Document fins/I0400-2


FIN #: I0400-2

SYNOPSIS: UPDATED FIN. Empty Backplane/incorrect configuration on StorEdge
          A5x00 can Cause Errors.

DATE: Nov/17/99

KEYWORDS: UPDATED FIN. Empty Backplane/incorrect configuration on StorEdge
          A5x00 can Cause Errors.


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



SYNOPSIS:   UPDATED FIN. Empty Backplane/incorrect configuration on  
            StorEdge A5x00 can Cause Errors.


PRODUCT CATEGORY:   Storage / A5000; Storage / Disk;

TOP FIN/FCO REPORT: No

PRODUCT_REFERENCE:  A5x00 disk slot assignments 

PRODUCTS AFFECTED:

                 System
Mkt_ID           Platform   Model     Description         Serial Number
------           --------   -----     -----------         -------------
Systems Affected
----------------

  -              A14          -       Ultra Enterprise 2	-
  -		 E450         -       Ultra Enterprise 450      -
  -              E3000        -       Ultra Enterprise 3000     -
  -              E3500        -       Ultra Enterprise 3500     -
  -              E4000        -       Ultra Enterprise 4000     -
  -              E4500        -       Ultra Enterprise 4500     -
  -              E5000        -       Ultra Enterprise 5000     -
  -              E5500        -       Ultra Enterprise 5500     -
  -              E6000        -       Ultra Enterprise 6000     -
  -              E6500        -       Ultra Enterprise 6500     -
  -              E10000               Ultra Enterprise 10000    -            
 
X-Options Affected 
------------------
SG-XARY010A-45G   -   -     45.5GB Sun StorEdge A5000    -
SG-XARY010A-127G  -   -    127.4GB Sun StorEdge A5000    -
SG-XARY010A-254G  -   -    254.8GB Sun StorEdge A5000    -
SG-XARY010A-509G  -   -    509.6GB Sun StorEdge A5000    -
SG-XARY011A-127G  -   -    127.4GB Sun StorEdge A5000    -	
SG-XARY012A-254G  -   -    254.8GB Sun StorEdge A5000    -	
SG-XARY012A-509G  -   -    509.6GB Sun StorEdge A5000    -	
SG-XARY512A-127G  -   -    127.4GB Sun StorEdge A5000    -		
SG-XARY513A-254G  -   -    254.8GB Sun StorEdge A5000    -

SG-ARY531A-254G    -   -     254GB Sun StorEdge A5100    -    
SG-ARY532A-254G    -   -     254GB Sun StorEdge A5100    -    
SG-ARY533A-1528G   -   -     1.5TB Sun StorEdge A5100    -    
SG-ARY533A-254G    -   -     254GB Sun StorEdge A5100    -    
SG-ARY533A-509G    -   -     509GB Sun StorEdge A5100    -   
SG-XARY530A-254G   -   -     254GB Sun StorEdge A5100    -    
SG-XARY530A-91G    -   -      91GB Sun StorEdge A5100    -      
SG-XARY531A-254G   -   -     254GB Sun StorEdge A5100    -     
SG-XARY532A-254G   -   -     254GB Sun StorEdge A5100    -     
SG-XARY533A-1528G  -   -     1.5TB Sun StorEdge A5100    -    
SG-XARY533A-509G   -   -     509GB Sun StorEdge A5100    -    
SG-XARY551A-509G   -   -     509GB Sun StorEdge A5100    -     
SG-XARY531A-254G   -   -   254.8GB 1X14X18.2GB Drive  72" Exp Rack  -
SG-XARY532A-254G   -   -   254.8GB 1X14X18.2GB Drive  Sys Cabinet   -

SG-ARY520A-200G    -   -     200GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -       
SG-ARY521A-200G    -   -     200GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -     
SG-ARY521A-200GR4  -   -     200GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -    
SG-ARY521A-200GR5  -   -     200GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -    
SG-ARY522A-200G    -   -     200GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -    
SG-ARY522A-200GR4  -   -     200GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -     
SG-ARY523A-1200G   -   -    1200GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -  
SG-ARY523A-200G    -   -     200GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -   
SG-ARY523A-400G    -   -     400GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -    
SG-ARY523A-800G    -   -     800GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -    
SG-XARY520A-200G   -   -     200GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -     
SG-XARY520A-63G    -   -      63GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -      
SG-XARY521A-200G   -   -     200GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -     
SG-XARY522A-200G   -   -     200GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -     
SG-XARY523A-1200G  -   -    1200GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -   
SG-XARY523A-400G   -   -     400GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -    
SG-XARY523A-800G   -   -     800GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -    
SG-XARY541A-400G   -   -     400GB Sun StorEdge A5200    -    

PART NUMBERS AFFECTED:

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

(SCSI Devices)
Type   Vendor    Model    Serial Number(Min)  Serial Number(Max)  Firmware
----   ------    -------  ------------------  ------------------  --------

Disk   Seagate   ST19171FCSUN9.0G     -                -              -
Disk   Seagate   ST39102FCSUN9.0G     -                -              -
Disk   Seagate   ST118273FCSUN18.2G   -                -              -
Disk   Seagate   ST318202FCSUN18.2G   -                -              -
Disk   Seagate   ST136403FCSUN36.4G   -                -              -

	
REFERENCES:

MANUAL: 802-7573-10 Enterprise Network Array Installation and Service Manual

	
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:

From FIN# I0400-1:

The minimum configuration for the StorEdge A5000 is with 5 disks, 2 on the
front backplane and 3 on the rear.  The disks as shipped are in slots 3 and 
6 in front, and slots 0, 3 and 6 in back. 

The minimum configuration is Front 3,6 and Rear 0,3,6.  No other minimum  
configuration is authorized. 

This minimum configuration is a requirement because circuitry on the disk  
drives regenerate and retime the data signals which corrects signal quality 
loss accumulated through the bypass circuitry between empty slots.

Empty backplanes can generate errors which are intermittent and difficult   
to isolate.

Error message examples:

Jun  6 20:48:11 depth unix: sf0:  Target 0x12 Reset Failed. Ret=105
Jun  6 20:48:11 depth unix: sf0:  sf_reset all
Jun  6 20:48:11 depth unix: ID[SUNWssa.socal.link.5010] socal0: port 0:  
                Fibre Channel is OFFLINE
Jun  6 20:48:11 depth unix: WARNING: 
/sbus@1f,0/SUNW,socal@0,0/sf@0,0/ssd@w2100002037070d4c,0 (ssd8):
Jun  6 20:48:11 depth unix: SCSI transport failed: reason 'timeout': 
                retrying command
Jun  6 20:48:11 depth unix: ID[SUNWssa.socal.link.6010] socal0: port 0:  
                Fibre Channel Loop is ONLINE
Jun  6 20:48:13 depth unix: sf0: ELS 0x0 to target 0x1d retrying
Jun  6 21:00:07 depth unix: WARNING: 
/sbus@1f,0/SUNW,socal@0,0/sf@0,0/ssd@w2100002037070d5a,0 (ssd5):
Jun  6 21:00:07 depth unix: Error for Command: read(10) Error Level:
                Retryable
Jun  6 21:00:07 depth unix: Requested Block: 1784576 Error Block:
                1784830
Jun  6 21:00:07 depth unix: Vendor: SEAGATE Serial Number:                     
                 
Jun  6 21:00:07 depth unix: Sense Key: Soft Error
Jun  6 21:00:07 depth unix: ASC: 0x18 (<vendor unique code 0x18>),
ASCQ: 
                0x1, FRU: 0xf8

As disks are added they should be spaced to minimize the gaps between disks.


Updates for FIN# I0400-2:
------------------------

The release of this FIN (FIN# I0400-2) adds the StorEdge A5100 and the 
A5200 to the problem description and the associated corrective action.

StorEdge A5X00 Minimun Disk Configurations:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|   Model   | Minimum Disks |  Front Backplane Slots |  Rear Backplane Slots |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|           |               |                        |                       |
|   A5000   |      5        |       3 and  6         |     0, 3 and 6        |
|           |               |                        |                       |
|   A5100   |      5        |       3 and  6         |     0, 3 and 6        |
|           |               |                        |                       |
|   A5200   |      7        |    0, 5 and 10         |  0, 3, 6 and 10       | 
         
|           |               |                        |                       |
|           |               |                        |                       |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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



CORRECTIVE ACTION:

Authorized Service Representatives and Enterprise Customers should note
that the above mentioned problems associated with StorEdge A5X00
congigurations may be avoided by following the recommendation shown
below:

StorEdge A5x00 disks should not be reconfigured such that there is a
backplane without any disks installed as this may precipitate the
generation of intermittent errors (see table above).

If the A5x00 must be configured with all disks on one backplane and
none on the other, the A5x00 should be configured in a split loop
configuration and that half of the A5x00 with the empty backplane
should not be connected.

By-passing the empty backplane is not a recommended procedure to
accomplish the above configuration.  The problem with that is when the
A5x00 is power cycled, it will revert to the default configuration, of
both backplanes configured in the loop.

Reference the Enterprise  Network Array Installation and Service Manual
for detailed instructions.

			  
COMMENTS:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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-----------------------
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* From there, select the appropriate link to browse the FIN or FCO index.

Supporting Documents:
---------------------
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* From there, follow the hyperlink path of "Enterprise Services Documenta- 
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appropriate   
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Internet Access:
----------------
* Access the top level URL of https://infoserver.Sun.COM
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General:
--------
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