IBM eServer 380 xSeries, User Reference Manual

Page: 71 / 112

Chapter 6. Solving Problems
57
POST
When you turn on your server, it performs a series of tests to check the operation of
server components and some of the options installed in the server. This series of tests
is called the power-on self-test (POST). The System Abstraction Layer (SAL), BIOS,
and Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) each perform a segment of the POST.
Note: If you have a power-on password set, you must type the password and press
Enter, when prompted, before POST will continue.
AMIDiagnostic program
Complete the following steps to run the AMIDiagnostic program:
1. Insert the LS120 diskette containing the diagnostic program into the diskette
drive.
2. Boot the system to the EFI shell.
3. Type FS0: and press Enter to select FS0 as the default drive.
4. Type AMIDiag and press Enter to start the diagnostic program.
5. Use the arrow keys or keyboard shortcuts to select the test. See “AMIDiag
Shortcuts” on page 59 for the keyboard shortcuts.
6. Press Enter to run the test.
Running AMIDiag in batch mode
When your computer is experiencing an intermittent problem that no diagnostic
software test has been able to identify, run the AMIDiag test over an extended period
of time. Many computer problems (especially memory problems) are not evident when
a test is run only once. AMIDiag enables you to run diagnostics on only a certain part
of the computer, a specific part of memory, or a specific part of a disk drive. AMIDiag
also enables you to build script (INI) files that contain test configuration information.
After you have created an AMIDiag.ini file, you can run the AMIDiag diagnostic
routines listed in the INI file automatically.
Batch mode steps
Complete the following steps to run the diagnostic program in the batch mode:
1. Select the AMIDiag tests to be run.
2. Select the test parameters, such as the drives, the I/O ports, and other
parameters for each selected test.
Note: These parameters differ for each test.
3. After selecting the test and its parameters, press F10 to run the test and check
that it is configured properly.
4. Save the selected test parameters and tests in an AMIDiag.ini file.
Note: You can run this set of tests at any time.