SmartDiagHelp Guide

SmartDiag
Help Guide

1
SmartDiagHelp Guide

Overview
The object of SmartDiag it to verify the availability of the following:

• Operating system services that allow smart card support

• Smart card readers
• Smart cards

The tool reports any software or hardware problems and gives troubleshooting information. If the displayed
information still does not solve the problem, you can generate a diagnostic report. This report will be required if you
ask for help from Technical Support.

Note

• SmartDiag tests only the smart cards' basic functionality. It does not test the suitability of your smart card for
use with a specific application.

2
SmartDiagHelp Guide

Using SmartDiag
To use SmartDiag, simply follow the instructions in the Diagnostic Wizard. Click Advanced View to get more
information on the smart card sub-system or to take advantage of the program's management facility

Note

• If the program displays an Explorer-like window when opening, you have a version of the program that has the
Advanced View only.

3
SmartDiagHelp Guide

The Diagnostic Wizard

If your version of SmartDiag contains the Diagnostic Wizard, this wizard starts automatically when you run the
application. Its purpose is to perform all the necessary steps to perform a complete diagnostic.

There are three possible outcomes:

Passed

Failed

Warning

If the result is Warning, it is recommended that you click Advanced View to obtain all the details.

If the outcome is Failed, read the accompanying message carefully. It explains the most probable source of the
problem and how to get your smart card and reader working. In addition, you can generate a diagnostic report by
clicking Get Assistance.

If the Diagnostic Wizard reports Passed, but you have difficulty using your smart card(s), refer to the
documentation of the software using this smart card.

Note

• If the program displays an Explorer-like window when opening, you have a version of the program that has the
Advanced View only. In this case, you do not have access to the Diagnostic Wizard.

4
SmartDiagHelp Guide

The Advanced View

The Advanced View is an Explorer-like window. Its purpose is to give a real-time status and description of smart
card related resources. This can be particularly useful to reveal obscure and low-level problems, or to identify the
version of various software and hardware smart card components. The Advanced View also has a few management
features. For example, it allows you to register new smart cards.

The Advanced View contains an object pane on the left and a management pane on the right.

5
SmartDiagHelp Guide

Diagnosed objects
The following objects are the only ones that SmartDiag can diagnose. Each object has a set of properties and
actions. You can see the diagnosed objects in the Advanced View.

<my computer>

<smart card reader>

<smart card>

Resource Manager

Resource Manager Starter (The resource manager starter is a service that improves the handling of
Plug and Play readers on Windows 95, 98, 98SE and Millennium. It is not
present on other operating systems.)

Driver Library

Smart Card Database (Applications add entries to the smart card database so the system is able to
recognize and name similar smart cards.

<smart card database entry>

Setup Information Database

<setup information file>

Notes

• Brackets indicate that an object of this type has a specific name. For example, the object <my computer> could
be named JOHN_SMITH_WORKSTATION.

• To manage an object, select it from the tree in the object pane. You may need to expand the tree first.

• The icon will change according the state of the object :

- If the object passes the tests it is shown as is. Otherwise, one of the following state is added to the object icon:

Failed / Error

Warning

Important information

The state of the component cannot be retrieved

The component is disabled

The component is currently being verified

6
SmartDiagHelp Guide

Product support
If you experience problems getting your card or reader to work, and the advice given by SmartDiag does not solve
the problem, click Get Assistance from the result page of the Diagnostic Wizard. This action generates a diagnostic
report that your Technical Support representative will need in order to help you.

You can e-mail the report directly by clicking E-Mail Report, or, you can save the report by clicking Save Report.

Notes

• This feature is available with the Diagnostic Wizard only.

• To know your Technical Support contact(s), consult the documentation that came with the product.

7
SmartDiagHelp Guide

Generating a diagnostic report

The diagnostic report copies all the information in the Advanced View into a readable text file.

To generate the diagnostic report:

• In the Advanced View, click Generate from the Report menu.

- or -
• If the Diagnostic Wizard reports a failure, click Get Assistance.

8
SmartDiagHelp Guide

CAUTION: For knowledgeable users only!

Registering a smart card

Registering a smart card means introducing it to the system so the system can later identify it. This is done by
adding it to the smart card database. You must be in the Advanced View to register a smart card.

To register a smart card that you have in your possession:

1. Insert the smart card in an accessible reader.

2. Select the card icon from the objects pane.
3. Right-click the card icon and select Register. Alternatively you can click Register in the management pane or
select Register from the Action menu.
4. Enter the name by which the system will recognize the card.

To prepare the system for a card you do not have:

1. Select the System folder from the object pane. Expand it if necessary.
2. Select the Smart Card Database.
3. Click Register New Card.
4. Enter the name, the ATR and the ATR mask of the new card.

The Answer To Reset is the first string of bytes returned by the card. The system uses the ATR to identify cards.

The ATR mask indicates which bits of the ATR must be verified in order to identify the card. The ATR mask should
contain as many bytes as the ATR itself.

9
SmartDiagHelp Guide

CAUTION: For knowledgeable users only!

Stop and Start the resource manager

On some systems, the Resource Manager can be started and stopped using the Stop and Start functions.

To perform the Stop and Start functions:

1. Get to the Advanced View.
2. Select Resource Manager in the object pane.
3. Do one of the following:
• From the Action menu, select Stop or Start.
• Right-click the Resource Manager in the object pane and select Stop or Start.
• In the Management Pane, click Stop or Start from the Possible Actions list.

Note

• If it is running then only the Stop function is available and if it is not running only the Start function is available.

The smart card resource manager (also known as smart card service) is a component of the operating system
that handles the accesses to smart cards and readers. It also allows applications to locate and get the status of
those resources.

10
SmartDiagHelp Guide

Management pane
The management pane is the right portion of the Advanced View. It is divided into three sections.

1. The top section is a banner displaying the name of the object currently selected in the object pane.
2. Below the banner to the left, is the diagnosis and list of possible actions. If you see a plus sign ([icon]) beside
the diagnostic message, this means that there is some additional troubleshooting information available. Click
the plus sign to see all the available information.
3. Below the banner to the right, is a list of properties. These properties reveal useful information about the
object.

The following functions can appear in the list of possible actions:

• What's this?

The What's this? action gives a brief description about a diagnosed object.

• Refresh

The Refresh action updates the displayed information for a diagnosed object and all its components.

• Register a smart card

• Stop and Start Resource Manager

Note

• The functions available depend on the object selected.

11
SmartDiagHelp Guide

Object pane
The object pane is the left portion of the Advanced View that shows a tree-like structure. Selecting an object from
this tree displays its details in the management pane.

Some functions can be performed by right-clicking an object and selecting the function from the contextual menu.
Functions that can be performed in this manner are:

• What's This
• Refresh
• Stop and Start Resource Manager
• Register a smart card

Note

• The functions available depend on the object selected.

12