Document fins/I0742-1


FIN #: I0742-1

SYNOPSIS: Modifying the "st.conf" file might lead to temporary
          slowdowns or hangs on systems with Sun StorEdge D1000 or D240 devices
          attached

DATE: Nov/20/01

KEYWORDS: Modifying the "st.conf" file might lead to temporary
          slowdowns or hangs on systems with Sun StorEdge D1000 or D240 devices
          attached


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



SYNOPSIS: Modifying the "st.conf" file might lead to temporary
          slowdowns 
          or hangs on systems with Sun StorEdge D1000 or D240 devices
          attached.
              

Sun Alert:          Yes

TOP FIN/FCO REPORT: Yes
 
PRODUCT_REFERENCE:  StorEdge D1000/D240  
 
PRODUCT CATEGORY:   Storage / SW Admin 


PRODUCTS AFFECTED:  
 
Systems Affected
----------------
Mkt_ID   Platform   Model  Description                 Serial Number
------   --------   -----  -----------                 -------------
  -       ANYSYS      -    SYSTEM PLATFORM INDEPENDENT       -
  

X-Options Affected
------------------
Mkt_ID   Platform   Model  Description       Serial Number
------   --------   -----  -----------       -------------
  -       D1000      ALL   StorEdge D1000          -
  -       D240       ALL   StorEdge D240           -


PART NUMBERS AFFECTED: 

Part Number   Description               Model
-----------   -----------               -----
     -             -                      -


REFERENCES:

BugId      4426535 - st.conf entry causes problems with scsi probe 
                     commands.

ESC:       529829

SunAlert:  26524

      
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
                          
Systems with a modified "/kernel/drv/st.conf" file and a Sun StorEdge
D1000, Netra st D1000, or D240 Array attached might sporadically slow
down or appear hung and become unavailable for about 60 seconds.  This
slowdown can happen at system boot time.  SCSI errors might appear for
the SCSI Bus containing the D1000/D240 Array.  
   
When the problem occurs, SCSI warnings similar to the following might be 
displayed on the console or get logged to the "/var/adm/messages" file:


    WARNING: /sbus@55,0/QLGC,isp@1,10000/sd@0,0 (sd0):
             SCSI transport failed: reason `reset`: retrying command 
                          
This problem can occur in the following releases: 

   SPARC: 

      Solaris 2.5.1 
      Solaris 2.6 
      Solaris 7 
      Solaris 8 

   NOTE: Solaris x86 (Intel platform) is not affected.
   
Systems will be affected if the following two conditions are met:

For D1000:
----------
   . The system has a directly attached StorEdge D1000 / Netra st D1000
     Array (no intermediate A3500/A3500FC controller).
      
   . The system has a modified /kernel/drv/st.conf file which contains
     entries for SCSI targets 14 or 15 accessing extended LUNs or LUN>7.
	   
   For example, systems with directly attached D1000 Arrays will be affected 
   if they have "st.conf" entries like the following:

      name="st" class="scsi"
           target=14 lun=8;                                                    
                            
   and/or 

      name="st" class="scsi"
           target=15 lun=8;

For D240:
---------
   . The system has a directly attached StorEdge D240 / Netra st D1000
     Array (no intermediate A3500/A3500FC controller).
     
   . The system has a directly attached StorEdge D240.  
      
   . The system has a modified /kernel/drv/st.conf file which contains
     entries for SCSI targets 2 or 3 accessing extended LUNs or LUN>7.
	   
   For example, systems with directly attached D240 Arrays will be affected 
   if they have "st.conf" entries like the following:

      name="st" class="scsi"
           target=2 lun=8;                                                     
                           
   and/or 

      name="st" class="scsi"
           target=3 lun=8;                                                     
                          
The specified "lun" number might vary.  These lines are, by default, 
commented out by a hash ("#") character at the beginning of each line.

The root cause for this issue is that StorEdge D1000 / Netra st D1000
arrays reserve SCSI IDs 14 and 15 for optional environmental
monitoring. These SCSI IDs are assigned to the GEM chips found on the 
D1000 controller board.  This monitoring is only functional when used 
in conjunction with the Sun StorEdge A3500/A3500FC controller.   Also,
the D240 reserves SCSI IDs 2 and 3.

At the time of the failure the devices at target 14 and 15 on the D1000,
and the devices in the D240 at target 2 and 3 do not respond to a
SCSI Inquiry.  drvconfig asks st_probe to do a scsi_probe and ISP,
which executes the probe, receives nothing back and times out after 60
seconds.  When the devices do not respond, the target driver does not
know to abort the SCSI request, leading to the timeout. 


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

CORRECTIVE ACTION: 

The following recommendation is provided as a guideline for authorized
Enterprise Services Field Representatives who may encounter the above 
mentioned problem.

To avoid the described issue, leave the lines related to SCSI IDs 14 and 
15 relating to extended LUNs ( LUN > 7 ) in the
"/kernel/drv/st.conf" file 
commented out, as shown in the
following example: 

    #name="st" class="scsi"
    #   target=14 lun=8;

    #name="st" class="scsi"
    #   target=15 lun=8;

For StorEdge D240, SCSI IDs 2 and 3 should not be used on a SCSI bus with 
a "Sun StorEdge D240" attached.

NOTE: Using extended LUNs (LUN > 7) on targets 2 and 3 for the D240 
      devices and targets 14 and 15 for the D1000s.  These targets on 
      the respective devices may be used as long as they do not reference 
      LUNs above 7. 

To avoid the described issue, leave the lines related to SCSI IDs 2 and 
3 relating to extended LUNs ( LUN > 7 ) in the
"/kernel/drv/st.conf" file 
commented out, as shown in the
following example: 

    #name="st" class="scsi"
    #   target=2 lun=8;

    #name="st" class="scsi"
    #   target=3 lun=8;                                                      


COMMENTS: 
 
None

============================================================================

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.
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