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FCO #: A0144-3

Status: inactive

Date: Oct/06/99

Keywords: 

Vixel GBIC may experience excessive CRC or scsi parity errors, offline and/or timeout messages on the StorEdge A5x00 and the Ultra Enterprise 3500

Top FIN/FCO Report: Yes

Products Reference: A5000 FC-AL GBIC (Vixel -02 part number only)

Product Category: Storage / A5000 ; Server / Other

Product Affected: 

Systems Affected:

Mkt_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    
--------- --------
   -       A5000       -     Enterprise Network StorEdge A5000   -
   -       A5100       -     Enterprise Network StorEdge A5100   -
   -       A5200       -     Enterprise Network StorEdge A5200   -

X6731A      -          -     FC-AL GBIC Module 100MB/s           -
X2652A     E3500       -     FC-AL Interface Board               -

Parts Affected: 

Part Number   Description     Model
-----------   -----------     -----
370-2303-02   OE Module, GBIC   -

(SCSI Devices)
Type    Vendor    Model     SerialNumber(Min)    SerialNumber(Max)    Firmware
----    ------    -------   ------------------   ------------------   --------
N/A

References: 

FCO:  A0144-2
   DPCO: 138A
   ECR:  15118
   ECO:  WO_14713
   BugId: 4174701, 4200346
   FIN: I0465-1, I0400-1, I0502-1, I0503-2
   Esc: 516788

Issue Description: 

From FCO A0144-1;

A small percentage of Vixel GBICs (370-2303-02) are demonstrating symptoms 
consistent with marginal signal quality on the GBaud FC-AL loops.  Marginal 
signal quality can be caused by variations in component quality for GBICs, 
backplanes, interface boards, interconnect assemblies, and FC-AL drives.

Symptoms of the GBICs manufactured by Vixel include the following:
	
	- excessive "CRC Error" or "scsi parity error" messages
	- excessive "OFFLINE" messages
	- excessive "timeout" messages
	- "Offline Timeout" messages

Sun has qualified two vendors for GBIC modules used in the StorEdge A5x00
and the Ultra Enterprise 3500.  To determine if the GBIC module is made by
Vixel look at the "removal/locking" clips:

1)  Vixel GBIC Module has "plastic locking clips" that are squeezed at
    sides to remove the module.
2)  IBM GBIC Module has "wire bale" type locking mechanism and ARE NOT
    affected.

All Enterprise Network StorEdge, A5x00s shipped from Sun that contain
only the IBM GBIC modules (wire bale) are not affected.

From FCO A0144-2;

IMPORTANT!  The scope of this FCO has been expanded from Vixel '97
GBIC Modules only to ALL Vixel -02 GBIC Modules, regardless of datecode.

Only Vixel -02 GBIC Modules are affected.  This low LASER power problem
is typically not seen in Vixel GBICs Modules until their operational age
exceeds 10 to 14 months.  This shows up as "symptoms" described above.

In view of this new information, the implementation of this FCO is being
changed from;  Controlled Pro-Active to Upon Failure.

All Pro-Active implementation of A0144-1 is to be halted.  Additional
material preparations must be made to support a Pro-Active implementation.
In the meantime, due to an insufficient supply of 370-2303-03 GBIC modules,
it is at the best interests of both Sun and it's customers to Replace Only
Upon Failure, whenever possible.

In order to readily distinguish a Vixel GBIC from an IBM GBIC an new,
Enterprise Services only, part number (370-3975-01) was released via
ECO# WO_15118 on April 29, 1999.  This allows for the purge and relabeling
of all 370-2303-02 IBM GBICs to the new part number.  Additionally the 
370-2303-03 (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) GBIC was released
via ECO# WO_14713 on March 30, 1999.

The Vixel GBIC (Sun p/n 370-2303-02) uses CD laser technology which can
cause marginal signal quality.  CD Laser GBIC modules from Vixel (Sun
p/n 370-2303-02) should be purged and scrapped.  Use only Vixel GBICs
that use Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser technology (Sun p/n
370-2303-03) or IBM GBICs.

Addition for FCO A0144-3;

Enough GBIC materials have been procured by Enterprise Services to support
a proactive implementation of Vixel -02 GBIC replacements in the Sun customer
base.

Therefore the implementation of this FCO is being changed from Upon Failure
to Mandatory (Fully Pro-Active).

Implementation: 

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

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

Replacement Time Estimate: 

30 minutes (average per GBIC)

Special Considerations: 

Any Vixel GBIC modules (370-2303-02) in the possession of Field Engineers or
Service Providers should be returned as defective.

As the above mentioned error messages could be caused by outdated software
or firmware please make sure that the latest patches and firmware revisions
are installed.  Refer to the latest Patch and Firmware Matrix on:

  http://storageweb.eng.sun.com/tm/photon/main/
	
Revision checking is also available via StorTools available for download from:

  http://storageweb.eng/tm/STORtools/StorTools1.html

A single command verifies patch levels, array and drive firmware revisions,
and reports discrepancies.

Also reference FIN #: I0400-1:

StorEdge A5x00 disks drives should not be reconfigured such that there is
a backplane (front and rear) without any disk drives installed.  This may
precipitate the generation of intermittent errors.

If the A5x00 must be configured with all disks on one backplane, it should
be reconfigured into split loops.  This will allow the use of a single
backplane.  Reference the Enterprise Network Array Installation and Service 
Manual for detailed instructions.

Also reference FIN #: I0503-2 (or later):

UPDATED FIN. Disk firmware rev 17xx for A5000(s) with ST19171 9GB FC-AL
disks now requires firmware rev FB6B.

Various applications running on Sun StorEdge A5000 units with 9GB ST19171FC
drives may report SCSI transport, SCSI reset or read errors.

Corrective Action: 

The implementation of this FCO requires the completion of the Healthcheck
program.  A web site has been setup for this process and outlines the
procedures and tracking report requirements to fully complete this FCO.

   http://spi.central.sun.com/healthcheck
   
Please review the documents section to fully understand this required
process and what is needed for FCO_A0144-3. 

Required process;

        - Review of customer configuration by Storage experts
        - Replace 370-2303-02 (Vixel) with 370-3975-01 or 370-2303-03
        - Check for other related FINs and FCOs
        - Check for A5K patch and microcode revision
        - Check for server, Vol mgr & Disksuite patch revisions,
          reference below matrix to avoid incompatible revs;
          http://sunsolve.sun.com/pub-cgi/retrieve.pl?doc=enotify/14838
        - Run StorTools for LOOP INTEGRITY TEST and VERIFICATION
        - capture/upload StorTools, snapshot/Explorer script output,
          and complete A5k Healthcheck Completion Template

At customer sites where all Vixel -02 GBICs have previously been replaced, no
further HealthCheck activity is required as long as Best Practices procedures
have been followed as described on the above HealthCheck website.  However,
the activity needs to be reported via the below create form URL.

At customer sites where the Vixel GBICs have been replaced without performing
the HealthCheck procedures, it is recommended that the HealthCheck procedures
be completed for optimum operation and reliability of the A5000 arrays.  Once
this is done, the activity is to be reported via the following create form;

   http://spi.Central.Sun.COM/healthcheck/create.html

Comments: 

Mandatory implementation is recommended on all StorEdge A5x00 products and
the Sun servers connected to those products.

Where GBICs are used in the Ultra Enterprise 3500 and the StorEdge A5x00 is
NOT connected, the implementation of this FCO should be managed as necessary,
but mandatory implementation is not recommended.

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, Enterprise Services will attempt to contact
      all known customers to recommend the part upgrade.

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

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

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All released FINs and FCOs can be accessed using your favorite network 
browser as follows:
 
SunWeb Access: 
______________
 
* Access the top level URL of http://sdpsweb.EBay/FIN_FCO/

* From there, select the appropriate link to query or browse the FIN and
  FCO Homepage collections.
 
SunSolve Online Access:
_______________________
 
* Access the SunSolve Online URL at http://sunsolve.Central/

* From there, select the appropriate link to browse the FIN or FCO index.

Supporting Documents:
____________________
 
Supporting documents for FIN/FCOs can be found on Edist.  Edist can be 
accessed internally at the following URL: http://edist.Central/.
  
* From there, follow the hyperlink path of "SunService Documentation" and 
  click on "FIN & FCO attachments", then choose the appropriate folder,  
  FIN or FCO.  This will display supporting directories/files for FINs or
  FCOs.
   
Internet Access:
_______________
 
* Access the top level URL of https://infoserver.Sun.COM


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