Document fcos/A0121-2


FCO #: A0121-2

SYNOPSIS: Improved reliability through firmware upgrade on Exabyte 8mm
          8705DX/8900 tape drives

DATE: Jun/11/98

KEYWORDS: Improved reliability through firmware upgrade on Exabyte 8mm
          8705DX/8900 tape drives


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        - Sun Proprietary/Confidential: Internal Use Only -
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                        FIELD CHANGE ORDER
                  (For Authorized Distribution by SunService)

 
SYNOPSIS: Improved reliability through firmware upgrade on Exabyte 8mm 
          8705DX/8900 tape drives.

TOP FIN/FCO REPORT: No

PRODUCT_REFERENCE: Exabyte 8mm 8705DX / 8900 tape drives

PRODUCT CATEGORY: Storage / Tape

PRODUCTS AFFECTED:

Mkt_ID   Platform   Model   Description                            Serial
Number
------   --------   -----   -----------                           
-------------
X6206A       -        -     14GByte 8mm Intrnl Tape UE,HPC5000/6000      -
X6208A	     -        -     UniPack 14GByte Tape                         -
X6209A	     -        -     UniPack 14GByte Tape                         -
X6210A	     -        -     FlexiPack 14GByte Tape                       -
X6211A	     -        -     FlexiPack 14GByte Tape                       -
X6212A	     -        -     14GByte 8mm Intrnl Tape, U1/U2/FlexiPack     -
X6213A	     -        -     14GByte 8mm Intrnl Tape, U150/UE, HPC450     -
X6229A	     -        -     14GByte 8mm Intrnl Tape Option, libraries    -

	
X6230A	     -        -     Unipack 20-40GByte Tape                      -
X6231A	     -        -     Unipack 20-40GByte Tape                      -
X6232A	     -        -     FlexiPack 20-40GByte Tape                    -
X6233A	     -        -     FlexiPack 20-40GByte Tape                    -
X6234A	     -        -     20-40GByte 8mm Intrnl Tape Drv, UE3000       -
X6235A	     -        -     20-40GByte 8mm Intrnl Tape Drv, UE,HPC4000   -
X6236A	     -        -     20-40GByte 8mm Intrnl Tape Drv, FlexiPack    -
6237AR4      -        -     FlexiPackX2, removable storage tray          -
6237AR5      -        -     FlexiPackX2, removable storage tray          -

6221AR4      -        -     140GB TAPE LIBRARY                           -
6221AR5      -        -     140GB TAPE LIBRARY                           -
6222AR4      -        -     140GB TAPE LIBRARY                           -
6222AR5      -        -     140GB TAPE LIBRARY                           -
X6225A       -        -     400GB TAPE LIBRARY                           -
(X)6226AR4   -        -     400GB TAPE LIBRARY                           -
(X)6226AR5   -        -     400GB TAPE LIBRARY                           -
X6227A	     -        -     140GB TAPE LIBRARY, tower unit               -
(X)6228AR4   -        -     140GB TAPE LIBRARY                           -
(X)6228AR5   -        -     140GB TAPE LIBRARY                           -

PART NUMBERS AFFECTED:

Part Number   Description                        Model
-----------   -----------                        -----
370-2881-02   8mm TAPE DRIVE,8705DX,LT GREY      EXB-85058HE-0000
370-2882-02   8mm TAPE DRIVE,8705DX,MED GREY     EXB-85058HE-0000
370-3128-02   DRIVE,8705DX W/CARRIER (EXB-210)   EXB-85058HE-0000

370-2183-01   8MM 20/40GB TAPE DRV,LT GR         EXB-89008E030203
370-2184-01   8MM 20/40GB TAPE DRV W/O LC        EXB-89008E030203
370-2401-01   MAMMOTH,DRIVE/CARRIER              EXB-89008E030203

(SCSI Devices)
Type    Vendor    Model     SerialNumber(Min)    SerialNumber(Max)    Firmware
----    ------    -------   ------------------   ------------------   --------
8mm     EXABYTE   EXB-85058HE-0000   -                    -           <
0098
8mm     EXABYTE   EXB-89008E030203   -                    -           <
V37f

REFERENCES:

   ECO: W0_12959
   LEAP: 885
   Esc: 512642
   BugId: 4101574
   FCO: A0121-1

   ECO: W0_11636
   BugId: 4073376
   Esc: 511377
   LEAP: 800

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:     

1) From FCO_A0121-1: 

   Multiple problems have been reported regarding the 8705DX/8900 tape drives.
   These drives may experience the following;

   - excessive read retry soft error reporting
   - 8705DX cannot read low density tapes with multiple dd dumps
   - 8200 mode incompatibility

   New firmware versions (0098 & V37f) had been released that can correct
for
   the various failure conditions.  Manufacturing cut-in the new firmware in
   late October 1997.  Corrective Action is in place within the SunService 
   repair process by way of a Logistics ECO Action Plan (LEAP) 800.

2) Tape write errors may be observed in compression mode on Exabyte 8705DX 8mm 
   tape drive with version 90 firmware.

   A typical error message from /var/adm/messages:
 
   WARNING: /sbus@1f,0/QLGC,isp@0,10000/st@5,0 (st12):
        Error for Command: write        Error Level: Fatal
        Requested Block: 10326  Error Block: 10326
        Vendor: EXABYTE                 Serial Number:             
        Sense Key: Hardware Error
        ASC: 0x10 (ID CRC or ECC error), ASCQ: 0x0, FRU: 0x0

   The top (red) LED on the drive lights up at this point which indicates an 
   internal hardware error.

   The above symptom is due to a data compression bug which was introduced in
   the release of tape firmware version 90, and has been resolved with newer 
   firmware version 98 on Exabyte 8705DX 8mm tape drive.

   The tape firmware version for the 8900 8mm tape drive remains at V37f.


IMPLEMENTATION:

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

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

REPLACEMENT TIME ESTIMATE:   30 minutes

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Prior to starting any firmware download, the drive should be cleaned
using a cleaning tape, 370-2344-01 marked "Premium" 8mm cleaning
cartridge,
18c, by Exabyte.  The 18c refers to eighteen cleaning cycles per cartridge.

CORRECTIVE ACTION:
  
Upgrade the EXB-8705DX and EXB-8900L 8mm tape drive firmware via the following
firmware download tapes as appropriate for the tape drive part numbers
specified below;

370-3639-01   FRU,8705DX,CODELOAD TAPE,REV 98

 For  	370-2881-03 (and below)  8mm TAPE DRIVE,8705DX,LT GREY
  	370-2882-03 (and below)  8mm TAPE DRIVE,8705DX,MED GREY
  	370-3128-03 (and below)  DRIVE,8705DX W/CARRIER (EXB-210)

370-3367-01   FRU, 8900,CODELOAD TAPE,REV 37F

 For  	370-2183-01   8MM 20/40GB TAPE DRV,LT GR
  	370-2184-01   8MM 20/40GB TAPE DRV W/O LC
  	370-2401-01   MAMMOTH,DRIVE/CARRIER

Upon tape drive failure or if the firmware upgrade is unsuccessful because 
of tape read/write errors replace the tape drive with one having the latest 
code level as follows;

	Replace 370-2881-03 (and below) with 370-2881-04
	Replace 370-2882-03 (and below) with 370-2882-04
	Replace 370-3128-03 (and below) with 370-3128-04

	Replace 370-2183-01 with 370-2881-02
	Replace 370-2184-01 with 370-2884-02
	Replace 370-2401-01 with 370-2401-02


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

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

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

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SunWeb Access: 
______________

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* From there, select the appropriate link to query or browse the FIN and
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Supporting documents for FIN/FCOs can be found on Edist.  Edist can be 
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Internet Access:
_______________

* Access the top level URL of https://infoserver.Sun.COM

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