3 - C H A P T E R -

C H A P T E R 3

Starting SunVTS

This chapter contains information that describes:

SunVTS Runtime Considerations

Requirements for Starting SunVTS

Overview of SunVTS Procedures

Preparing Devices for Testing

Starting SunVTS on a Local System

Starting SunVTS on a Remote System

Quitting SunVTS

Displaying Devices With the vtsprobe Utility

3.1 SunVTS Runtime Considerations

Before you start SunVTS, consider the following runtime issues:

System load--Before you run SunVTS on your system you should consider the added system activity created by SunVTS and consider its effect on users. Depending on the mode that you select, testing can add significantly to your system load or be quite minimal. Added load is desirable when using SunVTS for system stress testing and validation.

Other applications--Some SunVTS tests stress the system resources (such as virtual memory) to the point that other applications might not run.

System functionality--SunVTS is an diagnostic tool. It only runs when your system is fully booted to run level 3 (multi-user level). SunVTS will not run from single-user (maintenance mode) nor from run level 0 (monitor mode).

Superuser access--For security reasons, only superuser is permitted to run SunVTS unless the SunVTS security file is modified when you use the basic SunVTS security scheme.

Graphics Tests--Running tests on frame buffers has two key considerations: You must not run any other application or screen saver program that uses the frame buffer. The frame buffer graphic tests print test patterns on the display. This temporarily prevents you from working in your window environment.

Swap Space--The amount of swap space required for testing varies widely with individual hardware and software configurations. If an adequate amount of swap space is not available on your machine, a window pops up and displays the amount of additional swap space needed.

Latest SunVTS news--Refer to the /opt/SUNWvts/README file for the latest SunVTS updates.

3.2 Requirements for Starting SunVTS

Your system must meet the following requirements to run SunVTS:

The SunVTS packages must be installed on the systems on which you plan to run SunVTS. Refer to Installing and Removing SunVTS for installation information.

The system must be booted to the multiuser level.

To run SunVTS with a graphical user interface (GUI), that GUI must be installed (CDE). Otherwise, start SunVTS with the TTY interface.

Note - Although it is not a requirement, it is good practice to prepare devices like tape drives, CD-ROM drives, and diskette drives by installing the proper media before starting SunVTS. This practice assures the most reliable device-probe results. See Preparing Devices for Testing for more information.

3.3 Overview of SunVTS Procedures

The following table describes the process for testing your system with SunVTS. The table also provides a brief description, and refers you to the location in the document for more detailed information.

TABLE 3-1 SunVTS Procedures
Step	Procedure	Description
1	Become superuser	Log in as root or use `su` to become root (superuser). Note: To access SunVTS the user or host must be granted access through one of the SunVTS security mechanisms. See SunVTS Security.
2	Determine the current state of the system you plan to test	Your system is considered online if other applications are running and the system is operating in a production capacity. If the system is online, you should stop the applications and make sure the system remains offline for the duration of your testing. See SunVTS Runtime Considerations.
3	Prepare devices for testing	Load the required test media and loopback connectors. Test media is required when testing your tape, CD-ROM, and diskette drives in Functional mode. Communication port tests require loopback connectors. Refer to Preparing Devices for Testing.
4	Start your desired graphical environment (optional)	SunVTS runs in the CDE window environment, or in a non-graphical window environment (in TTY mode).
5	Start SunVTS	There are many ways to start the SunVTS application. Refer to the following sections: Starting SunVTS on a Local System Starting SunVTS on a Remote System Displaying Devices With the vtsprobe Utility
6	Set up SunVTS with your desired test session configuration	The method for doing this depends on the SunVTS interface that you are using: Using the SunVTS CDE User Interface Using the SunVTS TTY User Interface
7	Run the tests	To run the tests, select the `start` button in the SunVTS interface. The testing process may take as little as one second, or run indefinitely, based on how SunVTS is configured.
8	Review the test results	Test results are displayed real-time in the SunVTS interface and logged in three log files. You can also configure SunVTS to notify you by email.
9	Quit SunVTS	Refer to Quitting SunVTS for more details.

3.4 Preparing Devices for Testing

Several tests require the installation of media or loopback connectors. Install such requirements before the SunVTS kernel probes for devices (when SunVTS is started, or when the SunVTS reprobe command is run) to allow the SunVTS kernel to properly identify each device.

You must install media in these devices if you plan to test them in Functional Mode:

Tape drive--Load a scratch tape in the tape drive that you plan to test. The tape test has a Read-only mode, but use a scratch tape to avoid inadvertently writing over data.

CD-ROM and DVD drives--Load appropriate media into the drive. It can be an audio or data CD.

Diskette drive--Load a scratch diskette in the drive. The diskette test has a Read-only mode, but use a scratch tape to avoid inadvertently writing over data.

SmartCard Reader--Allocate a scratch smart card for testing purposes because the SmartCard test writes on the card.

Communication ports--Many of these tests require a loopback connector attached to the port. Attach any required loopback connectors for the ports you plan to test. For more information about loopback connectors refer to the SunVTS Test Reference Manual.

Printer ports--Requires connection to a printer.

Note - Any device that requires your intervention before the test can run (such as loading media for tape, CD-ROM, and diskette tests), also requires that you notify SunVTS that you have performed this action by selecting the Intervention checkbox. You cannot select any intervention mode tests until you select this checkbox.

3.5 Starting SunVTS on a Local System

This section describes the common ways to start SunVTS:

Using the sunvts Command

Starting the SunVTS Kernel and Interface Separately

Starting SunVTS to Test an Online System

3.5.1 Using the sunvts Command

The typical way to start SunVTS is to use the sunvts command. This command starts the SunVTS kernel, either the 32-bit or 64-bit version, and one of the SunVTS user interfaces, based on your system environment.

The SunVTS UI that starts is determined by the following criteria:

When the CDE window manager (DTWM) is running, the SunVTS CDE UI is started (vtsui).
If no window manager is running, then the SunVTS TTY UI is started (vtstty).

Note - The sunvts command starts SunVTS assuming that the system under test is in an offline state. All other system applications should be stopped.

To Start SunVTS with the sunvts command

1. Become superuser.

2. Run the sunvts command:

# /opt/SUNWvts/bin/sunvts

Note - If you receive an error message such as:connection to ":0.0" refused by serverXlib: Client is not authorized to connect to ServerError: Can't open display: :0.0
You may need to grant xhost permissions by typing: xhost display_hostname

3. Refer to one of the following chapters according to the SunVTS UI you are using:

Using the SunVTS CDE User Interface

Using the SunVTS TTY User Interface

To Use the sunvts Command With Options

You can use the sunvts command with a variety of options (as shown in the following table) to control how SunVTS is started.

1. For example, the following command starts SunVTS with the TTY UI no matter what window environment you are using:

# /opt/SUNWvts/bin/sunvts -t

TABLE 3-2 The `sunvts` Command Syntax
`/opt/SUNWvts/bin/sunvts [-epqstv] [-o` options_file`] [-f` logfile_directory`] [-h` hostname`]` `-display` local_hostname`:0`
Argument	Description
`-e`	Disables the connection permission checking feature
`-p`	Starts the SunVTS kernel, but does not probe the test system's devices
`-q`	Automatically quits both the SunVTS kernel and the user interface when testing stops
`-s`	Automatically starts testing a selected group of tests; the flag must be used with the `-o` options_file flag
`-t`	Starts `vtstty`, a TTY-based program. If you do not specify this option, and the system is running CDE, `sunvts` starts `vtsui`.
`-v`	Displays version information from the SunVTS kernel and UI
`-o` options_file	Starts the SunVTS kernel with the test options loaded from the options_file; these options are saved by the user interface and are stored in the `/var/opt/SUNWvts/options` directory
`-f` logfile_directory	Specifies an alternative logfile directory other than the default directory `/var/opt/SUNWvts/logs`
`-h` hostname	Starts the user interface (`vtsui` or `vtstty`) on the local machine and tries to connect to the SunVTS kernel (`vtsk`) of the specified host machine. If hostname is the same hostname of the machine on which the tests are being run, `sunvts` starts the SunVTS kernel (`vtsk`). If `vtsk` is already running on the test system, the `sunvts` command ignores the `-o`, `-f`, `-q`, `-p`, and `-s` options
`-display` local_hostname`:0`	When running SunVTS through a remote login, this option starts the SunVTS kernel on the remote system, and the user interface is displayed on the local machine designated as local_hostname`:0`

3.5.2 Starting the SunVTS Kernel and Interface Separately

The sunvts command starts both the SunVTS kernel and the user interface that is appropriate for your system. However, there are commands that you can use to start just the SunVTS kernel, or to specify a specific user interface.

To Start the SunVTS Kernel (vtsk)

1. The vtsk command starts the SunVTS kernel. You can use command-line options (see the following table below) to control the behavior of this command.

For systems running in the 32-bit Solaris environment, use the following command:
# /opt/SUNWvts/bin/vtsk
For systems running in the 64-bit Solaris environment, use the following command:
# /opt/SUNWvts/bin/sparcv9/vtsk

The vtsk command-line syntax and options are listed below:

TABLE 3-3 The `vtsk` Syntax
`/opt/SUNWvts/bin/vtsk [-epqsv] [-o` options_file`] [-f` logfile_directory`]`
Argument	Description
`-e`	Disables the connection permission checking feature
`-p`	Starts the SunVTS kernel, but does not probe test system devices
`-q`	Quits both the SunVTS kernel and the user interface when testing is complete
`-s`	Starts testing a selected group of tests; this flag must be used with the `-o` options_file flag
`-v`	Displays only the version information from the SunVTS kernel, `vtsk`; this option does not start the `vtsk` daemon
`-o` options_file	Starts the SunVTS kernel with the test options saved in the options_file; these options are saved and stored in the `/var/opt/SUNWvts/options` directory
`-f` logfile_directory	Specifies an alternative to the default logfile directory (`/var/opt/SUNWvts/logs`)

To Start a Specific SunVTS User Interface

In most cases, when you use the sunvts command, the appropriate SunVTS user interface is started.

1. For situations when you want to start a specific user interface without starting the SunVTS kernel, use one of the following:

To start the CDE interface:
# /opt/SUNWvts/bin/vtsui
To start the TTY interface:
# /opt/SUNWvts/bin/vtstty

In all cases, the user interface attempts to connect to the SunVTS kernel.

3.5.3 Starting SunVTS to Test an Online System

As of SunVTS 4.3, the SunVTS online testing capability that was initiated using the vtsui.online command is no longer available. The SUNWodu package that provides this online testing functionality is no longer provided.

Online Diagnostic testing of Sun systems is now available through the Sun Management Center software using the Sun Hardware Diagnostic Suite add-on software. See http://www.sun.com/sunmanagementcenter for details.

Before you start a SunVTS test session stop all user applications.

3.6 Starting SunVTS on a Remote System

You can start, view, and control SunVTS testing sessions over a network. There are several ways to do it, but the desired effect is to have SunVTS display the SunVTS user interface on the local system (the system that you are on), while the SunVTS kernel is running and testing a remote system (connected via Ethernet, modem lines, and the like).

The following procedures are described in this section:

To Connect the User Interface to a Remote System

To Run SunVTS Through a Remote Login

To Run SunVTS Through telnet or tip (TTY Interface)

3.6.1 Requirements

In addition to the normal SunVTS requirements (refer to Requirements for Starting SunVTS), the following requirements must be met to run SunVTS on a remote system:

The user or host making the remote connection must be an authorized SunVTS user, either through the .sunvts_sec file (basic security), or through the SEAM security scheme. See SunVTS Security.
The same version of SunVTS must be installed on both the local and remote systems.

To Connect the User Interface to a Remote System

1. Type the following command:

# /opt/SUNWvts/bin/sunvts -h remote_hostname

Replace remote_hostname with the hostname or IP address of the remote system.

The sunvts command starts the SunVTS kernel (vtsk) on the remote system, and starts the SunVTS user interface on the local system. The user interface connects to the kernel and the displays the test session of the remote system. Refer to FIGURE 3-1 below.

The term system under test (SUT) refers to the system running the SunVTS kernel, which is the remote system in this example.

FIGURE 3-1 SunVTS CDE Main Window

Drawing showing the SunVTS user interface displayed on one workstation and the SunVTS kernel running on another workstation.

Note - If the user interface is already running on your local system, you can use the "Connect to" button to connect to a remote machine SunVTS kernel, provided that the SunVTS security is set up properly.

2. Configure SunVTS for the test session and start the tests as described in the following sections:

Using the SunVTS CDE User Interface

Using the SunVTS TTY User Interface

To Run SunVTS Through a Remote Login

1. Use the xhost command to allow the remote system to display on your local system.

% /usr/openwin/bin/xhost + remote_hostname

Replace remote_hostname with the name of the remote system.

2. Log in to the remote system as superuser.

Use a command such as rlogin.

3. Start SunVTS:

# /opt/SUNWvts/bin/sunvts -display local_hostname:0

Replace local_hostname with the name of the local system.

The SunVTS kernel starts on the remote system and the user interface displays on your system.

4. Configure SunVTS for the test session and start the tests.

Using the SunVTS CDE User Interface

Using the SunVTS TTY User Interface

To Run SunVTS Through telnet or tip (TTY Interface)

You can run SunVTS on a remote system with the TTY interface through a telnet or tip session.

You need to set the correct terminal type and number of columns and rows before starting the interface. The steps below describe this process.

1. Use the echo command to display the value of the TERM variable:

In this example, the TERM variable is a Korn or Bourne shell variable and the value is sun-cmd. Your display device may be something else like a Wyse, TeleVideo, or other kind of terminal. In that case your TERM value will be something different.

$ echo $TERM

sun-cmd

2. Use the stty command to display the settings of your terminal:

$ stty

speed 9600 baud; -parity hupcl

rows = 60; columns = 80; ypixels = 780; xpixels = 568;

swtch = <undef>;

brkint -inpck -istrip icrnl -ixany imaxbel onlcr

echo echoe echok echoctl echoke iexten

Note - You must have a minimum of 80 columns and 24 rows to run the SunVTS TTY interface.

3. Write down the values of your TERM variable and rows and columns settings.

You will need these values later.

4. Connect to the remote system using either the telnet or tip commands.

Refer to the telnet(1) and tip(1) man pages for more information about these commands.

5. Become superuser on the remote system.

6. Identify your terminal type and settings in the telnet (or tip) session window:

# TERM=sun-cmd

# stty rows 60

# stty columns 80

7. Start SunVTS with the TTY interface:

# /opt/SUNWvts/bin/sunvts -t

8. Configure SunVTS for the test session and start the tests.

Refer to Using the SunVTS TTY User Interface.

3.7 Quitting SunVTS

To Quit SunVTS

1. If SunVTS is testing, stop the test session before quitting SunVTS.

2. To quit SunVTS, access the Quit SunVTS submenu and choose from one of the following:

vts kernel and ui--terminates the user interface and the SunVTS kernel
vts kernel--terminates only the SunVTS kernel
vts ui--terminates only the user interface
Quit Button--terminates only the user interface

3.8 Displaying Devices With the vtsprobe Utility

The vtsprobe command lists all of the system testable devices, associated configuration information, and corresponding hardware tests.

The SunVTS kernel must be running on the test machine for the vtsprobe command to work. See Starting the SunVTS Kernel and Interface Separately.

Any user or remote host that wishes to run vtsprobe must be listed in the .sunvts_sec file. By default, root on the local host is listed.

To Display the Devices for a Local System

1. Type the following command:

CODE EXAMPLE 3-1 `vtsprobe` Example
example% `/opt/SUNWvts/bin/vtsprobe` Processor(s) fpu(fputest) Architecture: sparc Type: TI TMS390Z50 SuperSPARC chip system(systest) System Configuration: sun4m SPARCstation 10 (1 X 390Z50) System clock frequency: 40 MHz SBUS clock frequency: 20 MHz Memory kmem(vmem) Amount: 233580KB mem(pmem) Physical Memory size:48 Mb Network isdn0(isdntest) le0(nettest) Host_Name: example Host Address: 131.155.56.122 Host ID: 12347f61 Domain Name: widget.com SCSI-Devices(esp0) c0t0d0(rawtest) Logical Name: c0t0d0 Capacity: 510.23MB Controller: esp0 c0t0d0(fstest) Logical Name: c0t0d0 Controller:esp0 tape0(tapetest) Drive Type: Exabyte EXB-8200 8mm Helical Scan Comm.Ports zs0(sptest) term/a & term/b Graphics cgsix0(cg6) 5000KB required for testing. OtherDevices Controller:Intel 82077 diskette(fstest) Logical Name: diskette Controller: Intel 82077 sound0(audio) Audio Device Type: DBRI Speakerbox

CODE EXAMPLE 3-1 vtsprobe Example

example% /opt/SUNWvts/bin/vtsprobe

Processor(s)

	fpu(fputest)

		Architecture: sparc

		Type: TI TMS390Z50 SuperSPARC chip

	system(systest)

		System Configuration: sun4m SPARCstation 10 (1 X 390Z50)

		System clock frequency: 40 MHz

		SBUS clock frequency: 20 MHz

Memory

	kmem(vmem)

		Amount: 233580KB

	mem(pmem)

		Physical Memory size:48 Mb

Network

	isdn0(isdntest)

	le0(nettest)

		Host_Name: example

		Host Address: 131.155.56.122

		Host ID: 12347f61

		Domain Name: widget.com

SCSI-Devices(esp0)

	c0t0d0(rawtest)

		Logical Name: c0t0d0

		Capacity: 510.23MB

		Controller: esp0

	c0t0d0(fstest)

		Logical Name: c0t0d0

		Controller:esp0

	tape0(tapetest)

		Drive Type: Exabyte EXB-8200 8mm Helical Scan

Comm.Ports

	zs0(sptest)

		term/a & term/b

Graphics

	cgsix0(cg6)

		5000KB required for testing.

OtherDevices

		Controller:Intel 82077

	diskette(fstest)

		Logical Name: diskette

		Controller: Intel 82077

	sound0(audio)

		Audio Device Type: DBRI Speakerbox

To Display Devices of a Remote System

Note - The user or local host must be listed in the .sunvts_sec file on the remote system.

1. Make sure that the SunVTS kernel is running on the remote system.

2. Type the following command:

# vtsprobe -h hostname

The vtsprobe utility connects to the remote machine and displays the hardware devices of the remote machine. The output is displayed on the window in which you invoke vtsprobe.