:
12 3 .123 .12 3 .12 3
If TextEdit doesn’t open with a new blank le, choose File > New.
c Choose Format > Make Plain Text.
d Choose File > Save As.
e Name the le axd_set_ip_address, and then change the location of the le to the
volume with Server Diagnostics EFI installed.
f Select “If no extension is provided, use ‘.txt’,” and then click Save.
Restoring Server Diagnostics EFI
Server Diagnostics EFI is preinstalled on the startup volume of servers with Mac OS X
Server (version 10.6 or later) installed. If you erase the startup volume, you’ll erase
Server Diagnostics EFI. If you install Server Diagnostics EFI instead of restoring it, you
won’t be able to start up Server Diagnostics EFI by holding down the D key at startup.
To restore Server Diagnostics EFI:
1 If the server has an optical drive, insert the Admin Tools disc. If it doesn’t have an optical
drive, do the following:
a Insert the Admin Tools disc in a computer with an optical drive.
The computer must be on the same subnet as the server.
Chapter 2 Setup and Installation 15
b On the computer with the optical drive, open System Preferences and click Sharing.
Select “DVD or CD Sharing.”
c On the server, open a Finder window and select Remote Disc (under Devices on
the left). Select the computer with the disc inserted. If the disc isn’t listed, click
“Ask to use.” On the computer with the disc inserted, click Accept when a dialog
appears asking if you want to give permission for your server to use your DVD drive.
After doing this, you can use the disc as if it’s inserted in the server.
2 On the server, open AppleServerDiagnosticsHD.pkg (located in /Diagnostics/
on the disc).
3 Follow the onscreen instructions, and at the Select Destination step, choose a volume
that has at least 30 MB of space available and doesn’t have Mac OS X Server installed.
4 If you’re asked to authenticate, authenticate as a user with administrator privileges.
Installing Server Diagnostics Mac OS X
Before you install Server Diagnostics Mac OS X, make sure that your storage device
uses the GUID Partition Table partition scheme and that it has an empty volume with
10 GB of available space. For more information, see “Setting Up a Storage Device for
Server Diagnostics Installation” on page 12 .
If you perform this task to install Server Diagnostics Mac OS X on an internal volume
on the server, you need administrator access to the server. If you perform this task
to install Server Diagnostics Mac OS X on a portable storage device, you can use any
computer that you have administrator access to.
Installing Server Diagnostics Mac OS X involves three steps:
Install Mac OS X Server with minimal options selected Â
Copy Server Diagnostics Mac OS X from the  Admin Tools disc to /Applications/
Congure Mac OS X Server Â
By dedicating a minimal installation of Mac OS X Server for use with Server Diagnostics
Mac OS X, you reduce the risk of server processes interrupting Server Diagnostics
testing.
To install Server Diagnostics Mac OS X:
1 If the server has an optical drive, insert the Mac OS X Server Install DVD, open the Install
Mac OS X Server application, click Restart, and authenticate if necessary. If the server
doesn’t have an optical drive, do the following:
a Insert the Mac OS X Server Install DVD in a computer with an optical drive and has
Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server version 10.5.2 or later installed.
The computer must be on the same subnet as the server.
16 Chapter 2 Setup and Installation
b On the computer with the disc inserted, open Remote Install Mac OS X (located in
/Applications/Utilities/).
c Continue through the Remote Install Mac OS X assistant, selecting the inserted disc
and the network connection that’s on the same subnet as the server.
d Restart the server and hold down the Option key while it restarts.
e When a list of startup disks appears, select Mac OS X Server Install Disc and click
the arrow button.
If it isn’t listed and you’re connecting to the computer over AirPort, select the
AirPort network in the pop-up menu under the startup disk list.
2 Continue through the Mac OS X Server Installer until you reach the step where you
select the disk to install Mac OS X Server on.
3 Select a volume that’s at least 10 GB.
If the volume isn’t empty, choose Utilities > Disk Utility. Select the volume. In the Erase
pane, click Erase. After the volume is erased, choose Disk Utility > Quit Disk Utility.
4 Click Customize, deselect all checkboxes, click OK, and then click Install.
When the Installer nishes installing Mac OS X Server, the computer restarts and the
Mac OS X Server setup assistant opens.
5 Continue through the setup assistant and enter any information that’s requested. In
the Users and Groups step, select Congure Manually. Don’t enable any services.
When you nish entering information in the setup assistant, the login window appears.
6 Log in with the user name “root” and the password of the user you created in the
setup assistant.
You must set up and run Server Diagnostics Mac OS X as root. Otherwise, you won’t be
able to test the server you’ve installed Server Diagnostics Mac OS X on.
7 If the server has an optical drive, insert the Admin Tools disc. If it doesn’t have an
optical drive, do the following:
a Insert the Admin Tools disc in a computer with an optical drive.
The computer must be on the same subnet as the server.
b On the computer with the optical drive, open System Preferences and click Sharing.
Select “DVD or CD Sharing.”
c On the server, open a Finder window and select Remote Disc (under Devices on
the left). Select the computer with the disc inserted. If the disc isn’t listed, click “Ask
to use.” On the computer with the disc inserted, click Accept when a dialog appears
asking if you want to give permission for your server to use your DVD drive.
After doing this, you can use the disc as if it’s inserted in the server.
Chapter 2 Setup and Installation 17
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