[OT] Apple's AST vs ASD

AST is a quick test and ASD is a more thorough test and very hardware specific. To use ASD you must download the specific one for the hardware you want to test and put it on a stick/HD. It is a PITA if you have several different models of hardware.

They are both suites of tests. Short answer: Use AST (by which I mean MRI) to verify everything is plugged in. Save ASD for when you're really stumped about why something is busted or to completely rule out hardware failure in troubleshooting.

Long Answer: AST most notably includes MRI, which is basically a roll call and quick test for available hardware, basically "is everything plugged in?" It also includes things like interactive keyboard and trackpad tests, battery tests, and cooling systems diagnostics. AST also hooks into GSX as it is a net-booted test environment, so it may need to be run to qualify a repair in-warranty (which is why you see the people at the Genius bar run it at Apple stores during appointments). ASD on the other hand runs in two variants, EFI or OS and yes, needs to be loaded on a hard drive or thumb drive, though you can partition a drive many times and pre-load all the model-specific tests onto different partitions. EFI tests lower level hardware, OS can test all kinds of things, like sleep/wake, graphics, etc. Keep in mind no test is perfect and both AST and ASD can have false positives. For a full list of the ASD version you need, you can search "ASD" in the big search bar on GSX and look for the marketing name - like MacBook Pro ( 15-inch, Late 2011) - of the model you're looking for and it'll give you a download link for the appropriate version. There's extension documentation on AST too if you wanna know what MRI checks.

Just my two cents but the OS portion of ASD's can also be run through System Image Utility and added into Netboot.

Hope that helps.

Darren

AST was designed to be a customer-facing utility for AASPs. Techs are required to use it and like said, it does a quick check of a given component.

ASD is what I tend to trust more. I can set it in looping mode and deal with intermittent issues and it thoroughly can check an individual component (say the logic board) for individual smaller failures.

I use them in tandem myself...I check in with AST, do my work, make sure it passes ASD and then use AST again for any reason Apple calls for it (say OS tests or required specific tests for an issue.) Once it passes both or is within Apple spec, only then do I consider a repair done.

AST is required if you need to order any hardware for a unit. Without MRI results from AST, Apple will reject any repair.

thank you all for your responses, I got a much better handle on it now!