How to Replace a SPARC T8-4 Main Module (MM) Motherboard [VCAP]

Asset ID:	1-71-2292404.1
Update Date:	2018-04-18
Keywords:

Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 2292404.1 : How to Replace a SPARC T8-4 Main Module (MM) Motherboard [VCAP]

Applies to:

SPARC T8-4 - Version All Versions and later
Information in this document applies to any platform.

Goal

How to Replace a SPARC T8-4 Main Module (MM) Motherboard

Solution

***************************************************************************************
To report errors or request improvements on this procedure, please add a comment on Doc ID: 2292404.1
***************************************************************************************

ESD Caution:

Circuit boards and drives contain electronic components that are extremely sensitive to static electricity. Ordinary amounts of static electricity from clothing or the work environment can destroy the components located on these boards. Do not touch the components along their connector edges.
Use a Antistatic Wrist strap. Attach one end of the strap to your wrist and the other end to the chassis, depending on what type of strap you use, with the adhesive end or the metal plug.
Use an Antistatic Mat. Place ESD-sensitive components such as motherboards, memory, and other PCBs on an antistatic mat.

Contamination Caution:

Dust particles of packaging material are number one cause of datacenter contamination. Make sure to remove all packaging material, up to the ESD safe packaging material, while still being outside the datacenter.

DISPATCH INSTRUCTIONS

WHAT SKILLS ARE REQUIRED?: SPARC T8-4 Product Training required, to be serviced by qualified Oracle Service personnel, requires the ability to follow steps similar to what is in the Product Service manual.

Time Estimate: 30 minutes

Task Complexity: 2

REMOVAL/REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS:

PROBLEM OVERVIEW: SPARC T8-4 Main Module (MM) Motherboard Replacement

WHAT STATE SHOULD THE SYSTEM BE IN TO BE READY TO PERFORM THE RESOLUTION ACTIVITY? :

Note:

A data backup is not a prerequisite but is a wise precaution.
If the system is still up and functioning, the Customer should perform an orderly and graceful shutdown of the applications and operating system to get the OpenBoot PROM prompt. Run the printenv command and make a note of any OpenBoot PROM variables that have been modified.
The LDOM configuration (if any) needs to be saved before motherboard replacement to avoid loss of LDOM configuration, refer to doc 1019720.1 for details.
Then power off the server and remove the AC power cords from the system. For ALL scenarios where an AC power down or AC power cycle is required for a T8-x server, please always use the steps in doc 1571054.1 prior to physically removing AC power cables from the server.

WHAT ACTIONS ARE REQUIRED?:

Damage Alert:

Perform a visual inspection of the replacement part to make sure that there are no damaged components, connectors, bent pins, damaged packages during shipping, etc. If the part is damaged, don't install it into the system, order a new part. Handle with caution and package carefully the return part just as the new part was packaged to avoid any damages during shipping.

NOTE:

Until Further notice this T8 Part must be submitted through the CPAS process. The FE may not always see the CPAS note, so please make sure you alert the FE to add it in the task too. Once you have the CPAS# please add it into the SR notes for all to see.
See this link for more information about the CPAS process: https://stbeehive.oracle.com/teamcollab/overview/CPAS
Further details: Mandatory NCAT/CPAS for Specific SPARC T8 Series Servers FRU's/CRU's (Doc ID 2297742.1)

Main Module Motherboard Overview

When replacing the main module motherboard, remove the service processor and System Configuration PROM from the old main module motherboard and install these components on the new main module motherboard. The service processor contains the Oracle ILOM server configuration data and the System Configuration PROM contains the server host ID and MAC address. Transferring these components will preserve the server-specific information stored on these modules.

System firmware consists of two components: a service processor component and a host component. The service processor component is located on the service processor and the host component is located on the motherboard. In order for the server to operate correctly, these two components must be compatible.

After replacing the motherboard, the host firmware on the motherboard might be incompatible with the service processor firmware on the service processor that you transferred to the new motherboard. In this case, the server firmware must be loaded as described in Install the Main Module Motherboard.

Replace the Main Module Motherboard

1. Prepare the server for service.

a. Power off the server and disconnect the power cords from the power supplies.
b. Attach an anti-static wrist strap.

2. Remove the main module motherboard from the server.

a. Squeeze the release latches together on the two extraction levers, and pull the extraction levers out to disengage the main module from the server.
b. Pull the main module halfway out of the server. Press the levers back toward the center of the main module motherboard. This will keep the levers from being damaged when the main module motherboard is outside the server.

Caution – Due to the weight of the main module motherboard, the following step requires two people to perform. Do not attempt to lift the main module motherboard alone.

c. Remove the main module motherboard completely from the server.
d. Remove the cover from the main module motherboard. Press the green button near the front edge of the cover and slide the cover back and up off the main module motherboard.

3. Make a note of the locations of the components in the main module motherboard before removing any of them.

Note - The server software keeps track of the location of some components, such as the hard drives and NVMe Switch PCIe cards, so you might have to reinstall the software on some components if they are moved to different locations in the main module motherboard. Make a note of the location of the components in the main module motherboard and install these components in the same locations in the new main module motherboard so that you do not have to reinstall software on any of these components.

4. Remove the following components from the faulty main module motherboard:

    a. Remove all Hard Drives
    b. Remove both NVMe Switch PCIe Cards and Cables (if this option is installed)
    c. Remove the SPM (Service Processor Module)
    d. Remove the System Battery (if new main module motherboard doesn't have one)

5. Remove the system configuration PROM from the main module motherboard.

Note - Put the system configuration PROM aside to install it on the replacement main module motherboard.

6. Install the system configuration PROM from the faulty main module motherboard onto the replacement main module motherboard.

7. Replace these components on the main module motherboard:

a. Install the System Battery (if new main module doesn't have one)
    b. Install the Service Processor Module
    c. Install both NVMe Switch PCIe Cards and Cables (if this option is installed)
    d. Install all Hard Drives

Note - Install the components in the same slots that you removed them from in the faulty main module motherboard to keep from having to reinstall software on these components.

Caution – Due to the weight of the main module motherboard, the following step requires two people to perform. Do not attempt to lift the main module motherboard alone.

8. Insert the main module motherboard back into the server.

    a. Open the levers so that they are fully open.
    b. Insert the main module into its slot in the server until the levers begin to engage.
    c. Press the levers back together, toward the center of the module, then press the levers firmly against the module to fully seat the module back into the server.

9. Connect a terminal or a terminal emulator (PC or workstation) to serial management port.

If the service processor detects that the new host firmware component is incompatible with service processor firmware component, further action will be suspended and the following message will be delivered over the serial management port.

Unrecognized Chassis: This module is installed in an unknown or unsupported chassis. You must upgrade the firmware to a newer version that supports this chassis.

If you see this message, go on to Step 10.

10. Download the system firmware.

a. If needed, configure the service processor’s network port to enable the firmware image to be downloaded.
b. Download the system firmware.

Follow the related instructions in the Oracle ILOM documentation, available at the following link:
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E37444_01/

Note - You can load any supported system firmware version, including the firmware revision that had been installed prior to the replacement of the main module motherboard. However, Oracle strongly recommends installing the newest version of the system firmware.

Verify Main Module Motherboard Functionality

1. Verify that the OK LED is lit on the main module motherboard and that the Fault LED is not lit.

2. Verify that the front and rear Service Required LEDs are not lit.

3. If the previous steps indicate that no faults have been detected, then the main module motherboard has been replaced successfully.

Note - Re-activate any RAID volumes that existed prior to replacing the motherboard. Only perform this task if your system had RAID volumes prior to replacing the motherboard. For details refer to doc 1387771.1 and the SPARC T7-4 Service Manual

4. Set ILOM date/time (-> set /SP/clock datetime=MMDDhhmmYYYY.ss)

OBTAIN CUSTOMER ACCEPTANCE

WHAT ACTION DOES THE FE/ADMINISTARTOR NEED TO TAKE TO RETURN THE SYSTEM TO AN OPERATIONAL STATE:
Boot system and monitor boot sequence for errors. Test functionality of system:
1. Run the Solaris "fmadm faulty" and SP/ILOM "show faulty" command to verify that the fault has been cleared.
2. Perform one of the following tasks based on your verification results:
   * If the previous steps did not clear the fault, refer to doc 1004229.1 for information about the tools and methods you can use to diagnose and clear
     component faults.
   * If the previous steps indicate that no faults have been detected, the component has been replaced successfully. No further action is required
3. Restart software applications per applicable administration guides to resume system operation.

PARTS NOTE:
https://support.oracle.com/handbook_partner/Systems/SPARC_T8_4/components.html#SystemBoard

REFERENCE INFORMATION:
SPARC T8-4 Service Manual: https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E79179_01/html/E80512/index.html

References

<NOTE:1571054.1> - Performing an AC power cycle on the T3/T4/T5/S7/T7/T8 Servers

Attachments

This solution has no attachment