In my previous write up here, I wrote a brief description of the Sun VTS (Validation and Test Suite) which can help one to run tests on any Sun Supported hardware and hardware components and report the health status and identify faulty devices. Now, lets get installing and run Sun VTS in Solaris 10.

Download the most recent stable version of SUNWvts (SUNWvts6.4ps2 at the time of writing this article) for SPARC/x86 platforms from here

NOTE: Requires Sunsolve login to download.

Sun VTS requires the following packages installed to run properly.

Core SunVTS Framework

SUNWvts_VTS6.4ps2_sparc.tar.Z (SPARC)

SUNWvts_VTS6.4ps2_x86.tar.Z (x86)

Sun VTS Tests

SUNWvtsts_VTS6.4ps2_sparc.tar.Z (SPARC)

SUNWvtsts_VTS6.4ps2_x86.tar.Z (x86)

SunVTS Framework Configuration Files in Root partition (Optional/Recommended)

SUNWvtsr_VTS6.4ps2_sparc.tar.Z

SUNWvtsr_VTS6.4ps2_x86.tar.Z
 
Sun VTS Man Pages (Optional)
SUNWvtsmn_VTS6.4ps1_sparc.tar.Z (SPARC)

SUNWvtsmn_VTS6.4ps1_x86.tar.Z (x86)

Prior to installation, it is important that any previous version of the above mentioned Sun VTS packages are removed.

To check if previous versions are installed

solaris10# pkginfo -l | grep -i vts

If found uninstall them before proceeding with the procedure

solaris10# pkgrm SUNWvts SUNWvtsr SUNWvtsts SUNWvtsmn

Download and install the latest revision of Microtasking libraries (libmtsk) patch for Solaris 10 from the following Sun Solve website:

http://sunsolve.sun.com/show.do?target=patchpage

Solaris 10 SPARC – 120753 (120753-05)

Solaris 10 x86 – 120754 (120754-05)

Download unzip and install the patch:

SPARC

solaris10# unzip 120753-05.zip

solaris10# patchadd 120753-05

x86

solaris10# unzip 120754-05.zip

solaris10# patchadd 120754-05

Now, lets get installing the Sun VTS packages.

Install SunVTS Core Framework (SPARC & x86)

solaris10#pkgadd -d . SUNWvts

That installs the required Sun VTS Core Framework package.

Install the rest of the SunVTS packages
(SunVTS Tests,config files in root & Man pages)

solaris10# pkgadd -d . SUNWvtsts SUNWvtsr SUNWvtsmn

That completes the Sun VTS package installation.

Enable the rstatd daemon

rstatd daemon is disabled by default in Solaris 10.

solaris10# svcadm enable rstatd

Export Display to your PC (GUI only)

solaris10# export DISPLAY 192.168.0.2:0

Start Sun VTS

solaris10# /opt/SUNWvts/bin/sunvts &

This should start the Sun VTS software and export GUI to your PC (if display not exported then runs tty user interface on the terminal). Sun VTS will discover devices and list available tests for your server with dezcriptive information on the server.

SunVTS, Sun Validation Test Suite, tests and validates Sun hardware by verifying the configuration and functionality of hardware controllers, devices, and platforms. SunVTS is used to ensure a “clean bill of health” of the overall system under test and its underlying hardware. Several diagnosability features incorporated in the latest release makes SunVTS an effective online/offline diagnostics tool. The added emphasis on failed FRU (field replaceable unit) identification, and data safe, low impact testing, makes it appropriate for use online and offline in ant environments.

SunVTS supports a flexible interface that allows a user to remotely schedule and monitor anything from a single test on a single piece of hardware to multiple instances of multiple tests in order to fully stress the system. SunVTS runs on all Sun SPARC based platforms supporting Solaris 2.5 or later releases. SunVTS also runs on many Sun x86 based platforms supporting Solaris 10 or later.

Sun VTS can run in

Connectivity Mode (Low Stress and a quick test mode)

Online Mode – More thorough check still non-intrusive so can run on production environments without affecting existing applications

Offline Mode – Assumes no other application runs and uses as much available resources to perform a thorough testing and hence to be run offline taking systems off production to perform the tests.

The core components of Sun VTS are

Sun VTS Kernel which performs the actual tests.

User Interface – A GUI or a TTY terminal interface

Hardware Tests – Each hardware device supported by Sun can be validated by a corresponding hardware test. Each test is a separate process from the SunVTS kernel process.

For more information on the features, click here

The following explains the procedures to download, install and run Sun VTS (Validation & Test Suite)

Install and run Sun VTS in Sun Solaris 10