Sun Fire[TM] Midrange System: UltraSPARC[R] IV System Board Requirements

Asset ID:	1-71-1006342.1
Update Date:	2011-03-29
Keywords:

Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 1006342.1 : Sun Fire[TM] Midrange System: UltraSPARC[R] IV System Board Requirements

Applies to:

Sun Fire 4800 Server
Sun Fire V1280 Server
Sun Fire 6800 Server
Sun Fire E2900 Server
Sun Fire E4900 Server
All Platforms

Goal

Description

Sun Fire v1280, E2900, 4800, E4900, 6800, and E6900 UltraSPARC(R) IV (US-IV) System Board Requirements

There are four USIV CPU module speeds available:

1050 Mhz
1200 Mhz
1350 Mhz
1500 Mhz

The minimum requirements in this document pertain to all the boards, regardless of their CPU speed. The purpose of this document is to combine all of the individual component resources into one quick reference guide. This reference guide will provide information on what requirements must be met prior to installing any USIV board into a Sun Fire[TM] Midrange System.

NOTE: Requirements for the Sun Fire[TM] Midrange System product line and UltraSPARC(R) IV (USIV) System Boards are available on a component by component basis from the Sun System Handbook. To determine what is required for an upgrade or configuration change, you may refer to each of the individual component pages in the Sun System Handbook to get all of the information necessary to prepare for the upgrade process - or refer to this article.

It is important to note the following with regards to USIV and Sun Fire Midrange Systems:

Sun Fire 3800 and 4810 do NOT support USIV so they are excluded from this document.
Sun Fire 4800 and 6800 support USIV with upgrades.

Upgrade kits are available as X4800-USIV-KIT and X6800-USIV-KIT respectively.

Sun Fire E4900 and E6900 support USIV native.
Sun Fire E2900/V1280 support USIV native.

They do have ScApp and Filter recommendations detailed below.

See <Document:1009212.1> for Sun Fire[TM] 12K/15K/E20K/E25K (HighEnd Systems) requirements.
See <Document:1007858.1> for UltraSPARC IV+ CPU configuration guidelines.

Solution

Sun Fire 4800 server requirements:

1. Domain Operating System must be Solaris 8 2/04, Solaris 9 4/04, Solaris 10 Operating System (OS), or higher

You must perform a Solaris OS upgrade or fresh OS install to meet this OS requirement.
Maintenance updates or patching is insufficient.

2. System Controller minimum firmware version requirements are as follows (depending on the board type installed):

ScApp 5.16.0 for 1050 and 1200MHz USIV Boards
ScApp 5.18.1 for 1350MHz USIV Boards.
ScApp 5.19.x for 1500Mhz USIV Boards.

ScApp Firmware Notes:
Engineering recommends using the latest release to take advantage of the most recent enhancements and fixes available. The latest patch is available at <Patch:10111418>.
Upgraded Power Supplies and Fan Trays also require the 5.16.0 minimum firmware version
While versions of firmware less than 5.17.4 and 5.18.0 may recognize and run a 1350MHz USIV board, these versions of firmware will not operate the boards at the correct voltage.
An internal reference (FIN I1166) is available on topic for internal support engineers, but not customers.
Reference the install.info file which accompanies the firmware for firmware install information.

3. Upgrade Power Supplies to part number 300-1596 (A185).

Included in the 4800 Upgrade Kit, X4800-USIV-KIT.
Sun Fire 4800 systems ship with PSU part number 300-1460 (A153).
The old unit (300-1460) and new unit (300-1596) can not be mixed on the same platform.

The exception to this rule is when doing this component upgrade when the PS units can be mixed temporarily.

4. Upgrade Fan Trays to part numbers 540-5997, 540-5998, and 540-5999.

Included in the 4800 Upgrade Kit, X4800-USIV-KIT.
Old and new fan trays can not be mixed on the same platform.
The exception to this rule is when doing a component upgrade. The fan trays can be mixed while executing the upgrade.

SF4800 Upgrade Notes:

A Sun Fire 4800 server can be upgraded to support USIV SBs without shutting down the platform after the OS and firmware has been upgraded. The OS upgrade will require a domain reboot and a firmware update will not fully take effect until the domains are keyswitched off/on.
New power supply, fan trays, and system boards cannot be installed until the firmware is updated.
A 4800 that has had all the components upgraded to support USIV boards is still called a 4800. The machine name never changes despite having the same components as a 4900 system.
The Sun Fire 4800 server USIV upgrade kit, X4800-USIV-KIT, contains all required components necessary to support USIV System Boards.

Sun Fire E4900 server requirements:

1. Domain Operating System must be Solaris 8 2/04 OS, Solaris 9 4/04 OS or Solaris 10 OS.

You must perform a Solaris OS upgrade or fresh OS install to meet this OS requirement.
Maintenance updates or patching is insufficient.

2. System Controller minimum firmware version is 5.16.0.

Engineering recommends using the latest release to take advantage of the most recent enhancements and fixes available. The latest patch is available at <Patch:10111418>.

3. No component upgrades are necessary.

From the factory, the 4900 system comes with all required components needed to operate USIV SBs and the correct minimum firmware version to support USIV boards.

Sun Fire 6800 server requirements:

1. Domain Operating System must be Solaris 8 2/04 OS, Solaris 9 4/04 OS or Solaris 10 OS.

You must perform a Solaris OS upgrade or fresh OS install to meet this OS requirement.
Maintenance updates or patching is insufficient.

2. System Controller minimum firmware version requirements are as follows (depending on the board type installed):

ScApp 5.16.0 for 1050 and 1200MHz USIV Boards
ScApp 5.18.1 for 1350MHz USIV Boards.
ScApp 5.19.x for 1500Mhz USIV Boards.

ScApp Firmware Notes:
Engineering recommends using the latest release to take advantage of the most recent enhancements and fixes available. The latest patch is available at <Patch:10111418>.
Upgraded Power Supplies also require the 5.16.0 minimum firmware version
While versions of firmware less than 5.17.4 and 5.18.0 may recognize and run a 1350MHz USIV board, these versions of firmware will not operate the boards at the correct voltage.
An internal reference (FIN I1166) is available on topic for internal support engineers, but not customers.
Reference the install.info file which accompanies the firmware for firmware install information.

3. Upgrade Power Supplies to part number 300-1595 (A184).

Included in the 6800 USIV upgrade kit, X6800-USIV-KIT.
Sun Fire[TM] 6800s ship with PS part number 300-1459 (A152).
The old unit (300-1459) and new unit (300-1595) can not be mixed on the same platform.

The exception to this rule is when doing this component upgrade when the PS units can be mixed temporarily.

4. Upgrade the EMI Gasket.

Included in the 6800 USIV upgrade kit, X6800-USIV-KIT.
Refer to Sun Fire[TM] 6800 System EMI Gasket Installation Guide for the UltraSPARC IV Upgrade.

SF6800 Upgrade Notes:

The Sun Fire 6800 upgrade process requires a complete platform shut down, due to the required upgrade of the EMI gaskets.
A 6800 that has had all the components upgraded to support USIV boards is still called a 6800. The machine name never changes despite how much it may appear to be a 6900 system.
The Sun Fire 6800 USIV upgrade kit, X6800-USIV-KIT, contains all required components necessary to support USIV System Boards.

Sun Fire E6900 server requirements:

1. Domain Operating System must be Solaris 8 2/04, Solaris[TM] 9 4/04 or Solaris 10.

You must perform a Solaris OS upgrade or fresh OS install to meet this OS requirement.
Maintenance updates or patching is insufficient.

2. System Controller minimum firmware version is 5.16.0.

Engineering recommends using the latest release to take advantage of the most recent enhancements and fixes available. The latest patch is available at <Patch:10111418>.

3. No component upgrades are necessary.

From the factory, the 6900 system comes with all required components needed to operate USIV Sbs.

Sun Fire E2900/V1280 server requirements:

1. Domain Operating System must be Solaris 8 2/04 OS, Solaris 9 4/04 OS or Solaris 10 OS.

You must perform a Solaris OS upgrade or fresh OS install to meet this OS requirement.
Maintenance updates or patching is insufficient.

2. System Controller minimum firmware version is 5.17.0.

Engineering recommends ScApp 5.20.14 as the minimum version for Sun Fire E2900 and V1280 systems. The latest patch is available at <Patch:10111418>.
Refer to Alert <Document:1021703.1> Potential for System Outages Due to Cooling Issues on Sun Fire V1280/E2900, Netra 1280/1290

3. No component upgrades are necessary.

From the factory, the E2900 and V1280 systems comes with all required components needed to operate USIV SBs.
Remove the Left Input Air Filter per the instructions detailed in Alert <Document:1021703.1>

Upgrade Guidelines

1. Since the new hardware is dependent on the new OS and firmware, you should update these first.

flashupdate the firmware on the SCs and boards (refer to install.info).
Reboot the SCs as required for the firmware update.
Upgrade the OS on the domains (refer to Solaris upgrade documents).
Halt the domain after the upgrade is complete.
Keyswitch off the domain.

2. If this is a 6800 system power off the platform and install the EMI Gaskets.

Refer to Sun Fire[TM] 6800 System EMI Gasket Installation Guide for the UltraSPARC IV Upgrade.

3. Upgrade the power supplies (and fan trays if 4800).

Refer to the Sun Fire[TM] 6800/4800 Systems Power Supply and Fan Tray Upgrade Guide

4. If you powered off the platform to perform hardware upgrades, power the platform back on.

5. Verify firmware versions on all boards and verify they are at the same firmware level.

Keyswitch on the domains.
Install the new System Boards either using DR or by shutting down the domains.
Refer to the Sun Fire High-End and Midrange Systems CPU/Memory Board Installation Guide

If no USIV boards are being installed and the system is merely being readied to use USIV boards, the OS upgrade can be deferred until the boards are installed. However, firmware must be updated before power supply and fan tray installation, and the domains will still need a keyswitch off/on for the firmware to fully take effect.

References:

Internal Information
Upgrade Documentation:

Sun Fire[TM] 6800/4800 Systems Power Supply and Fan Tray Upgrade Guide
Sun Fire[TM] 6800 System EMI Gasket Installation Guide for the UltraSPARC IV Upgrade.
FIN I1166 "The Vcore setting for UltraSPARC IV 1350MHz boards should be 1.25V, but some earlier releases of firmware will power on and operate the board at an incorrect voltage."

E2900/V1280 ScApp and Filter recommendations:

Customer Ready document: <Document:1021703.1>
Internal Only document: <Document:1021064.1>

Previously Published As 79943

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