WARNING:Articles moved into the Archived collection were accurate at the "Last Update" date, but are not maintained from that date forward.
As such, Sun disclaims all implied or express warranties with respect to the information contained in such articles.
Document Audience:INTERNAL Archive
Document ID:I0465-1
Title:A5000: Excessive Recoverable Soft errors: (OFFLINEs, CRC Errors, SCSI parity errors, timeouts) on FC-AL loops
Copyright Notice:Copyright © 2005 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Last Updated Date:1998-12-24

---------------------------------------------------------------------
        - Sun Proprietary/Confidential: Internal Use Only -
---------------------------------------------------------------------  
                        FIELD INFORMATION NOTICE
                  (For Authorized Distribution by SunService)
FIN #: I0465-1
Synopsis: A5000: Excessive Recoverable Soft errors: (OFFLINEs, CRC Errors, SCSI parity errors, timeouts) on FC-AL loops
Create Date: Dec/23/98
Keywords: 

A5000: Excessive Recoverable Soft errors: (OFFLINEs, CRC Errors, SCSI parity errors, timeouts) on FC-AL loops

Top FIN/FCO Report: Yes
Products Reference: A5000 single FC-AL
Product Category: Storage / / A5000 / Diagnostics
Product Affected: 
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
------------------  
Sun StorEdge A5000 14-Drive FC-AL Arrays
  
SG-XARY513A-764G   A5000    -    A5000, 764GB 84 Drive 72" Exp Rack  -
SG-XARY012A-509G   A5000    -    A5000, 509GB 56 Drive 56" Exp Rack  -
SG-XARY012A-254G   A5000    -    A5000, 254GB 28 Drive 56" Exp Rack  -
SG-XARY513A-254G   A5000    -    A5000, 254GB 28 Drive 72" Exp Rack  -
SG-XARY010A-45G    A5000    -    A5000, 45GB 5 Drive TableTop        -
SG-XARY510A-45G    A5000    -    A5000, 45GB 5 Drive TableTop        -
SG-XARY010A-127G   A5000    -    A5000, 127GB  14 Drive TableTop     -
SG-XARY510A-127G   A5000    -    A5000, 127GB  14 Drive TableTop     -
SG-XARY011A-127G   A5000    -    A5000, 127GB  14 Drive Rackmount    -
SG-XARY511A-127G   A5000    -    A5000, 127GB  14 Drive Rackmount    -
SG-XARY512A-127G   A5000    -    A5000, 127GB  14 Drive Rackmount    -
Parts Affected: 
Part Number   Description      Model
-----------   -----------      -----
    -              -             -
References: 
URL: http://storageweb.eng/techmark_site/aces/aces.list.html
URL: http://storageweb.eng/techmark_site/tiger/index.html
Issue 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
------------------  
Sun StorEdge A5000 14-Drive FC-AL Arrays
  
SG-XARY513A-764G   A5000    -    A5000, 764GB 84 Drive 72" Exp Rack  -
SG-XARY012A-509G   A5000    -    A5000, 509GB 56 Drive 56" Exp Rack  -
SG-XARY012A-254G   A5000    -    A5000, 254GB 28 Drive 56" Exp Rack  -
SG-XARY513A-254G   A5000    -    A5000, 254GB 28 Drive 72" Exp Rack  -
SG-XARY010A-45G    A5000    -    A5000, 45GB 5 Drive TableTop        -
SG-XARY510A-45G    A5000    -    A5000, 45GB 5 Drive TableTop        -
SG-XARY010A-127G   A5000    -    A5000, 127GB  14 Drive TableTop     -
SG-XARY510A-127G   A5000    -    A5000, 127GB  14 Drive TableTop     -
SG-XARY011A-127G   A5000    -    A5000, 127GB  14 Drive Rackmount    -
SG-XARY511A-127G   A5000    -    A5000, 127GB  14 Drive Rackmount    -
SG-XARY512A-127G   A5000    -    A5000, 127GB  14 Drive Rackmount    -
  
    
PART NUMBERS AFFECTED: 
  
Part Number   Description      Model
-----------   -----------      -----
    -              -             - 
   
REFERENCES:

URL: http://storageweb.eng/techmark_site/aces/aces.list.html
URL: http://storageweb.eng/techmark_site/tiger/index.html  

    	
PROBLEM DESCRIPTION 
  
As of November 1998, approximately 1600 Terabytes of A5000's have been
shipped worldwide.  A small percentage of these units are demonstrating
symptoms consistent with marginal signal quality on the GBaud FC-AL
loops.  Marginal signal quality can be caused by variations in component
quality for GBICs, backplanes, interface boards, interconnect assemblies,
drives.  Note that the majority of Sun A5000 customers are not experienc-
ing these problems.

Symptoms of this problem include the following:

	o Excessive "CRC Error" or "SCSI parity error" messages
	o Excessive "OFFLINE" messages
	o Excessive "timeout" messages
	o "Offline Timeout" messages

The A5000 manufacturability and field reliability has suffered from  
several component quality and signal margin which have plagued 
all first generation FC-AL systems in the industry.

Soon after FCS, A5000 test processes were enhanced to reduce the chances
that defective material would interfere with customer applications.
Implementation: 
---
      	|   |  	MANDATORY (Fully Pro-Active)
    	 ---    
    	 
    
         ---
      	| X | 	CONTROLLED PRO-ACTIVE (per Sun Geo Plan) 
    	 --- 
    	 
    	   			
         ---
      	|   | 	REACTIVE (As Required)
    	 ---
Corrective Action: 
The following actions are recommended to examine the the level
of warnings/errors on A5000 subsystems and provide clear guidelines
for applying corrective action.  These mainly are with respect to
SOFT ERRORS. In case of fatal error messages and system failures,
standard troubleshooting methods and processes should be applied.

	o Proactively examine error logs for symptoms of the problem.
	  
	o If symptoms exist, follow the guidelines for further action
		as specified in the table below. The actions may be
		to simply monitor for changes in error level but may
		also call for running loop integrity diagnostics that
		may lead to a requirement to perform FRU isolation and
		replacement.

		If no symptoms exist, no action is required.

	o For any and all reconfigurations, STORtools Loop Integrity
		Test should be executed for those affected loops.  An
		affected loop is defined to be one which has had any
		components moved/replaced/added (i.e. replacement of
		GBIC, loop connected to different host adapter port,
		new A5000 connected to HUB, etc.) If the Loop Integrity
		Test fails, subsequent FRU isolation/replacement is
		required.

	o For *ALL* new installations/equipment add ons, STORtools
		Loop Integrity Test should be run on all new/modified
		loops. If the Loop Integrity Test fails, subsequent
		FRU isolation/replacement is required.

                   Frequency
  Error/symptom    (per loop)             Action   
  ===============  ===================    ==============================
  CRC/scsi parity  1-10 per day.	  Monitor only (for change in 
  Errors, OFFLINE  			  frequency).
  timeouts.	   -------------------    ------------------------------
		   > 10 per day OR > 5    run STORtools Loop Integrity
		   per day for 3 con-     Test (LIT). If LIT fails,
		   secutive days.	  perform FRU isolation and
                                          replacement.  While waiting
					  for scheduled LIT execution,
					  Loop may be disconnected to
					  prevent performance affects
					  of excessive retries.
  ===============  ===================    ==============================
  Offline Timeout  > 0                    run STORtools Loop Integrity
  OR vxvm path                            Test (LIT). If LIT fails,
  failure                                 FRU isolation and
                                          replacement.  While waiting
					  for scheduled LIT execution,
					  Loop may be disconnected to
					  prevent performance affects
					  of excessive retries.
  ===============  ===================    ==============================
     
    NOTE: that the frequency indicators do allow for some level of
	  soft errors.  These can be normal and should not affect
	  the applications.


Stortools Beta 2.4 is available through your local storage ace.  A
general availability version is targeted for release in January.

Manual and video for the beta 2.4 release is available via URL:
http://storageweb.eng/techmark_site/tiger/index.html

To find your local storage ace reference URL:
http://storageweb.eng/techmark_site/aces/aces.list.html
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 crit-   
     ical 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://cte.corp/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 "SunService Documentation" 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 [email protected]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statusinactive