Apple XSERVE G5 Using Xserve Remote Diagnostics
Xserve G5
Using Xserve
Remote Diagnostics
Includes instructions for using the remote
diagnostics tool
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Using Xserve Remote Diagnostics Software
You can use the Xserve Remote Diagnostics tool to test
your server’s hardware.
The Xserve G5 system’s diagnostic tool, Xserve Remote Diagnostics, performs several
tests of the server hardware and creates a test report. You use a remote admin
computer to control the diagnostic tool and to run the tests on an Xserve G5 system.
Xserve Remote Diagnostics has a standard set of quick tests (the default set) and a
more extensive long set of tests. In addition, you can use a copy of the test files as a
template and modify those files to customize tests. See “Creating a Custom Set of
Diagnostic Tests” on page 6 for more information.
Overview of Using Xserve Remote Diagnostics
To run the diagnostics tool, you need the following resources:
An Xserve G5 system on which to perform the tests; the server must be running
•
Mac OS X Server v10.3 or a later version. (If the server is not able to run Mac OS X, see
“Example 2: Using Diagnostics on a Server That Is in an Unknown State” on page 5
for instructions.)
•
A remote admin computer (or server) running Mac OS X 10.3 or later that is on the
same subnet as the server to be tested
•
A working NetBoot environment (a server running Mac OS X Server 10.3.2 or a later
version, and configured for NetBoot, with DHCP running)
Note:
The remote admin computer and the NetBoot server can be the same system. If
the NetBoot server is also the remote admin computer, you must set up the server’s
boot volume as a NetBoot environment before installing Xserve Remote Diagnostics.
See “Preparing the NetBoot Server” on page 4 for more information.
The procedure for using the diagnostic tool has the following steps. Each step is
explained later in this document.
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Step 1: Download and install the software
See “Installing Xserve Remote Diagnostics” on page 3 for details.
Step 2: Set up the NetBoot server by designating the ports and volumes to
use
See “Preparing the NetBoot Server” on page 4 for instructions on setting up a NetBoot
server.
Step 3: Use Terminal to launch the diagnostic tool on a remote admin
computer
See “Running Diagnostics Tests on a Server” on page 4 for details on using the tool.
Step 4: Use the front panel of the server to put the system into diagnostic
mode (needed if server does not start up normally)
See “Initiating Diagnostics Mode From the System’s Front Panel” on page 5 for details
on putting a server that is not working in diagnostics mode.
The remote admin computer controls the tests and receives the output of test results.
Installing Xserve Remote Diagnostics
Xserve Remote Diagnostics is available for downloading from the Apple support
website at www.info.apple.com. On the support site, click the Downloads button and
search downloads or check the list for Xserve items.
After you download the software, you must install Xserve Remote Diagnostics in two
places:
•
The remote admin computer
The NetBoot server
•
If you are installing Xserve Remote Diagnostics on a server, be sure to set up the server
as a NetBoot environment. See “Preparing the NetBoot Server” on page 4 for
instructions.
m
Double-click the Xserve Remote Diagnostics icon to begin the installation process.
Also go through any “Read Me” document that accompanies the software.
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Preparing the NetBoot Server
You need a NetBoot server to assist with the diagnostic tests. In addition to installing
Xserve Remote Diagnostics on this server, you should make certain that it is set up for
NetBoot use.
To set up the NetBoot server:
1
Open Server Admin and select NetBoot in the Computers & Servers list.
2
Click the Settings button, then click General.
3
Click Enable next to the network ports you want to use for serving images.
4
Click the boot volume in the Images column of the Volume list to choose where to
store images.
5
Click the boot volume in the Client Data column of the Volume list to specify the
storage location for shadow files used by Mac OS 9 clients and Mac OS X diskless
clients.
6
Click Save.
Running Diagnostics Tests on a Server
When you’ve installed the software on the remote admin computer and a NetBoot
server, you can begin running diagnostic tests on the Xserve G5 system. The examples
below provide instructions for using the diagnostics tool on a working server and on a
server that does not start up normally (or does not have Mac OS X Server installed on
it).
To see a brief explanation of the diagnostic tool and its commands, you can display the
man page by typing:
man xrdiags
Example 1: Using Diagnostics on a Server That Is Able to Run Mac OS X Server
To run diagnostic tests on an Xserve G5 system that is functioning and able to start up,
you use a remote admin computer on the same subnet to begin the tests.
To begin tests on a working server:
1
Alert any clients using the server that it will be unavailable during testing.
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On the remote admin computer, open Terminal.
3
Open Xserve Remote Diagnostics and initiate testing by typing:
xrdiags -user <name:password> -remote <ip_address> | <dns_name>
For example, with the user-supplied information, this command might read
xrdiags -user Admin:mysecretpassword -remote 10.201.42.74
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