Firmware downgrades from 07.xx.xx.xx require special procedures and approval.

Asset ID:	1-73-1019709.1
Update Date:	2010-09-21
Keywords:

Solution Type FAB (standard) Sure

Solution 1019709.1 : Firmware downgrades from 07.xx.xx.xx require special procedures and approval.

Impact

Downgrading an array from 07.xx.xx.xx is not officially supported by Sun Engineering, and performing such downgrade without proceeding with the process described in this FAB can lead to technical complications and/or even lead to a broken array.

Contributing Factors

Downgrading the firmware on any of the above listed affected products from 07.xx.xx.xx can contribute to this issue.

Symptoms

A list of possible symptoms is not available.

Root Cause

Array downgrades are not officially supported by Sun.

Corrective Action

Workaround:

No workaround available - see Resolution section below.

Resolution:

Sun StorageTek 6140 and 6540 arrays shipped from the factory as of June 6th, 2008 are bundled with 07.10.25.10 firmware on the arrays. Sun StorageTek 2510, 2530 and 2540 arrays shipped from the factory as of November 15th, 2008 are bundled with 07.35.10.10 firmware on the arrays. It is preferential to keep the units at the firmware level shipped from the factory or later firmware level. If a customer requests a downgrade of the array firmware from 07.xx.xx.xx to 06.xx.xx.xx, and the local account team has not been able to convince the customer to keep the firmware at 07.xx.xx.xx, please proceed with the following steps:

1. Open a Radiance task with STORAGE-TSC or an IBIS task with
    GL-TSC-STO-COLLAB-MIDRANGE_DISK.

2. Include the downgrade justification from the customer or
    Sun account team into the TSC Storage Backline engagement
    template.

3. The TSC Storage Backline Engineer assigned to the collaboration
    will review the downgrade request and engage Sun engineering
    (if needed) for an approval.

4. Once the TSC Storage Engineer receives the Sun engineering approval,
    the special downgrade procedure will be delivered through the
    collaboration. The downgrade procedure cannot be given to the
    customer.

NOTE: Downgrades to 06.60.11.xx (for the Sun StorageTek 6140 and 6540 arrays) or to 06.70.54.11 (for the Sun StorageTek 2510, 2530 and 2540 arrays) are the only ones supported. No downgrades to earlier 06.xx revisions will be considered. This rule may not apply for Telcos and other OEMs per Sun contracts. These would need review and approval by Sun PDE.

For information about FAB documents, its release processes, implementation strategies and billing information, go to the following Internal Only URL:

http://tns.central/fab

For Sun Authorized Service Providers go to:

http://tns.central/SPE/fab/

In addition to the above you may email:

FAB-Manager@sun.com

Modification History
13-Jan-2008

Added ST2510/2530/2540 as affected products and chgd the downgrade from firmware level from 7.1x.xx.xx to 7.xx.xx.xx.

Internal Contributor/submitter
Nicolas.Wipfli@Sun.COM

Internal Eng Responsible Engineer
Nicolas.Wipfli@Sun.COM Responsible Manager: Brian.Hanvey@Sun.COM

Internal Services Knowledge Engineer
Joe.Davis@Sun.COM

Internal Eng Business Unit Group
NWS (Storage)

Internal Sun Alert & FAB Admin Info
22-Oct-2008: Completed draft and sent to Extended Review.
24-Oct-2008: No feedback from Ext Rvw - sending to Publish.
24-Nov-2009: Corrected Product Name to swoRDFish inconsistency.

Attachments

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