Error Prevention
6-6
HP Servers Troubleshooting Guide
HP CONFIDENTIAL
Writer: Ted Weiman File Name: g-ch6 Error Prevention.doc
Codename: Generic TSG Part Number: 161759-007 Last Saved On: 11/19/02 9:38 AM
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Scan for viruses weekly. Use the latest virus-scanning utilities available to be
sure that your data is not corrupted.
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Keep historical data. You will not know that the CPU utilization has increased
50 percent if you do not know what it was initially. If you have problems, you
can use the data to compare before and after scenarios. For example, you might
want to know about the user, bus, and power utilization rates.
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Keep a trend analysis so that you will know what to expect during certain points
in time. For example, if the CPU utilization rate always increases by 50 percent
during certain hours, you will know that increase is normal for the server you are
tracking.
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Create a problem resolution notebook. When problems do occur, keep a log of
the actions you took to resolve them. This could help you solve the same problem
more quickly in the future. System configuration, Inspect Utility, and Array
Diagnostic Utility (ADU) printouts, as well as utility diskettes, can also be stored
with the resolution notebook. This information can save a great deal of time in
the future and ensure accuracy, especially when dealing with future part
replacement.
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Keep an up-to-date network topology map in an accessible location. This will
help in troubleshooting networking problems.
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If you have a tape drive, maintain a scheduled cleaning program.
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If you have a tape drive, remember the importance of tape cartridge label
placement. Place the label on the exposed surface of the cartridge so that it
cannot fall off or get lodged inside the tape drive.
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Store all processor slot terminators that have been replaced by installed
processors. It is helpful to replace one or more processors with terminators when
a failed processor is being diagnosed.
NOTE:
It is required that all processor slots contain either a processor or terminator, properly
seated, for the server to power up.
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Consider keeping certain spare parts available onsite. Spare parts to maintain
include SCSI controllers, hot-pluggable redundant power supplies, hot-pluggable
fans, hot-pluggable drives, SCSI cables, network adapters, Processor Power
Modules (PPMs), and perhaps even complete I/O, media, processor, and memory
modules, if your server is modular.