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Dynamic System Analysis

Dynamic System Analysis (DSA) collects and analyzes system information to aid in diagnosing server problems.

DSA collects the following information about the server:
  • Drive health information
  • Event logs for ServeRAID controllers and service processors
  • Hardware inventory, including PCI and USB information
  • Light path diagnostics status
  • Network interfaces and settings
  • Performance data and details about processes that are running
  • RAID controller configuration
  • Service processor (Integrated Management Module 2.1 (IMM2.1)) status and configuration
  • System configuration
  • Vital product data and firmware information

For system-specific information about the action that you should take as a result of a message that DSA generates, see DSA diagnostic test results.

If you cannot find a problem by using DSA, see Solving undetermined problems for information about testing the server.

Note
DSA Preboot might appear to be unresponsive when you start the program. This is normal operation while the program loads.

  • DSA Preboot

    DSA Preboot runs outside of the operating system; you must restart the server to run it. It is provided in the flash memory on the server, or you can create a bootable media such as a CD, DVD, ISO, USB, or PXE using the Lenovo XClarity Essentials Bootable Media Creator (BoMC). For more details, see the BoMC User Guide at the Bootable Media Creator (BoMC) for Lenovo x86 servers website. In addition to the capabilities of the other editions of DSA, DSA Preboot includes diagnostic routines that would be disruptive to run within the operating-system environment (such as resetting devices and causing loss of network connectivity). It has a graphical user interface that you can use to specify which diagnostics to run and to view the diagnostic and data collection results.

    DSA Preboot provides diagnostics for the following system components, if they are installed:
    • Emulex network adapter
    • Optical devices (CD or DVD)
    • Tape drives (SCSI, SAS, or SATA)
    • Memory
    • Microprocessor
    • Checkpoint panel
    • I2C bus
    • SAS and SATA drives

    If you are able to restart the server or if you need comprehensive diagnostics, use DSA Preboot.

For more information and to download the utilities, go to the Lenovo Dynamic System Analysis (DSA) website.