Document Audience:INTERNAL
Document ID:I1018-1
Title:Best Practices Guide for diagnosing UltraSPARC III memory errors now available.
Copyright Notice:Copyright © 2005 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Update Date:2004-11-30

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            - Sun Proprietary/Confidential: Internal Use Only -
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                        FIELD INFORMATION NOTICE
               (For Authorized Distribution by SunService)
FIN #: I1018-1
Synopsis: Best Practices Guide for diagnosing UltraSPARC III memory errors now available.
Create Date: Dec/10/03
SunAlert: No
Top FIN/FCO Report: No
Products Reference: UltraSPARC III Best Practices Guide
Product Category: Server / Documentation
Product Affected: 
Systems Affected:
-----------------  
Mkt_ID   Platform     Model    Description         Serial Number
------   --------     -----    -----------         -------------
  -        S8          ALL     Sun Fire 3800             -
  -        S12         ALL     Sun Fire 4800             -
  -        S12i        ALL     Sun Fire 4810             -
  -        S24         ALL     Sun Fire 6800             -
  -	   F12K	       ALL     Sun Fire 12000            -
  -        F15K        ALL     Sun Fire 15000            -
  -        A28         ALL     Sun Blade 1000            -
  -        A35         ALL     Sun Fire 280R             -
  -        A37         ALL     Sun Fire V480             -
  -        A30         ALL     Sun Fire V880             -
  -        N28         ALL     Netra 20                  -
  -        A40         ALL     Sun Fire V1280            -


X-Options Affected:
-------------------
Mkt_ID    Platform   Model     Description         Serial Number
------    --------   -----     -----------         -------------
  -	     -         -            -	                 -
Parts Affected: 
----------------------
Part Number        Description   	              Model
-----------        -----------   	              -----
     -                  -                               -
References: 
FIN: I0377-1: ECC Memory Error Guideline for Enterprise servers.
     I0760-2: Too many Memory DIMMs are being unnecessarily replaced on the
              UltraSPARC II, III, III+, IIIi and, IV families of systems,
	      increasing customers' service actions and related system downtime.
     I0805-1: DIMMs are being unnecessarily replaced on Enterprise 10000 
              servers.
     I0954-1: Diagnosing Main Memory errors versus L2SRAM errors on Sun 
              Fire 3800/4800/4810/6800, Sun Fire 12K/15K and Sun Fire 
              V1280 systems.
     
SRDB: 48026
      21773
      45120
      
Info Doc: 49085

URL: http://sdpsweb.central/FIN_FCO/FIN/FINI1018-1_dir/BestPracticesGuide.pdf
     https://spe.sun.com/info/control/DocumentSelectByType/doc=542/Fins_doc.pdf
Issue Description: 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Change of History:                                                     |
| ==================                                                     |
|   Updated Date: Dec/10/03                                              |
|                                                                        |
|   Updated Sections: Reference, Problem Description, Corrective Action  |
|                                                                        |
|   . Created Best Practices Guide document URL for an authorized        |
|     Sun service partners and added them in the Reference, Problem      |
|     Description, and the Corrective Action section.                    |
|                                                                        |
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Memory errors and memory hardware replacement constitutes a significant
portion of downtime and dissatisfiers for Sun customers.  In addition,
roughly 80% of the DIMMs returned to our memory vendors are diagnosed
as "no trouble found" (NTF), indicating good components are being
replaced.  Therefore, understanding the causes of memory errors and
proper diagnosis of the faults is key to maintaining optimum system
reliability and uptime.

A "Best Practices Guide for Memory Errors in UltraSPARC III Products"
has been produced as the result of a Sun Sigma project.  This best
practices guide describes the different memory error events and then
steps the reader through the process of identifying the component that
triggered the event.

This document can be found at:

   http://sdpsweb.central/FIN_FCO/FIN/FINI1018-1_dir/BestPracticesGuide.pdf

However, this document may not be accessible by an authorized Sun service
partners.  Therefore, Sun service partners should use the following URL for
the same document.

   https://spe.sun.com/info/control/DocumentSelectByType/doc=542/Fins_doc.pdf
Implementation: 
---
        |   |   MANDATORY (Fully Proactive)
         ---    
         
  
         ---
        |   |   CONTROLLED PROACTIVE (per Sun Geo Plan) 
         --- 
         
                                
         ---
        | X |   REACTIVE (As Required)
         ---
Corrective Action: 
The following recommendation is provided as a guideline for authorized
Sun Services Field Representatives who may encounter the above
mentioned issue.

Utilize the "Best Practices Guide for Memory Errors in UltraSPARC III 
Products" as an aid in diagnosing memory issues on UltraSPARC III
platforms.  The guide is located at:

   http://sdpsweb.central/FIN_FCO/FIN/FINI1018-1_dir/BestPracticesGuide.pdf
   
Note: This document may NOT be distributed to an authorized Sun service partners.
      Sun service partners can get the same document from the following website.

   https://spe.sun.com/info/control/DocumentSelectByType/doc=542/Fins_doc.pdf
Comments: 
None.

============================================================================
Implementation Footnote: 
i)   In case of MANDATORY FINs, Sun Services will attempt to contact   
     all affected customers to recommend implementation of the FIN. 
   
ii)  For CONTROLLED PROACTIVE FINs, Sun 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, Sun Services will implement the FIN as the   
     need arises.
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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.central/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.central/

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

Internet Access:
----------------
* Access the top level URL of https://spe.sun.com
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General:
--------
* Send questions or comments to [email protected]
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Statusactive