Service > Capture State

The Capture State feature enables you to create a log file that captures the current state of the system. The log file assists Quantum Support personnel analyze and debug problems with your system.

Assuming your system is connected to the internet and you have an open support case, you can automatically, or manually upload your log files to Quantum Support via Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP).

Additionally, you can capture, download and upload just file system logs and platform logs. All logs are included in a Full Snapshot, but in some cases you can create a log that consists of a smaller sub-component.

General Considerations

Parameter Description

Capture Type

Specifies the type of capture file to create. The available options are:

  • Full Snapshot: Provides a capture file containing all logs available within the individual capture types (File System Only, Platform Only, and DSET).
  • File System Only: Provides a capture file containing the system’s StorNext file system debug logs, configuration, version information and disk devices. The file contains client debug information on client machines and server information on server machines, as well as port-mapper information from all machines. System log files as well as SNFS log files are included.
  • Platform Only: Provides a capture file containing log files and configuration files for the StorNext server operating system and Quantum application logs. The StorNext software specific logs files are not contained in this capture.

Note: This menu option is only available on Xcellis, Artico, Pro Foundation, and StorNext Metadata Appliances.

  • Dell System E-Support Tool (DSET): Provides a capture file containing an array of status information about the StorNext hardware and assists Quantum Support personnel in identifying and diagnosing problems specific to the StorNext hardware.

Note: This menu option is only available on Xcellis, Artico, Pro Foundation, and StorNext Metadata Appliances.
Exclude Core Files

Enable this option to exclude the core files from a full snapshot and reduce the size of the snapshot. This option is useful when Quantum Technical Support wants to perform a quick analysis of the logs and do not need the core files.

If this option is enabled, the name of the output file includes -nocores.

For example:

SV1110BVF30430_snt160226-mdc1_snapshot-nocores_20180822131236.tar.gz

Note: If this option is enabled, existing core files are not removed from your system.
File System
(only displayed if the Capture Type is File System Only

Displays the available file systems on your server (managed, shared, unmanaged). Select a file system, or Ctrl+click to select multiple file systems for which to create a capture file.
Target Node If your system is configured for High Availability (HA), this option specifies the server (Both Nodes, Primary only, or Secondary only) for which the capture file is being generated for.
Serial Number Specifies the serial number of your system.
Enable Quantum Upload

If you have a live internet connection and an open support case, check this box to automatically upload captured log files to Quantum Support using SFTP after the capture file is generated.

Note: You must have or obtain a Service Request/Case ID number to upload your file to the Quantum Support server. If you do not have a Service Request/Case ID number available, call Quantum Support as an open Service Request/Case ID number is required. This feature also requires a live internet connection on your server.

Server

(only displayed if Upload to Quantum is checked)

 Specifies the Quantum Support server where capture files are uploaded to.

Service Request / Case ID

(only displayed if Enable Quantum Upload is checked)

This field allows you to input a Service Request number provided to you by Quantum Support.

Note: You must have or obtain a Service Request/Case ID number to upload your file to the Quantum Support server. If you do not have a Service Request/Case ID number available, call Quantum Support as an open Service Request/Case ID number is required. This feature also requires a live internet connection on your server.
File

Specifies the capture file name. Creating a capture generates a log file in the following format:

<Serial Number>_<Machine Hostname>_<Capture Type>_<Time Stamp>.<Filename Extension>, where the Time Stamp is in the format YYYYMMDDHHMMSS.

For example:

SV123ABCF12345_xps-sles11_snapshot_20160831072620.tar.gz

If the Exclude Core Files option is enabled, the name of the output file includes -nocores.

For example:

SV1110BVF30430_snt160226-mdc1_snapshot-nocores_20180822131236.tar.gz
Type

Specifies the type of capture file:

  • Full Snapshot
  • File System Only
  • Platform Only
  • Dell System E-Support Tool (DSET)
Date Specifies the date and time on which the capture file was created.
Size Specifies the file size of the capture file.
Capture Click to manually generate a capture file.
Capture & Upload

Click to automatically upload a selected capture file via SFTP to a Quantum Support server.

Note: You must have or obtain a Service Request/Case ID number to upload your file to the Quantum Support server. If you do not have a Service Request/Case ID number available, call Quantum Support as an open Service Request/Case ID number is required. This feature also requires a live internet connection on your server.
Download Click to download a selected capture file to a local destination.

Upload to Quantum

Click to manually upload a selected capture file via secure FTP to a Quantum Support server.

Note: You must have or obtain a Service Request/Case ID number to upload your file to the Quantum Support server. If you do not have a Service Request/Case ID number available, call Quantum Support as an open Service Request/Case ID number is required. This feature also requires a live internet connection on your server.

Delete

 Click to delete the selected capture file(s).

Refresh

 Click to update the Capture State page.
  1. On the Service menu, click Capture State. The Service > Capture State page appears. Any previously generated capture state files are displayed.
  2. In the Capture State Options section, do the following:

    1. In the Capture Type list, select the type of capture state file to generate.

      Note: If you select File System Only, the File System option appears and displays the available file systems on your server (managed, shared, unmanaged). Select a file system, or Ctrl+click to select multiple file systems for which to create a capture file.

    1. In the Target Node list, select the server (Both Nodes, Primary only, or Secondary only) for which the capture file is being generated for.
  3. Click Capture. A confirmation box appears.
  4. Click OK. The capture state file name appears in the list after the process completes.
  5. (Optional) On the Reports menu, click Jobs to monitor the job progress.

Note: You must have or obtain a Service Request/Case ID number to upload your file to the Quantum Support server. If you do not have a Service Request/Case ID number available, call Quantum Support as an open Service Request/Case ID number is required. This feature also requires a live internet connection on your server.

  1. On the Service menu, click Capture State. The Service > Capture State page appears. Any previously generated capture state files are displayed.
  2. In the Capture State Options section, do the following:

    1. In the Capture Type list, select the type of capture state file to generate.

      Note: If you select File System Only, the File System option appears and displays the available file systems on your server (managed, shared, unmanaged). Select a file system, or Ctrl-click to select multiple file systems for which to create a capture file.

    2. In the Target Node list, select the server (Both Nodes, Primary only, or Secondary only) for which the capture file is being generated for.
    3. Click Enable Quantum Upload. The Server and Service Request / Case ID items appear.

    4. In the Service Request / Case ID field, input the number provided to you by Quantum Support.

  3. Click Capture & Upload. A confirmation box appears.
  4. Click OK. The capture state file name appears in the list after the process completes.
  5. (Optional) On the Reports menu, click Jobs to monitor the job progress.

Note: You must have or obtain a Service Request/Case ID number to upload your file to the Quantum Support server. If you do not have a Service Request/Case ID number available, call Quantum Support as an open Service Request/Case ID number is required. This feature also requires a live internet connection on your server.

  1. On the Service > Capture State page, select the file you want to upload.
  2. In the Capture State Options section, check Enable Quantum Upload. The Server and Service Request / Case ID items appear.
  3. In the Service Request / Case ID field, input the number provided to you by Quantum Support.
  4. Click Upload to Quantum. You are prompted to verify your upload.
  5. Click Yes to begin the upload, or click No to cancel the operation and return to the previous page. If you click Yes, a notification appears informing you that the upload has initiated.
    • Click OK.
  6. (Optional) On the Reports menu, click Jobs to monitor the job progress.
  1. On the Service > Capture State page, select the file you want to download.
  2. Click Download.
  3. When prompted, click the file name to begin the download process.
  4. Navigate to the location where you want to save the file.
  5. After the file is saved, click Done.
  6. (Optional) If you were instructed by Quantum Support personnel to send the capture file, email the file to the email address provided to you by the Quantum Support representative.
  1. On the Service > Capture State page, select the file you want to delete. Alternatively, you can select multiple files.
  2. Click Delete.
  3. When a confirmation page prompts you to confirm that you want to delete the file(s), click Yes to continue or No to abort.
  4. After the status page informs you that the file(s) was/were successfully deleted, click OK.

Click Refresh to update the Capture State page.