Running Enabled and Extended Diagnostics to Confirm Hardware Errors on the BDA

Asset ID:	1-71-1956552.1
Update Date:	2017-10-25
Keywords:

Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 1956552.1 : Running Enabled and Extended Diagnostics to Confirm Hardware Errors on the BDA

Applies to:

Big Data Appliance X4-2 Hardware - Version All Versions and later
Big Data Appliance X3-2 Hardware - Version All Versions and later
Big Data Appliance Hardware - Version All Versions and later
x86_64

Goal

How to enable x86 diagnostics to run at Boot (Web) using Enabled and Extended on the BDA.

Solution

Instructions to Enable x86 Diagnostics to Run at Boot (Web)

Instructions to enable x86 diagnostics to run at boot(web):

1. Before You Begin

a) To diagnose x86 systems hardware issues, you need the Reset and Host Control (r) role enabled.

If you log into the ILOM as root, you have all the privileges needed to run diagnostics.

You can confirm this in the ILOM via:

ILOM Administration > User Management >User Accounts > Privileges are under Users.

See correct privileges for root and admin:

ilom_privs

b) If you choose to run diagnostics in Manual mode, or if you want to monitor the progress of diagnostic tests in Enabled or Extended mode, do one of the following:

Start a host console redirection.
Set up a serial console.
Connect a keyboard, video, and mouse to your system.

2. To configure PC-Check diagnostics:

a) Navigate to the Diagnostics page and select the level of diagnostic to run:

i. Host Management > Diagnostics > The Diagnostics page appears.

ii. In the Run Diagnostics on Boot dropdown, select one of the following levels of diagnostics to run:

      Disabled (default)– PC-Check will not run diagnostic test during host start-up. The server remains in normal operation mode.

      Enabled – PC-Check runs a predefined test suite without user intervention at host startup. Upon completion, the host will boot from the next device on the BIOS Boot Device Priority list. Use this mode to run quick diagnostic tests for first-time field installation or prior to installing mission-critical applications to verify system quality. The basic PC-Check tests typically take up to 5 minutes to complete.

      Extended – PC-Check runs a comprehensive test suite upon host startup. Use this mode after installing the system for the first time, after physically transporting the system, any time you add components, and prior to installing production operating systems and mission-critical applications. The extended PC-Check tests typically take 20 to 40 minutes to complete.

      Manual – The PC-Check diagnostic tests menu appears upon host startup. Use this mode to select tests from the PC-Check menu or to select predefined test suites through the Immediate Burn-in test menu. Test times depend on the tests selected.

iii. Select: Save.

b) Navigate to the Server Power Control page and select "Power Cycle"

i. Host Management > Power Control > The Server Power Control page appears.

ii. In the Select Action dropdown, select Power Cycle, and then Save.

If you initiated a redirection session, the redirected display will initially show the host startup messages, and then it shows the progress of the diagnostic tests.

Note: The diagnostics loop i.e. keep repeating until you disable them. To disable diagnostics, return to the ILOM and change the Diagnostics back to Disabled
i.e. Host Management > Diagnostics > Disabled > Save

After that the node will boot normally.

Example of Enabled Diagnostics

1. As per the section: Instructions to Enable x86 Diagnostics to Run at Boot (Web) navigate to:

Host Management > Diagnostics > The Diagnostics page appears > In the: Run Diagnostics on Boot dropdown, select Enabled > Save

Host Management > Power Control > The Server Power Control page appears > Power Cycle > Save

Enabled diagnostics take about 5 minutes to run.

2. See Enable Diagnostics start:

2. View the diagnostic tests running:

3. View the diagnostics test results:

4. When prompted with: "System restarting, remove mediag and press <Enter>.", press <Enter> to continue:

5. Diagnostics will continue until the set is run and results posted. When complete diagnostics will continue until you reset to "Disabled" as in the section: Instructions to Enable x86 Diagnostics to Run at Boot (Web).

Example of Extended Diagnostics

1. As per the section: Instructions to Enable x86 Diagnostics to Run at Boot (Web) navigate to:

Host Management > Diagnostics > The Diagnostics page appears > In the: Run Diagnostics on Boot dropdown, select Extended > Save

Host Management > Power Control > The Server Power Control page appears > Power Cycle > Save

Extended diagnostics take about 20-40 minutes to run.

2. View the cycle:

a) Select Extended Diagnostics:

b) Extended Diagnostics start:

c) View the diagnostic tests running and posting results:

d) As the diagnostics run, colored cubes post to the screen like green, yellow, red , blue. For example:

e10

e) When prompted with: "System restarting, remove mediag and press <Enter>.", press <Enter> to continue:

e11

3. Diagnostics will continue until the set is run and results posted. When complete diagnostics will continue until you reset to "Disabled" as in the section: Instructions to Enable x86 Diagnostics to Run at Boot (Web).

References

<NOTE:1438864.1> - SPX86-8004-CE - Fault due to excessive memory correctable errors (CE's)
<NOTE:1155200.1> - PSH Procedural Article for ILOM-Based Diagnosis
<NOTE:1956549.1> - The BDA utility, bdacheckhw Reports a Memory Failure: "WARNING: Hardware errors reported by ILOM : fault.memory.intel.sb.dimm_ce"

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