3.9.4. Power On Self Test (POST)

This section provides additional information on Power On Self Test (POST), the series of diagnostic tests used to verify that the DM3 board components are working properly. As described above, the dm3post diagnostic tool can run POST "on demand." But otherwise, the complete POST suite of tests runs automatically when a board detects that a power on condition has occurred. A power on condition occurs only when the host is started from a powered down state (cold boot). If the host resets the board (warm boot), then only a subset of the tests run.

POST status is displayed differently for digital network interface (DNI) boards and analog network interface boards. The following sections describe how to determine POST results for each type of board, and what to do if a POST failure occurs:

• Determining POST Status on Analog Network Interface Boards
• Determining POST Status on Digital Network Interface Boards

Note: Some of the following information is specific to QuadSpan products. Other DM3 products may provide a different display. POST display information for other products will be provided in a future issue of this document.

Determining POST Status on Analog Network Interface Boards

To determine POST status on analog network interface boards, follow these steps:

1. Locate the set of three LEDs located on the faceplate of the DM3 board. These LEDs are shown in Figure 18.

Figure 18. Analog Network Interface Board LEDs

2. Observe the LEDs during POST execution. They flash on and off as each test is run.
   • If POST passes all diagnostic tests, the LEDs turn off within 90 seconds of power up indicating POST completed successfully.
   • If POST fails a diagnostic test, the yellow LED flashes repeatedly after power up indicating POST failed.

Determining POST Status on Digital Network Interface Boards

To determine POST status on digital network interface boards, follow these steps:

1. Locate the two banks of LEDs on the DM3 board. On a cPCI board, the LEDs are located on the faceplate of the DM3 board as shown in Figure 19.

Figure 19. DNI Board LEDs (cPCI)

On a PCI board, the LEDs are located on the outer edge of the DM3 board as shown in Figure 20.

Figure 20. DNI Board LEDs (PCI)

2. Observe the LEDs during POST execution. A series of LEDs in both bank 1 and bank 2 flash on and off as each test is run.
   • If POST passes all diagnostic tests, the LEDs in both banks turn off indicating POST completed successfully.
   • If POST fails a diagnostic test, POST terminates immediately and displays the failing results in both banks of LEDs as follows:
     • a combination of LEDs in the first three rows of each bank remain on
     • the bottom row of LEDs in each bank flash repeatedly indicating a failure has occurred
     • both banks of LEDs display the same LED pattern.

       For example, Figure 21 shows a DNI cPCI board POST failure. The last row of LEDs would be flashing, indicating a failure.

Figure 21. DNI cPCI Board POST Failure

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