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Asset ID: 1-73-1000287.1
Update Date:2011-05-31
Keywords:

Solution Type  FAB (standard) Sure

Solution  1000287.1 :   A limited number of AMD Opteron single-core 2.6GHz and 2.8GHz processors may produce inconsistent results  


Related Items
  • Sun Java Workstation W2100z
  •  
  • Sun Ultra 20 Workstation
  •  
  • Sun Fire X4100 Server
  •  
  • Sun Fire V20z Server
  •  
  • Sun Ultra 40 Workstation
  •  
  • Sun Fire V40z Server
  •  
  • Sun Fire X2100 Server
  •  
  • Sun Fire X4200 Server
  •  
Related Categories
  • GCS>Sun Microsystems>Servers>x64 Servers
  •  

PreviouslyPublishedAs
200402


Product
Sun Java Workstation W2100z
Sun Fire V20z Server
Sun Fire X2100 Server
Sun Ultra 20 Workstation
Sun Fire V40z Server
Sun Fire X4100 Server
Sun Ultra 40 Workstation
Sun Fire X4200 Server

Part
  • Part No: 370-7272-01
  • Part Description: Assy, 2.6GHZ, Opt 252, Step E,K2
  • Part Model: CPU#105-0253-01
Part
  • Part No: 370-7937-01
  • Part Description: Assy, A59, Opt 252 E CPU, 2.6 GHZ
Part
  • Part No: 370-7706-01
  • Part Description: Assy, 2.6GHZ, Opt 852, Step E,S2
Part
  • Part No: 370-7961-01
  • Part Description: Assy, 2.8GHZ, Opt 854 E CPU
Part
  • Part No: 370-7962-01
  • Part Description: Assy, AMD Opt 254 E CPU, 2.8GHZ
Part
  • Part No: 370-7941-01
  • Part Description: Assy, Opt 939 152 E 2.6G CPU
Part
  • Part No: 371-0883-01
  • Part Description: Assy, AMD Opt 154, E2.8GHZ CPU
Xoption
  • Xoption Number: 8073A
  • Xoption Description: 2.6GHz Opteron 152 Socket
Xoption
  • Xoption Number: 8074A
  • Xoption Description: 2.8GHz Opteron 154 Socket
Xoption
  • Xoption Number: 9858A
  • Xoption Description: 2.6GHz Opteron 252 Socket
Xoption
  • Xoption Number: 8033A
  • Xoption Description: 2.6GHz Opteron 252 Socket
Xoption
  • Xoption Number: 8034A
  • Xoption Description: 2.8GHz Opteron 254 Socket
Xoption
  • Xoption Number: 7244A
  • Xoption Description: 2.8GHz Opteron 854 Socket
Xoption
  • Xoption Number: 9870A
  • Xoption Description: 2.6GHz Opteron 852 Socket
Xoption
  • Xoption Number: 8074A
  • Xoption Description: 2.8GHz Opteron 154 Socket
Xoption
  • Xoption Number: 8073A
  • Xoption Description: 2.6GHz Opteron 152 Socket

Impact

 


Contributing Factors

AMD has informed Sun about an issue [1] that may occur in a limited number of single-core AMD Opteron(TM) x52 (2.6 GHz) and x54 (2.8 GHz) microprocessors. AMD reports that a small number of these processors manufactured in 2005 and early 2006 have been observed to produce inconsistent results in a non-production test environment with the convergence of the following three simultaneous conditions:

  1. the running of floating point-intensive code sequences (note: observed only in a non-production test environment)
  2. elevated CPU temperatures, and
  3. elevated ambient temperatures

AMD has informed us that this issue was not observed by them on AMD Opteron x52 and x54 systems running commercially available applications, including Web servers, application servers, transaction processing servers, database servers or file print servers.

[1] For a technical description of the AMD Opteron Processor issue please see AMD's web site per the below URL;

http://www.amd.com/opteron/productionnotice

AMD asserts that should the described issue occur, there will be no indications that the Opteron processor has produced inconsistent results.


Symptoms

This issue may occur only on the following Sun platforms:

  • Sun Ultra 20, Ultra 40 (with CPU Models 152 (2.6GHz) and 154 (2.8GHz)
  • Sun W2100z (with CPU Module 252 (2.6 GHz)
  • Sun Fire V20z (with CPU Module 252 (2.6 GHz)
  • Sun Fire V40z (with CPU Modules 852 (2.6 GHz) and 854 (2.8GHz)
  • Sun Fire X2100 (with CPU Modules 152 (2.6GHz) and 154 (2.8GHz)
  • Sun Fire X4100, X4200 Systems (with CPU Modules 252 (2.6 GHz) and 254 (2.8 GHz)

Notes:

  1. Due to the nature of the described issue, AMD believes this issue is not operating system dependent.
  2. AMD states the AMD Opteron Dual-Core platforms are not affected, nor other models of Single-Core Processors.
  3. AMD believes the described issue only affects a small percentage of systems fitted with x52 and x54 AMD Opteron processors.

A Question and Answer document has been developed as a guideline for all customer communications, and is available via the below URL;

http://sdpsweb.central.sun.com/FIN_FCO/FCO/A0269-1/SPE/Q&A.pdf

AMD has created a processor verification software tool that can be used to identify potentially implicated parts (by lowering the core voltage in the system). AMD has a standalone version that boots into the OS diagnostics kernel and runs for 15 minutes per CPU (and can run in parallel across multiple CPUs).

The software verification tool must be run in order for the suspect units to be flagged. Only the processor verification software tool can determine for sure which parts are actually functional.

IMPORTANT: The diagnostic tool must only be run by trained service personnel and only run once on the target systems. On no account must the diagnostic tools be given to customers to run or re-run tests.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS: There will be no charge to customers for any onsite activities related to this Field Information Notice.


Root Cause

 


Workaround

A Field Change Order will be released shortly providing for material to allow for the replacement of any processors that fail the processor verification software tool. This FCO is scheduled to release in early May of 2006.

In the meantime:

1. When a customer calls the call center, they should be routed to the field. The field team will give the customer details on mode and manifestation, then Sun and the customer will determine a remediation plan as necessary.

NOTE: Refer to the Question and Answer document in the Issue Description section linked above.

2. If the customer requires remediation, the field will schedule time to run processor verification software tool in order to identify suspect processors.

The processor verification software tool can be obtained from the below URL;

http://sdpsweb.central.sun.com/FIN_FCO/FCO/A0269-1/SPE/Tools/

Important! The Live CD is set up to use 250 IPs on the 192.168.150.0 class C subnet. Please discuss this with the customer when planning to use the LiveCD so that they can determine if this range of IP addresses will cause any conflict on their subnet. Should any conflict be found you may contact PTS for further assistance.

The AMD Processor Verification Tool User Guide can be found in the above directory or directly from the below URL;

http://sdpsweb.central.sun.com/FIN_FCO/FCO/A0269-1/SPE/Tools/AMD%20Opteron%20Processor%20Verification%20Product%20User%20Guide-ver2.01.pdf

Note: Files in pdf format may require you to save the file and open it locally.

A Procedures document has been provided to aid you in the use of the verification tool, and can be found via the below URL;

http://sdpsweb.central.sun.com/FIN_FCO/FCO/A0269-1/SPE/Opteron_Screen_Procedure_rev_1_0.sxw

In addition, a Transfer of Information (TOI) has been developed and provided by PTS via the below URL;

http://sdpsweb.central.sun.com/FIN_FCO/FCO/A0269-1/SPE/PTS-TOI.pdf

Note: The running of this verification tool requires the system be powered down.


Modification History
Date: 09-MAY-2006
  • changed audience from "internal" to "partner".

 


Date: 21-MAR-2007
  • removed KASP as an item listed under Product field.


Previously Published As
102331
Internal Comments
Related Information
  • GSAP: 3462
  • WWSSP: P001-20312
  • Other: Sun Alert 102323, FCO A0269-1

Internal Contributor/submitter
[email protected]

Internal Eng Business Unit Group
KE Authors

Internal Eng Responsible Engineer
[email protected]

Internal Services Knowledge Engineer
[email protected]

Internal Kasp FAB Legacy ID
102331

Internal Sun Alert & FAB Admin Info
Critical Category:
Significant Change Date: 2006-04-28
Avoidance: Workaround
Responsible Manager: null
Original Admin Info: [WF 28-Apr-2006, Dave M: updated for additional xoptions, URL links and corrections, etc. repulblish]
[WF 28-Apr-2006, Sean H: draft created]
WF - removed KASP in Product field. - Joe 3/21/07

Product_uuid
126e9e72-9b14-11d8-ab52-080020a9ed93|Sun Java Workstation W2100z
1acc55b3-4b82-11d8-99fc-080020a9ed93|Sun Fire V20z Server
28c0502a-fd60-11d9-a8ca-080020a9ed93|Sun Fire X2100 Server
372415be-961d-11d9-9adf-080020a9ed93|Sun Ultra 20 Workstation
4726b78d-56d2-11d8-9e3a-080020a9ed93|Sun Fire V40z Server
54e2ac49-df71-11d9-89e6-080020a9ed93|Sun Fire X4100 Server
7b070932-47f1-11da-ac39-080020a9ed93|Sun Ultra 40 Workstation
c6e795ef-df6f-11d9-89e6-080020a9ed93|Sun Fire X4200 Server

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