Firmware 9.0.1_ on SPARC M6-32 and SPARC M5-32 (with M6 CMUs) Servers May Lead to a System Panic

Asset ID:	1-77-1616929.1
Update Date:	2014-02-06
Keywords:

Solution Type Sun Alert Sure

Solution 1616929.1 : Firmware 9.0.1_ on SPARC M6-32 and SPARC M5-32 (with M6 CMUs) Servers May Lead to a System Panic

Applies to:

SPARC M6-32
Sun Hardware - Generic
SPARC M5-32
Information in this document applies to any platform.
_______________________________________

Date of Resolved Release: 30-Jan-2014
_______________________________________

Description

Use of firmware 9.0.1__ ( where __ = an alphabetical letter) on SPARC M6-32 systems and SPARC M5-32 systems with M6 CPU/Memory Unit (CMU) is not recommended due to the possibility of a Solaris panic. Exposure may occur on systems with a faulty DIMM when the M6 pin sparing circuit is utilized.

Occurrence

This issue can occur on the following platforms:

SPARC M6-32 Servers with Firmware version 9.0.1__
SPARC M5-32 Servers (with M6 CMUs installed) with Firmware version 9.0.1__

Notes:

      1. No other platforms or M-series servers are affected by this issue.
      2. This issue can only occur on the M6-32 or M5-32 (with M6 CMUs installed) where a faulty DIMM is present.

To determine the current firmware version on one of these servers, do the following:

      -> show /HOST0 sysfw_version

        /HOST0
         Properties:
         sysfw_version = Sun System Firmware 9.0.1i

Symptoms

Occurrence of this issue can lead to a system panic.

Workaround

There is no workaround for this issue.

This issue is addressed in the following release:

Sun System Firmware version 9.1.1a (as delivered in patch 17944131 or later)

For the latest information on Firmware upgrade for these systems, see:

"SPARC M5-32 and M6-32 Servers: Firmware Image Software Version Matrix Information" <Document:1540816.1>

and:

"Information Center: SPARC M5-32 and SPARC M6-32 Servers" <Document:1558958.2>

NOTE: It is STRONGLY recommended to upgrade the M5-32/M6-32 server firmware to version 9.1.1a at the earliest opportunity.

Firmware 9.1.1a is considered the minimum operating firmware for M6-32 servers and M5-32 servers with M6 CMU board(s).

Patches

<SUNPATCH:17944131>

History

30-Jan-2014: Document released; status is Resolved
06-Feb-2014: Maintenance update/edit; no change in content

This issue was introduced with the implementation of CR17861184.

The exposure only happens when a bad memory chip is present on the server,
and the M6's pin sparing circuit is utilized.

If a pin spare occurs and the bad chip register is left
incorrectly programmed, then a subsequent multi-bit error
in a DIMM associated with this incorrect programming would
result in a UE rather than being correctable.

Internal Contributor/Submitter: Bill.Blohm@Oracle.Com
Internal Eng Responsible Engineer: barbara.burkhardt@oracle.com
Oracle Knowledge Analyst: david.mariotto@oracle.com
Internal Eng Business Unit Group: SPARC Systems
Internal Associated SRs:
Internal Resolution Patches: 17944131

References

Attachments

This solution has no attachment