T10000 - FSC4031 Errors with 1.46.x09 Firmware

Asset ID:	1-72-1254484.1
Update Date:	2011-04-05
Keywords:

Solution Type Problem Resolution Sure

Solution 1254484.1 : T10000 - FSC4031 Errors with 1.46.x09 Firmware

Applies to:

Sun StorageTek T10000 Tape Drive - Version: Not Applicable and later [Release: N/A and later]
Information in this document applies to any platform.
Checked for relevance on 5-Apr-2011.

Symptoms

A problem was found that can cause the drive to return a tape alert bit indicating that the RFID chip is failing. Netbackup will freeze tapes based on this tape alert being returned. In addition you will see FSC4031 perm errors in the drive event log. From the customer's perspective, they will see a 0x0f tape alert.

This problem affects T10000A drives running with 1.46.109 code. It can also affect T10000B drives (running 1.46.209 code) when reading a T10000A written tape.

The FSC4031 error and resulting tape alert indication is a false error that came about due to a code change in 1.46.x09 code that affects reading and interpreting of the RFID chip data.

Here is an example of the message one would see in the ID file for this problem:

Tape Alert Flags: 00200000

Cartridge memory chip failure.

FSC4031

Changes

Problem was introduced with upgrade to 1.46.x09 firmware.

Cause

Change in firmware.

Solution

This error message is misleading as it does not truly indicate a failed RFID chip in the tape cartridge.

Engineering has identified the cause of this problem and has coded a change to address the problem. This is available in special build RK.46.109 (T10000A) or RK.46.209 (T10000B) which is available through Tape Technical Support.

The other option would be to back down to 1.44.x10 firmware, however, you will loose all the important changes that the 1.46.x09 based code brings.

Release of this change in GA code is targeted for early 2011. (1.48.xxx code)

This problem affects both FICON and Fibre Channel Drives. Is should not affect native attached FICON drives as they do not look at tape alert bits but could effect RTD's.

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