Issue with the FICON DWWN feature on Sun StorageTek T10000 and 9x40 devices.

Asset ID:	1-73-1019062.1
Update Date:	2010-09-15
Keywords:

Solution Type FAB (standard) Sure

Solution 1019062.1 : Issue with the FICON DWWN feature on Sun StorageTek T10000 and 9x40 devices.

1. Impact

If the Sun StorEdge L8500 (SL8500) Tape Library is running with FRS_3.77 firmware, it will recognize this TTI rev and automatically set up the drive world wide name feature in the drive, but the FICON environment may not associate this new WWN to the original drive. To resolve this issue, the switch may need to be reconfigured or a system/LPAR may need to be rebooted. The resolution is configuration dependant and needs to be addressed during the conversion.

- 1.36.x04 9x40 Drive Firmware issue

1.36.x04 drive code release introduced serious issues with the FICON DWWN feature affecting the 9840C (1.36.504) and 9940B (1.36.404) FICON drives. This can result in path/configuration tables in the drive that may not be built correctly causing an "out of synchronization"condition with the actual fabric configuration. 1.36.x07 code fixes this issue.

If you install 3.77 firmware in the SL8500 Library you must verify that your 9840C and 9940B drives are not running 1.36.x04 code. 1.36.x07 is the preferred code to run (and the only option if you want FICON DWWN capabilities). If FICON DWWN is not required, you may run 1.35.xxx code levels with 3.77 Library firmware.

- 1.34.109 T10000 Drive Firmware issue

The same issue described above for 1.36.x04 code also affects the T10000 in 1.34.109 code. The only fix available as of this writing is a special code build RO.34.109. This change will be in the 1.37.1xx code release which is still in test at this time.

2. Contributing Factors

Sun StorageTek 9x40 FICON attached tape drives with 1.36.x04 9x40 drive firmware and Sun StorageTek T10000 FICON attached tape drives with 1.34.109 drive firmware are affected.

3. Symptoms

Some of the symptoms seen to date are:

. boxed devices
. paths going away to one or more LPARS
. 1803 sno conditions
. drives that run for days then start having problems
. varying the drive offline then back online may clear the problem for a while
. a drive IPL or library initialization to a drive can bring out the problem

This issue is more likely to affect accounts with a large number of LPARS and a large fabric.

4. Root Cause

The Dynamic World Wide Naming (DWWN) feature for FICON 9x40 drives was first implemented in 1.35.x10 drive code. An issue in drive microcode 1.35.x10 (along with SL8500 code 3.08) was soon discovered which keeps drives from coming online. Library microcode 3.11C code managed the issue in that it effectively removed the dynamic world wide name feature from the library for FICON drives. 1.36.x04 drive code release added the FICON DWWN feature back in and provides a TTI rev of 4.09 back to the library. This introduced a serious issue with the FICON DWWN feature affecting the 9840C (1.36.504) and 9940B (1.36.404) FICON drives. This can result in path/configuration tables in the drive that may not be built correctly causing an "out of synchronization" condition with the actual fabric configuration.

5. Corrective Action

Workaround

See Final Resolution section below.

Resolution

If you install 3.77 firmware in the SL8500 Library you must verify that your T10000 drives are running RO.34.109 code (or higher).

As a general rule, if you install FRS 3.77 (or higher) code in the SL8500 Library:

* For 9x40 you need to run with 1.36.x07 or higher code in your FICON drives.
* For T10000 FICON drives you need to run with RO.34.109 or higher microcode

1.36.x07 9x40 microcode can be downloaded from the Customer Resource Center (CRC) web site.
RO.34.109 microcode can be obtained through tape technical support.

6. Comments

Reference FAB Solution 201261 (KASP ID 102979) as a related knowledge asset.

For information about FAB documents, its release processes, implementation strategies and billing information, go to the following URL:

http://tns.central/fab

For Sun Authorized Service Providers go to:

http://tns.central/SPE/fab/

In addition to the above you may email:

[email protected]

Internal Contributor/submitter
[email protected]

Internal Eng Responsible Engineer
[email protected] Responsible Manager: [email protected]

Internal Services Knowledge Engineer
[email protected]

Internal Eng Business Unit Group
SG Storage (Storage)

Internal Sun Alert & FAB Admin Info
29-Feb-2008: Initial draft completed and sent to Extended Review.
04-Mar-2008: Sending to Publish.
15-Dec-2009: Replaced Product with Swordfish Nomenclature

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