Document fins/I0391-1
FIN #: I0391-1
SYNOPSIS: INFORMATION ONLY. Ultra 5/10 Poor Video Quality Advanced Field
Notice.
DATE: 04/30/98
KEYWORDS: INFORMATION ONLY. Ultra 5/10 Poor Video Quality Advanced Field
Notice.
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- Sun Proprietary/Confidential: Internal Use Only -
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FIELD INFORMATION NOTICE
(For Authorized Distribution by SunService)
SYNOPSIS: INFORMATION ONLY. Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 Poor Video Quality
Advanced Field Notice.
TOP FIN/FCO REPORT: Yes
PRODUCT_REFERENCE: Ultra 5/10 motherboard
PRODUCT CATEGORY: Desktop / System Board
PRODUCTS AFFECTED:
Mkt_ID Platform Model Description Serial Number
------ -------- ----- ----------- -------------
A21 A21 270 Ultra 5 xW814xxxxxx or lower
A22 A22 300 Ultra 10 XW814xxxxxx or lower
*Serial numbers affected are on systems manufactured prior to week 15
CY98, 1 April 1998, serial numbers xW814xxxxxx or lower are effected.
The problems noted in this FIN affect both Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 work-
stations and workgroup servers.
PART NUMBERS AFFECTED:
Part Number Description Model
----------- ----------- -----
F375-0009-03 Motherboard -
F375-0009-04 Motherboard -
F375-0009-05 Motherboard -
F375-0009-06 Motherboard -
REFERENCES:
BugId: 4120186
FIN: I0386-1
FCO: A0128-1 Pending (Unreleased)
ECO: WO_12616
ECO: WO_12861
ECO: WO_13038
Esc: 5135667
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
Sun Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 workstations and workgroup servers that were
manufactured prior to week 15 1998, are currently susceptible to several
problems in which the systems performance and quality is at issue. This
FIN serves as a form of communication ONLY, with the intent of providing
a status of the current known problems and their resolutions.
PROBLEM SUMMARY:
1. Slow system boot.
ECO# WO_12616
The problem symptom was first noted on systems that took a long time
to boot. Upon investigation it was revealed that the systems were
running the self test used in manufacturing before booting up even
though the system flag in NVRAM was set to off or "false". It was
also noted that the boot counter was not incrementing. Thus, it has
been determined that the system is not reading the NVRAM settings
properly at start-up.
2. Fuzzy video.
ECO# WO_12861
Fuzzy / smudged video characters are appearing on displays connected to
Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 workstations and workgroup servers. Only displays
connected to the built-in PGX graphics port are affected. Characters on
the displays are readable but overall video quality appears substandard
based on the user's subjective assessment.
a. PROM update to 3.11 Version 9
ECO# WO_12861
A21, A22 PROM update to 3.11 Version 9 release (Symbios boot prom fixes)
and fix for the on-board fuzzy video quality problem on the A21 and A22
motherboards. See FINI0386-1 for details.
3. X.25 Hang Problem
ECO# WO_13038
Customers in countries that use X.25 network protocol are having problems
connecting with Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 systems.
Serial port A, on Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 systems, may hang when using an
external clock source as the transfer clock in SYNC mode (X.25)
When the external clock source is an input to the serial port controller,
there is not enough current to drive both the serial port controller and
the inverter (74F04) which is in the out going path.
CORRECTIVE ACTION:
FCO A0128-1 is in process to support the field replacement activity of the
Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 motherboards. SunService Logistics is in the process
of purging all motherboards from stock and building their inventory to meet
field requirements.
*NOTE: Replacing the monitor will NOT correct the fuzzy video problem.
FCO A0128-1 has an estimated release date of May 29, 1998. In cases where
an Ultra 5 or Ultra 10 workstation and workgroup server is severely impacted
by the above stated problem(s), customers and field service representatives
are prompted to follow the normal escalation procedure.
COMMENTS:
*The minimum revision motherboard to correct the fuzzy video and the slow
system boot is -07.
*The minimum revision motherboard to correct the X.25 serial port problem
is -08.
*This FIN has been released as INFORMATION ONLY. This FIN does NOT require
any activity on the part of any SunService department or field function.
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