Document fins/I0579-1


FIN #: I0579-1

SYNOPSIS: Systems with Ultra DWIS/SBus Host Adapter slow to a halt under heavy
          IO loads and the Console displays "SCSI transport failed"
          error messages.

DATE: Jun/07/00

KEYWORDS: Systems with Ultra DWIS/SBus Host Adapter slow to a halt under heavy
          IO loads and the Console displays "SCSI transport failed"
          error messages.


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



SYNOPSIS: Systems with Ultra DWIS/SBus Host Adapter slow to a halt under
          heavy IO loads and the Console displays "SCSI transport
failed"
          error messages.
             

TOP FIN/FCO REPORT: Yes 
 
PRODUCT_REFERENCE:  UDWIS/SBus SCSI Adapter  
 
PRODUCT CATEGORY:   Storage / SW Admin 

PRODUCTS AFFECTED:    

Systems Affected
------- ---------

Mkt_ID   Platform   Model  Description         Serial Number
------   --------   -----  -----------         -------------
  -      A14        ALL    Ultra Enterprise 2        -
  -      E3000      ALL    Ultra Enterprise 3000     -
  -      E3500      ALL    Ultra Enterprise 3500     -
  -      E4000      ALL    Ultra Enterprise 4000     -
  -      E4500      ALL    Ultra Enterprise 4500     -
  -      E5000      ALL    Ultra Enterprise 5000     -
  -      E5500      ALL    Ultra Enterprise 5500     -
  -      E6000      ALL    Ultra Enterprise 6000     -
  -      E6500      ALL    Ultra Enterprise 6500     -
  -      E10000     ALL    Ultra Enterprise 10000    -
 
X-options Affected    
--------- --------
X1065A     -         -     Ultra DWIS/SBus Host Adapter   -
  -      D1000      ALL    StorEdge D1000                 -
  -    	 A1000      ALL    StorEdge A1000	          -
  -      A3000      ALL    StorEdge A3000                 -
  -      A3500	    ALL    StorEdge A3500	          -


PART NUMBERS AFFECTED:

Part Number   Description                 Model
-----------   -----------                 -----
370-2443-01   UDWIS/SBus SPORT-20D ULTRA    -
370-2443-02   UDWIS/SBus SPORT-20D ULTRA    -


REFERENCES:

BugId: 4279917, 4318531, 4294710, 4280274, 4237022, 4288995, 4327742, 
       4284656, 4292114, 4322298, 4318531
Esc#:  522822, 524889, 525094, 525353, 523726, 523767, 525290

      
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: 

These failures will cause timeouts on the SCSI bus and drastically slow
down the IO operations and eventually hang the system.

The following SCSI error messages were produced under very heavy IO
loads when using the UDWIS SBus Host Adapter connected to the StorEdge
D1000, A1000, A3000, and A3500 in the desktop and/or server
configurations.

WARNING: /sbus@e,0/QLGC,isp@2,10000/sd@a,0 (sd1201):
         SCSI transport failed: reason 'incomplete': retrying command

WARNING: /sbus@e,0/QLGC,isp@2,10000/sd@2,0 (sd1194):
         SCSI transport failed: reason 'incomplete': retrying command
 
WARNING: /sbus@2,0/QLGC,isp@1,10000/sd@2,0 (sd1074):
         SCSI transport failed: reason 'timeout': retrying command
 
WARNING: /sbus@2,0/QLGC,isp@1,10000/sd@b,0 (sd1082):
         SCSI transport failed: reason 'incomplete': retrying command
 
WARNING: /sbus@e,0/QLGC,isp@2,10000/sd@b,0 (sd1202):
         SCSI transport failed: reason 'tran_err': retrying command

WARNING: /sbus@2,0/QLGC,isp@1,10000/sd@a,0 (sd1081):
         SCSI transport failed: reason 'incomplete': retrying command
 
WARNING: /sbus@2,0/QLGC,isp@1,10000/sd@b,0 (sd1082):
         SCSI transport failed: reason 'incomplete': retrying command

The "incomplete", "timeout" and "tran_err" failures
occur due to UDWIS
adapter failing SCSI bus arbitration under heavy I/O loads in systems
where heavy SCSI I/O cause the SCSI commands queued in the host
adapter memory to exceed 190.


IMPLEMENTATION: 
 
         ---
        |   |   MANDATORY (Fully Pro-Active)
         ---    
         
  
         ---
        | X |   CONTROLLED PRO-ACTIVE (per Sun Geo Plan) 
         --- 
         
                                
         ---
        |   |   REACTIVE (As Required)
         ---
         

CORRECTIVE ACTION:

The following recommendation is provided as a guide line for authorized
Enterprise Services Field Representatives and Enterprise Customers that 
may be at risk of encountering the above mentioned problem;

The following solution applies to configurations listed below:

1.  1 D1000 connected to 1 UDWIS host adapter
2.  1 A1000 and A3X00 enclosure connected to 1 UDWIS host adapter.
3.  Multiple A1000 and A3X00 enclosures connected to 1 UDWIS host 
    adapter and the total number of LUNs in such configuration does 
    not exceed 12.

Solution to above configurations:

Set sd_max_throttle value to 15, so that no more than 190 SCSI commands
will be queued up in UDWIS host adapter memory, even when there are 12
disk drives in a D1000, A1000, or A3X00 disk array.  (15 x 12 = 180)

Following are instructions to set a maximum throttle value of 15 SCSI
commands per disk:

Note:
<CR> is the RETURN key on keyboard.
<ESC> is the Esc key.
Statements between braces [....] are comments.


1.	At console or command tool window, type:

   	su<CR>
   	password:[supply root password]<CR>

2.	Use "vi" editor (or other editor available to you) to add one line
   	in the /etc/system file.

	A sample session is like:

	vi /etc/system<CR>
	[/etc/system file opens on your window]
	GA
	[you are now in "append" mode at the bottom of the file]
	set sd:sd_max_throttle = 15<ESC>
	:wq!<CR>

3. Reboot the system for the above change to take effect.
   Reboot may take a long time on large systems.

For configurations with multiple A1000s or A3X00s daisy chained to one 
UDWIS host adapter and supporting more than 12 LUNs on the SCSI bus,
follow procedure below:

    Repeat steps 1 through 3 above, but use a new sd_max_throttle value 
    determined by dividing 190 by the total number of LUNs on the SCSI
    bus.


COMMENTS

The details provided in the Corrective Action section are a temporary
workaround.  A patch will be released in the near future which will
provide the permanent solution. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Implementation Footnote:

i)   In case of MANDATORY FINs, Enterprise Services will attempt to    
     contact all affected customers to recommend implementation of 
     the FIN. 
   
ii)  For CONTROLLED PROACTIVE FINs, Enterprise Services mission critical    
     support teams will recommend implementation of the FIN  (to their  
     respective accounts), at the convenience of the customer. 

iii) For REACTIVE FINs, Enterprise Services will implement the FIN as the   
     need arises.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.Corp/

* 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.corp/.
  
* From there, follow the hyperlink path of "Enterprise Services Documenta- 
  tion" 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
General:
--------
* Send questions or comments to finfco-manager@Sun.COM
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        


Copyright (c) 1997-2003 Sun Microsystems, Inc.