Document fins/I0784-1

FIN #: I0784-1

SYNOPSIS: Both external Sun Fire 15K network interfaces cannot exist in same
          IPMP group under SMS 1.1 without System Controller OBP patch

DATE: Feb/26/02

KEYWORDS: Both external Sun Fire 15K network interfaces cannot exist in same
          IPMP group under SMS 1.1 without System Controller OBP patch


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



SYNOPSIS: Both external Sun Fire 15K network interfaces cannot exist in same 
          IPMP group under SMS 1.1 without System Controller OBP patch.


SunAlert:           No

TOP FIN/FCO REPORT: Yes 
 
PRODUCT_REFERENCE:  SMS patch and SC OBP level on Sun Fire 15K  
 
PRODUCT CATEGORY:   Server / SW Admin 

PRODUCTS AFFECTED: 

Systems Affected
----------------    
Mkt_ID   Platform   Model   Description       Serial Number
------   --------   -----   -----------       -------------
  -        F15K      ALL    Sun Fire 15000          -


X-Options Affected
------------------

Mkt_ID   Platform   Model   Description       Serial Number
------   --------   -----   -----------       -------------
  -         -         -          -                  -
  

PART NUMBERS AFFECTED: 

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


REFERENCES:

BugId:   4449565 - hme0 and eri1 cannot be used in the same IPMP 
                   pathgroup.
                 
PatchId: 112260 or higher: SMS 1.1: hme0 and eri1 cannot be used 
                             in the same IPMP pathgroup.
                    

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:

Without the appropriate SMS 1.1 patch for the SC OBP, both external
network interfaces on the Sun Fire 15K System Controller will have the
same MAC address.  This poses a problem if both interfaces, hme0 and
eri1, are configured into the same Internet Protocol Multipathing
(IPMP) group.  This can lead to network connectivity problems.
Ultimately, IPMP could mark all paths as FAILED, which would induce an
SC failover.

Since both hme0 and eri1 do not have factory programmed ethernet
addresses, they inherit the same global ethernet address.  They
therefore cannot be used in the same IPMP group.

The root cause of the problem is that eri1 does not have a local MAC
address and inherits that of hme0.  With 2 NICs with identical MAC
addresses on the same ethernet segment, the NICs can intercept each
other's packets and cause general network confusion.

An engineering has solved this problem by "stealing" hme1's MAC address
and assigning it to eri1 by creating the corresponding
"local-mac-address" property.  This fix is available in OBP patch
112260 and has been integrated into SMS 1.2.  At SC boot time, the
new OBP assigns eri1 the same MAC address as hme1.   Since eri1 and
hme1 are on physically separate network segments, external and I2
respectively, no MAC address conflict is present.


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

CORRECTIVE ACTION:

An Authorized Enterprise Services Field Service Representative may avoid 
the above mentioned problem by following the recommendation shown below. 

Update the OBP images on the Sun Fire 15K System Controllers by installing 
Patch 112260 or higher.

To install the fix:

  1. Remove any prior workaround applied to address this issue
     (i.e. /etc/rc2.d/S29ethers.sh as suggested by the bug ID and
     the EIS Installation Checklist).

  2. Apply patch 112260 or higher.

  3. Flashupdate FP0 of the SC with the new OBP image:

     % flashupdate -f /opt/SUNWSMS/firmware/SCOBPimg.di SCx/FP0

     where SCx is the SC where flashupdate is executed (SC0 or SC1).

  4. Reboot the SC.

  NOTE: Both System Controllers must be updated  
	

COMMENTS: 

None.
	
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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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