Firmware Upgrade Needed on VSM4, VSM5 and V2X SVA Products to Support Later Release of Disk Drive Spares

Asset ID:	1-77-1585760.1
Update Date:	2013-09-23
Keywords:

Solution Type Sun Alert Sure

Solution 1585760.1 : Firmware Upgrade Needed on VSM4, VSM5 and V2X SVA Products to Support Later Release of Disk Drive Spares

Applies to:

Sun StorageTek VSM System
Sun StorageTek VSM4 System
Sun StorageTek V2X SVA Disk System
Sun Hardware - Generic
Sun StorageTek VSM5 System
Information in this document applies to any platform.
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Date of Resolved Release: 19-Sep-2013
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Description

For all the listed products below (see "Occurrence" section), the earlier versions of microcode are no longer supported. There has been a transition to later levels of microcode to provide code enhancements and to support the new part number releases of a set of disk drives to maintain superior levels of service.

With the transition to the recently released disk drives, system microcode needs to be upgraded to the minimum levels listed below.

Occurrence

This issue can occur on the following platforms:

Sun StorageTek VSM4 & VSM5 or Sun StorageTek V2X SVA products

when disk drive part numbers 315252202, 315289201, 315289101, 7058415, 7058423, 7058461 or predecessor P/N is replaced by a new released disk drive P/N 7057391, 7064916 or 7064917, and the VTSS or SVA is operating on microcode that does not support the following disk drives:

HDD 450Gb Part Number 7057391
HDD 73Gb Part Number 7064916 (450GB strap down to 73GB)
HDD 146Gb Part Number 7064917 (450GB strap down to 146GB)

The newly released disk drives are supported on the following minimum microcode levels and all higher microcode versions:

VSM5C H02.14.50.00 and higher
VSM4/5 D02.14.51.00 and higher
V2Xf G02.09.00.00
V2X B02.02.00.00

Symptoms

IFF card failures halting one or more control region will occur if the system microcode is not upgraded.

Best Case Scenario:

The drive fails and fences, causing drive loop errors that fence an IFF card or IFES card. The VTSS or SVA is degraded but not down.

Worst Case Scenario:

The drive does not fence before multiple IFF or IFES cards fence, and machine operation halts.

Workaround

Prior to any disk drive failure, you should plan to upgrade all products listed above to the minimum microcode levels or to a higher code version. Failure to adhere may result in the symptoms provided or require a microcode upgrade prior to any disk drive replacement.

Before installing a replacement drive module for ANY reason, verify whether the machine is on a minimum level of microcode that supports P/N 7057391, 7064916 or 7064917 disk drives. If so, then the drive can be replaced, regardless of the P/N or supplier of the base disk drive.

If the machine microcode is down level of minimum supported releases, and the disk drive to be replaced is a P/N 7057391, 7064916 or 7064917, do not install it in the machine. Either the system microcode will need to be upgraded to supporting code, or an alternative 315252202, 315289201, 315289101, 7058415, 7058423, 7058461 or predecessor P/N will need to be ordered and verified before installing.

If your system will require a microcode upgrade as described in this document, please call Oracle Support to open a Service Request and arrange for these procedures to be carried out by a qualified Oracle Field Engineer.

History

19-Sep-2013: Document released; state Resolved
23-Sep-2013: Typo correction to part number (7064916), no other changes

Reference INTERNAL KM <Document:1517180.1> - VSM/SVA - Subsystem failures after a Hitachi disk drive is installed

With transition to Hitachi 73/146/450GB disk drives (P/Ns 7057391, 7064916 or 7064917) new firmware was released to
support, however system upgrades in at the customer base has been slow.

Supply and demand of the predecessor Seagate drives (P/Ns 315252202, 315289201, 315289101, 7058415, 7058423, 7058461
or predecessor P/N)is reaching a Parts at Risk scenario, therefore all systems that are down level or not meeting minimum
code levels to support Hitachi base disk drives need to be proactively upgraded before seeing a disk drive failure.

Questions regarding this document should be addressed to
sunalertpublication_us_grp@oracle.com and copy the
responsible engineer/submitter below.

Internal Contributor/Submitter: gordon.shand@oracle.com
Internal Eng Responsible Engineer: rob.klitchman@oracle.com
Internal Services Knowledge Engineer: david.mariotto@oracle.com
Internal Eng Business Unit Group: Disk/Tape/Storage

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