Battery for SAS RAID HBA fails with depleted charge.

Asset ID:	1-73-1125416.1
Update Date:	2010-07-12
Keywords:

Solution Type FAB (standard) Sure

Solution 1125416.1 : Battery for SAS RAID HBA fails with depleted charge.

Applies to:

Sun Fire X4250 Server - Version: Not Applicable to Not Applicable - Release: NA to NA
Sun Fire X4440 Server - Version: Not Applicable to Not Applicable   [Release: NA to NA]
Sun Fire X4140 Server - Version: Not Applicable to Not Applicable   [Release: NA to NA]
Sun Fire X4150 Server - Version: Not Applicable to Not Applicable   [Release: NA to NA]
Sun Fire X4240 Server - Version: Not Applicable to Not Applicable   [Release: NA to NA]
Information in this document applies to any platform.
__________

X-Options Affected:

SGXPCIESAS-R-INT-Z - SCSI PCI Express 8-Port SAS RAID HBA
SGXPCIESAS-R-EXT-Z - SCSI PCI Express 8-Port SAS RAID HBA (External)

Parts Affected:

375-3536 - SCSI PCI Express 8-Port SAS RAID HBA
375-3536 - SCSI PCI Express 8-Port SAS RAID HBA
375-3537 - SCSI PCI Express 8-Port SAS RAID HBA (External)
371-3253 - Lithium Ion Battery

Symptoms

Arcconf (HBA maintenance utility available on Linux, Windows, and Solaris) will display battery status as "failed" to indicate that the battery has depleted its charge capacity and should be replaced.

Arcconf command and output:

bash# arcconf getconfig 1
<...>
--------------------------------------------------------
Controller Battery Information
--------------------------------------------------------
Status : Failed
<...>

Arcconf download is available at http://support.intel.com/support/go/sunraid.htm

Impact

Battery for SAS RAID card may cause write cache memory loss if logical drive default settings were changed and the system experiences a power loss before a cached write is committed to a disk. However, if logical drive defaults have not been changed, logical drive write cache will change to write-through when battery lacks charge - meaning write cache is not used and data is safe.

Changes

Contributing Factors

One rack unit (1U) systems running older firmware (FW) versions with lower fan speeds for greater than one year have been the most affected. 2U systems are potentially impacted, and 4U systems are NOT impacted by this issue.

Cause

Root Cause

Excessive temperatures around the battery can cause premature failure of the battery to hold a charge.

Fan speed settings in older firmware versions are not optimized to cool the HBA card, causing above-normal operating temperatures.

Solution

Implementation: Reactive

Workaround

No workaround available - see Resolution section below.

Resolution

Install latest version of software or FW to ensure proper cooling of the HBA cards. Minimum levels to correct the fan algorithms are:

Sun Fire X4140/X4240/X4440: SW 3.1a ILOM 3.0.6.16
Sun Fire X4150/X4250/X4450: SW 3.2 ILOM 3.0.6.15a

FW downloads are located at;

http://www.sun.com/bigadmin/patches/firmware/release_history.jsp

Replace batteries with arcconf battery status of "failed". Do NOT replace batteries with arcconf status of Optimal, Charging, Not Installed, or Charging Disabled.

This knowledge asset in no way is recommending nor authorizing pro-active replacement of any hardware.

Time in use and extended exposure to higher ambient temperatures contribute to battery swelling. Swelling may not necessarily mean that a battery needs to be replaced or is non-functional.

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

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

In addition to the above you may email:

* FAB-Manager@sun.com

Contributor/submitter
kim.mayman@oracle.com

Responsible Engineer
bryan.kropp@oracle.com

Responsible Manager
david.palmer@oracle.com

Services Knowledge Engineer
Joe.Davis@Oracle.COM

Business Unit Group
Systems Group-x64

Attachments

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