Document fcos/A0131-1


FCO #: A0131-1

SYNOPSIS: A5000 Network Arrays with only one Interface Board may encounter
          excessive "soft scsi resets" and "timeouts" when
          running disk firmware revision 117x

DATE: Jun/23/98

KEYWORDS: A5000 Network Arrays with only one Interface Board may encounter
          excessive "soft scsi resets" and "timeouts" when
          running disk firmware revision 117x


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        - Sun Proprietary/Confidential: Internal Use Only -
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                        FIELD CHANGE ORDER
                  (For Authorized Distribution by SunService)

 
SYNOPSIS: A5000 Network Arrays with only one Interface Board may encounter 
          excessive "soft scsi resets" and "timeouts" when
running disk
          firmware revision 117x.

TOP FIN/FCO REPORT: Yes

PRODUCT_REFERENCE: StorEdge A5000 Array

PRODUCT CATEGORY: Storage / A5000

PRODUCTS AFFECTED:

Systems Affected
------- ---------

Mktg ID   Platform  Model  Description          Serial Number
-------   --------  -----  -----------          -------------
   -      A14         -    Ultra Enterprise 2	      -
   -      E450        -    Ultra Enterprise 450       -
   -      E3000       -    Ultra Enterprise 3000      -
   -      E3500       -    Ultra Enterprise 3500      -
   -      E4000       -    Ultra Enterprise 4000      -
   -      E4500       -    Ultra Enterprise 4500      -
   -      E5000       -    Ultra Enterprise 5000      -
   -      E5500       -    Ultra Enterprise 5500      -
   -      E6000       -    Ultra Enterprise 6000      -
   -      E6500       -    Ultra Enterprise 6500      -
   -      E10000      -    Ultra Enterprise 10000     -     
  

X-options Affected    
--------- --------

Mktg ID         Platform  Model  Description                       Serial
Number
--------        --------  -----  -----------                      
-------------
SG-XARY010A-45G   A5000     -    45.5 GB Sun Enterprise Network Array    -
SG-XARY010A-127G  A5000     -    127.4 GB Sun Enterprise Network Array   -
SG-XARY011A-127G  A5000     -    127.4 GB Sun Enterprise Network Array   -
SG-XARY012A-254G  A5000     -    254.8 GB Sun Enterprise Network Array   -
SG-XARY012A-509G  A5000     -    509.6 GB Sun Enterprise Network Array   -

PART NUMBERS AFFECTED:

Part Number   Description   Model
-----------   -----------   -----
N/A

(SCSI Devices)
Type   Vendor    Model        SerialNumber(Min)    SerialNumber(Max)   
Firmware
----   ------    -------      ------------------   ------------------  
--------
Disk   Seagate   ST19171FCSUN9.0G     -	                   -            117x

REFERENCES:

   FIN: I0389-1
 
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:     

A5000 Network Arrays with only one (1) Interface Board (IB) and dash 04 disk 
backplanes (501-4372-04) may encounter excessive "soft scsi resets" and

"timeouts" when running disk firmware revision 117x, even though
diagnostics 
such as lbf (loop back frame) may pass.  A typical error message for this 
failure would be as follows:

 unix: sf0: Target 0x11 Reset successful
 unix: WARNING: /sbus@a,0/SUNW,socal@2,0/sf@0,0/ssd@w22000020370ca5df,0
(ssd71):
 unix: SCSI transport failed: reason 'timeout': retrying command
 unix: WARNING: /sbus@a,0/SUNW,socal@2,0/sf@0,0/ssd@w22000020370ca5df,0
(ssd71):
 unix: SCSI transport failed: reason 'reset': retrying command
 unix: ssd71: Failed CDB:0x28 0x0 0x0 0x57 0x43 0x7d 0x0 0x0 0x28 0x0 0x0 0x0 
 unix: ssd71: Sense Data:0x70 0x0 0x6 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x0 0xa 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x29
              0x0 0x2 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x7e 0x7e
 unix: WARNING: /sbus@a,0/SUNW,socal@2,0/sf@0,0/ssd@w22000020370ca5df,0
(ssd71):
 unix: Error for Command: read(10)   Error Level: Informational
       Requested Block: 5718909   Error Block: 5718909
 unix: Vendor: SEAGATE   Serial Number: 9801P60729  
 unix: Sense Key: Unit Attention
 unix: ASC: 0x29 (power on, reset, or bus reset occurred), ASCQ: 0x0, FRU: 0x2

FC-AL disk drives with older chip sets are susceptible to noise coming off
the unused loop.  This noise can cause the PLL to acquire false signal lock,
sending the drive in and out of sync, causing loop resets.  This isssue is not 
seen with the older chip set using the FCS FC-AL disk drive firmware (107x) or 
when the newer chip revisions are used.  These errors are rare and may never 
be seen, even on affected arrays.  

Installing a second Interface Board fixes this problem since it allows the disk

drive receivers on the unused loop to see valid FC idle ordered sets, get PLL 
lock and word sync so that the FC-AL disk drive firmware can pay full attention

to the active loop. All StorEdge A5000 Arrays shipped beginning March 30, 1998 
and after, will contain two (2) Interface Boards and will not see "soft
scsi 
resets" and "timeouts" on account of the  above issue.

IMPLEMENTATION:

         ---
  	|   |  	MANDATORY (Fully Pro-Active)
	 ---    

         ---
  	|   | 	CONTROLLED PRO-ACTIVE (per Sun Geo Plan) 
	 ---   
			
         ---
  	| X | 	UPON FAILURE
	 ---
	

REPLACEMENT TIME ESTIMATE:   30 minutes

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The IB Board can be hot swapped in without shutting down the array if the IB
Board is at firmware rev 1.03 or higher.  The IB Board (501-2951-09) has 
firmware rev 1.05.

CORRECTIVE ACTION:
  
Install a second IB Board (501-2951-09 or higher) into A5000 Network Arrays
experiencing this problem.  Gigabit Interface Converters (GBIC) and host 
connections are not required for this second Interface Board.

COMMENTS:

New FC-AL disk drive firmware is under development to address this issue and
may be released at a later date as a final solution to this issue.

BILLING TYPE:

 Warranty: Sun will provide parts at no charge under Warranty 
           Service. On-Site Labor Rates are based on how the
           system was initially installed.

 Contract: Sun will provide parts at no charge. On-Site Labor Rates
           are based on the type of service contract.

 Non Contract: Sun will provide parts at no charge. Installation by
               Sun is available based on the On-Site Labor Rates 
               defined in the Price List.

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Implementation Footnote:
________________________

i)   In case of Mandatory FCOs, SunService will attempt to contact all known
     customers to recommend the part upgrade.

ii)  For controlled proactive swap FCOs, SunService mission critical support
     teams will initiate proactive swap efforts for their respective accounts,
     as required.

iii) For Replace upon Failure FCOs, SunService partners will implement the
     necessary corrective actions as and when they are required.

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