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                        FIELD INFORMATION NOTICE
                  (For Authorized Distribution by SunService)

FIN #: I0391-1

Create Date: 04/30/98

Keywords: 

INFORMATION ONLY. Ultra 5/10 Poor Video Quality Advanced Field Notice.

Top FIN/FCO Report: Yes

Products Reference: Ultra 5/10 motherboard

Product Category: Desktop / System Board

Product Affected: 

Mkt_ID	Platform  Model	     Description     Serial Number
------	--------  -----	     -----------     -------------
A21	A21	  270        Ultra 5         xW814xxxxxx or lower
A22	A22       300        Ultra 10        XW814xxxxxx or lower


*Serial numbers affected are on systems manufactured prior to week 15  
 CY98, 1 April 1998, serial numbers xW814xxxxxx or lower are effected.     
 The problems noted in this FIN affect both Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 work-
 stations and workgroup servers.

Parts Affected: 

Part Number     Description   Model
-----------     -----------   -----
F375-0009-03	Motherboard   -
F375-0009-04	Motherboard   -
F375-0009-05	Motherboard   -
F375-0009-06	Motherboard   -

References: 

BugId: 4120186
FIN: I0386-1
FCO: A0128-1 Pending (Unreleased)
ECO: WO_12616
ECO: WO_12861
ECO: WO_13038
Esc: 5135667

Issue Description: 

Sun Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 workstations and workgroup servers that were
manufactured prior to week 15 1998, are currently susceptible to several 
problems in which the systems performance and quality is at issue.  This
FIN serves as a form of communication ONLY, with the intent of providing 
a status of the current known problems and their resolutions.

PROBLEM SUMMARY:

1. Slow system boot.

   ECO# WO_12616 	
  
   The problem symptom was first noted on systems that took a long time
   to boot.  Upon investigation it was revealed that the systems were 
   running the self test used in manufacturing before booting up even 
   though the system flag in NVRAM was set to off or "false".  It was 
   also noted that the boot counter was not incrementing.  Thus, it has
   been determined that the system is not reading the NVRAM settings 
   properly at start-up.

2. Fuzzy video.

   ECO# WO_12861

   Fuzzy / smudged video characters are appearing on displays connected to
   Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 workstations and workgroup servers.  Only displays
   connected to the built-in PGX graphics port are affected.  Characters on 
   the displays are readable but overall video quality appears substandard  
   based on the user's subjective assessment.

a. PROM update to 3.11 Version 9 
      
   ECO# WO_12861
   
   A21, A22 PROM update to 3.11 Version 9 release (Symbios boot prom fixes)
   and fix for the on-board fuzzy video quality problem on the A21 and A22
   motherboards. See FINI0386-1 for details.

   
3. X.25 Hang Problem

   ECO# WO_13038

   Customers in countries that use X.25 network protocol are having problems 
   connecting with Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 systems.

   Serial port A, on Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 systems, may hang when using an
   external clock source as the transfer clock in SYNC mode (X.25)

   When the external clock source is an input to the serial port controller, 
   there is not enough current to drive both the serial port controller and 
   the inverter (74F04) which is in the out going path.

Corrective Action: 

FCO A0128-1 is in process to support the field replacement activity of the
Ultra 5 and Ultra 10 motherboards.  SunService Logistics is in the process  
of purging all motherboards from stock and building their inventory to meet  
field requirements.

*NOTE:  Replacing the monitor will NOT correct the fuzzy video problem. 

FCO A0128-1 has an estimated release date of May 29, 1998.  In cases where 
an Ultra 5 or Ultra 10 workstation and workgroup server is severely impacted  
by the above stated problem(s), customers and field service representatives
are prompted to follow the normal escalation procedure.

Comments: 

*The minimum revision motherboard to correct the fuzzy video and the slow 
 system boot is -07. 

*The minimum revision motherboard to correct the X.25 serial port problem
 is -08. 

*This FIN has been released as INFORMATION ONLY.  This FIN does NOT require
 any activity on the part of any SunService department or field function.

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