Apple xserve Service Manual

7 - Xserve Verification of Basic Services

 How to Remotely Check for Hard Drive Issues

How to Remotely Check for 
Hard Drive Issues

Follow the steps outlined below if you suspect issues with Xserve's hard disk, and you do 

not have physical access to the server.

You must have the server's IP address and Admin (or root) password before performing 

this procedure. Xserve's default password is the first 8 characters of its serial number.

1.

 Log in to Xserve.

2.

 Type: 

mount

3.

Press Return. A list of volumes that are available to the file system appears. Look for 

the volume that is at the root level "/". This is the server's startup volume, or 

"/dev/rdisk0s10".

4.

Type: 

fsck_hsf -n <insert startup volume path>

 For example: 

fsck_hsf -n /dev/rdisk0s10

5.

Press Return. A file system check is performed. This is basically the equivalent of 

using Disk First Aid.

6.

If "fsck" finds any issues, type 'y' to continue.

7.

Repeat steps 4 through 6 until "fsck" finds no errors. If "fsck" reports the same error(s) 

after repeating the process, you should reformat the hard disk.

Warning: Reformatting or reinitializing the hard disk erases all information stored on it. 

Make sure you have a backup of all files you may have created and any preinstalled 

software that came with Xserve