Sun Fire V480, V490, V880, V880z and V890 Flash PROM device in this system cannot be reprogrammed

Asset ID:	1-72-1566936.1
Update Date:	2018-02-16
Keywords:

Solution Type Problem Resolution Sure

Solution 1566936.1 : Sun Fire V480, V490, V880, V880z and V890 Flash PROM device in this system cannot be reprogrammed

Applies to:

Sun Fire V490 Server - Version All Versions to All Versions [Release All Releases]
Sun Fire V480 Server - Version All Versions to All Versions [Release All Releases]
Sun Fire V880 Server - Version All Versions to All Versions [Release All Releases]
Sun Fire V880z Visualization Server - Version All Versions to All Versions [Release All Releases]
Sun Fire V890 Server - Version All Versions to All Versions [Release All Releases]
Information in this document applies to any platform.
When attempting to update the firmware on a V480/V490/V880/V890 the process may fail with the message:
"The Flash PROM device in this system cannot be reprogrammed" this will require a the OBP to be replaced.

Symptoms

When attempting to update the firmware on a V480/V490/V880/V890 the process may fail with the message:

The Flash PROM device in this system cannot be reprogrammed.
You need to contact your service provider for information on updating
the FLASH PROM device in this system. For further details, please
refer to the latest revision of
"Sun(tm) Flash PROM Guide for Workstations and Workgroup Servers -
Standalone Version"

Protected sectors: 0

Cause

The referenced guide is available from http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19127-01/blade1000.ws/802-3233-27/802-3233-27.pdf.

For this error message it explains that the flash PROM sectors were programmed as protected at the factory. The utility will not be able to update the flash PROM, even if the write-protect/write- enable jumper is set to write-enable.

The guide states: "If you encounter this error, it is necessary to replace the system motherboard to upgrade the firmware"

It is the OBP chip that requires replacement.

Solution

It may not be clear from the above description, that the hardware replacement will not always involve the 'motherboard' as this document is related to Workstations and Workgroup Servers which generally do have 'motherboards'.

On the V480/V490 the OBP resides on the Centerplane.

On the V880/V890 the OBP resides on the I/O Board.

References

http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19127-01/blade1000.ws/802-3233-27/802-3233-27.pdf

Attachments

This solution has no attachment