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- Sun Proprietary/Confidential: Internal Use Only -
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                            FIELD INFORMATION NOTICE
                  (For Authorized Distribution by SunService)

FIN #: I0748-1

Create Date: Dec/04/01

Keywords: 

Sun Fire 15K System Controller should be configured with at least 2 Gbytes swap space

SunAlert: No

Top FIN/FCO Report: No

Products Reference: Sun Fire 15K System Controller

Product Category: Server / Service

Product Affected: 

Mkt_ID   Platform   Model   Description            Serial Number
------   --------   -----   -----------            -------------
  -        F15K      ALL    Sun Fire 15K Server          -


List X-Options affected.

Mkt_ID   Platform   Model   Description   Serial Number
------   --------   -----   -----------   -------------
   -        -         -        -                -

Parts Affected: 

Part Number   Description   Model
-----------   -----------   -----
     -             -          -

References: 

BugId:  4498794 - SMS Install guide should recommend 2GB swap space.

MANUAL: 816-0901-10: System Management Services (SMS) 1.1 Installation
                     Guide and Release Notes.

URL:    
http://sunsolve.central.sun.com/cgi/retrieve.pl?doc=infodoc%2F6189&zone_32=6189

Issue Description: 

This FIN is to inform Field Engineers and others who may reinstall
System Management Software (SMS) on the Sun Fire 15K System Controller
(SC) board about the updated partition size recommendation.  Not using
this recommendation may cause SMS software to fail after a number of
days.  It also raises awareness of the need to configure SMS with more
swap space (2 Gbytes), instead of 1 Gbyte, as recommended in the
installation documentation.

The System Management Software (SMS) on the System Controller (SC)
monitors and controls the operation of a Sun Fire 15K system.
Currently, the "System Management Services (SMS) 1.1 Installation Guide
and Release Notes," (Part No. 816-0901-10, October 2001, Revision A),
p. 2 recommends 1 Gbyte for swap space.

It should recommend 2 Gbytes for swap and 8 Gbytes for /export/install.
This recommendation applies to all SMS releases.

If one of the following messages is seen, then SMS is probably running 
out of swap space:

	. Out of memory
	. Not enough memory
	. Swap space exhausted

To determine how much swap space is configured for the Sun Fire 15K SC,
login to the SC and type this command (you don't need to be root):

	$ /usr/sbin/swap -s

For example:

	$ /usr/sbin/swap -s
	total: 61672k bytes allocated + 40768k reserved
	= 102440k used, 2174784k available

NOTE: Above example shows 2174784 Kbytes, or 2 Gbytes, are available.  
      This is enough swap space.

SMS software can leak memory under certain error conditions.  Over time,
this will consume more and more swap space.  If an error condition or
configuration problem exists for a long time (multiple days), more than 
1 Gbyte of swap space may be consumed.

Prudent system management practices dictate that one should always have
sufficient swap space to tolerate memory leaks from software (current and
future) in the case of unforeseen error or configuration conditions.

When partitioning the disk on a Sun Fire 15K SC, use 2 Gbytes for swap
and 8 Gbytes for /export/install instead of the recommendation in "SMS
1.1 Installation Guide and Release Notes."  This recommendation has been
updated for future versions of this document.  See BugId 4498794.

Implementation: 

---
        |   |   MANDATORY (Fully Proactive)
         ---    
         
  
         ---
        |   |   CONTROLLED PROACTIVE (per Sun Geo Plan) 
         --- 
         
                                
         ---
        | X |   REACTIVE (As Required)
         ---

Corrective Action: 

The following recommendation is provided as a guideline for authorized
Enterprise Services Field Representatives who may encounter the above 
mentioned problem.

For Sun Fire 15K System Controllers with SMS Software, perform the 
following recommended actions: 

. If 2 Gbytes or more of swap space are configured, no action is required.

. If less than 2 Gbytes of swap space are configured, either repartition the 
  disk to increase the slice containing your swap space (if you are using
  raw disk) or use mkfile(1M) to add swap space from a filesystem with
  sufficient free disk space.

To add swap space, use the swap(1M) command.  You may add either a raw
disk partition (more desirable) or a large existing file within a
filesystem (less efficient).  Become root and type "/usr/sbin/swap -a"
followed by the disk partition or swap file.  For example:

    # /usr/sbin/swap -a /dev/dsk/c0t0d0s1

where "/dev/dsk/c0t0d0s1" is a disk partition.

To add space from a filesystem, use mkfile(1M) followed by swap(1M).
For example:

    # /usr/sbin/mkfile 2000M /swap/swapfile
    # /usr/sbin/swap -a /swap/swapfile

where "/swap/swapfile" is a file on a filesystem with sufficient disk space.
This should not be on a NFS or other remote filesystem.

For details on increasing swap space, see Info Doc 6189:

    
http://sunsolve.central.sun.com/cgi/retrieve.pl?doc=infodoc%2F6189&zone_32=6189

Comments: 

None  

============================================================================

Implementation Footnote: 

i)   In case of MANDATORY FINs, Enterprise Services will attempt to    
     contact all affected customers to recommend implementation of 
     the FIN. 
   
ii)  For CONTROLLED PROACTIVE FINs, Enterprise Services mission critical    
     support teams will recommend implementation of the FIN  (to their  
     respective accounts), at the convenience of the customer. 

iii) For REACTIVE FINs, Enterprise Services will implement the FIN as the   
     need arises.
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