Name

dskx − generic disk exerciser

Syntax

/usr/field/dskx [ options ] −rdev
/usr/field/dskx [ options ] −pdevpart
/usr/field/dskx [ options ] −cdev

Description

The dskx exerciser tests the disk drives on your system. The exerciser has three main options which include read only, write/read/validate data on a partition, and write/read/validate data of a disk.

The exerciser does random seeks and reads of random block sizes and random seeks, writes, reads, and validations of random data patterns of random block sizes. The exerciser will run until <CTRLC> or kill −15 pid is sent to the process. 

A logfile is made in /usr/field for you to examine and then remove. If there are errors in the logfile, make sure you check the /usr/adm/syserr/syserr.<hostname> file, because that is where the driver and kernel error messages are saved.

CAUTION: Both the −c and −p options of the dskx exerciser destroy data on the disk.  Use extreme caution before using them on any non-scratch media.  If you are unsure of what data is on the disk, contact your system manager before running dskx with either of these options.

Arguments

One of the following function flags and arguments must be specified. 

−rdevPerforms a random read-only test on all partitions except the c partition.  The dev argument can be a raw or buffered device name and number.  For example, rhp0, ra3, hk1. 

−pdevpartWrites, reads, and validates data from the device name and number specified by dev and the partition specified by part.  The dev argument can be a raw or buffered device name and number.  For example, rhp0, ra3, hk1.  The part argument can be any valid partition from a − h. 

CAUTION:  Be careful when exercising partitions that overlap other partitions, as you may inadvertently destroy data on a partition that you do not want to test.  You can use the −q option of the chpt() command to see what partitions overlap on the device on your system.

−cdevWrites, reads, and validates data from all partitions except the c partition on the device specified by dev.  The dev argument can be a raw or buffered device name and number.  For example, rhp0, ra3, hk1. 

Options

The dskx options are:

−hPrints help message for the dskx command.

−ofileSaves output diagnostics in file. 

−tnSpecifies the run time in minutes (n).  The default is to run until the process receives a <CTRLC> or kill −15 pid. 

−dmPrints statistics every m minutes. 

Restrictions

If there is a need to run a system exerciser over an NFS link or on a diskless system there are some restrictions.  For exercisers that need to write into a file system, such as fsx(,), the target file system must be writable by root.  Also the directory, in which any of the exercisers are executed, must be writable by root because temporary files are written into the current directory.  These latter restrictions are sometimes difficult to overcome because often NFS file systems are mounted in a way that prevents root from writing into them.  Some of the restrictions may be overcome by copying the exerciser to another directory and then executing it.

Examples

The following example exercises RA disk unit 1, for 60 minutes in the background:

% /usr/field/dskx −t60 −cra1 &

The following example exercises raw HP disk unit 0, partition d, until <CTRLC> or kill −15 pid:

% /usr/field/dskx −prhp0d

See Also

Guide to System Exercisers