Document Audience:INTERNAL
Document ID:I0891-1
Title:Sun Fire System Controllers with 5.11.x firmware could experience a loss of network settings during a firmware upgrade
Copyright Notice:Copyright © 2005 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Update Date:2004-01-07

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                            FIELD INFORMATION NOTICE
                  (For Authorized Distribution by SunService)
FIN #: I0891-1
Synopsis: Sun Fire System Controllers with 5.11.x firmware could experience a loss of network settings during a firmware upgrade
Create Date: Oct/31/02
Keywords: 

Sun Fire System Controllers with 5.11.x firmware could experience a loss of network settings during a firmware upgrade

SunAlert: Yes
Top FIN/FCO Report: Yes
Products Reference: Sun Fire 3800/4800/4810/6800
Product Category: Server / SW Admin
Product Affected: 
Systems Affected:
-----------------  
Mkt_ID     Platform     Model      Description        Serial Number
------     --------     -----      -----------        -------------
  -          S8          ALL       Sun Fire 3800            -	
  -          S12         ALL       Sun Fire 4800            -     	
  -          S12i        ALL       Sun Fire 4810            -	
  -          S24         ALL       Sun Fire 6800            -


X-Options Affected:
-------------------
Mkt_ID     Platform     Model      Description        Serial Number
------     --------     -----      -----------        -------------
  -           -           -             -                   -
Parts Affected: 
Part Number               Description                               Model
-----------               -----------                               -----
501-5563-12 (or lower)    3800 System Controller Board                -
501-5407-13 (or lower)    4800/4810/6800 System Controller Board      -
References: 
BugId:      4706916 - TOD nvram can be reset to defaults when 5.13 
                      boots for the first time 

PatchId:    112494-05: Hardware/PROM: Sun Fire 6800/4810/4800/3800 
                       Systems Firmware Update. 

Sun Alert: 46346

URL: http://cpre-amer.west/esg/msg/techinfo/platform/sun_fire/firmware-matrix/
Issue Description: 
The System Controller (SC) on Sun Fire systems installed with firmware
5.11.x (5.11.4 through 5.11.9), may lose its network settings after an
upgrade to 5.13.0, 5.13.1, or 5.13.2.  This may cause problems
communicating with the SC and prevent access to domain consoles. 

This issue can occur in the following releases: 

   Sun Fire Servers (3800/4800/4810/6800) without firmware patch 112494-05. 

NOTES: 

   A. The described issue will also occur if the firmware was previously 
      updated from 5.11.x (5.11.4 through 5.11.9) to 5.12.5 or 5.12.6 and 
      then subsequently upgraded to 5.13.0, 5.13.1, or 5.13.2. 

   B. System Controllers which shipped with 5.12.x firmware are not 
      susceptible to the described issue. 

   C. Use the "showsc" command to display the firmware version of the SC. 

   D. The following lists the firmware patch numbers associated with the 
      firmware level: 

   Patch       Firmware
   ---------------------
   111346-01 == 5.11.4
   111346-02 == 5.11.6
   111346-03 == 5.11.7     
   111346-04 == 5.11.9 currently on SunSolve
        
   112127-01 == 5.12.5 
   112127-02 == 5.12.6
   112127-03 == 5.12.7 currently on SunSolve

   112494-02 == 5.13.0
   112494-03 == 5.13.1
   112494-04 == 5.13.2 
   112494-05 == 5.13.3 currently on SunSolve

Also reference the Sun Fire Firmware Compatibility Matrix at:

   http://cpre-amer.west/esg/msg/techinfo/platform/sun_fire/firmware-matrix/

After updating the firmware, the SC may not be accessible on the
network because all network settings may have been reset to the factory
defaults.  The command 'showplatform -p net' will indicate Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is enabled and no other hostname or
network settings are shown. 

Below are examples of booting an affected SC: 
      ...
      Flashupdate completed successfully. 
      The SC is being rebooted to use the new images. 

      Software Reset... 

      @(#) SYSTEM CONTROLLER(SC) POST 23 2002/03/22 18:03
      PSR = 0x044010e5
      PCR = 0x04004000

      Basic sanity checks done. 
      Skipping POST ... 
      ERI Device Present 
      Getting MAC address for SSC0 
      MAC address is 8:0:20:e0:e5:3a 
      Using DHCP to configure network interface 
      Attached TCP/IP interface to eri unit 0 
      Attaching interface lo0...done 
      Initializing DHCP libraries 
      interrupt: 100 Mbps full duplex link up 
      Initiating DHCP negotiations for eri0 
      dhcpcBind() failed: errno = 0xd0003 

      Adding 2851 symbols for standalone. 
      interrupt: 100 Mbps full duplex link up 
      ...                                    

OR, after this point, you might see: 

      System Controller 'noname.example.com': <--notice the name is 
      "noname"

         Type  0  for Platform Shell

         Type  1  for domain A console
         Type  2  for domain B console
         Type  3  for domain C console
         Type  4  for domain D console
         
         Input: 0

      Platform Shell

      v4u-4800c-sc0:SC>
      v4u-4800c-sc0:SC> showplatform -p network

      The system controller is configured to be on a network.
      Network settings: DHCP
      Hostname: 
      IP Address: 
      Netmask: 
      Gateway: 
      DNS Domain: 
      Primary DNS Server: 
      Secondary DNS Server: 

      v4u-4800c-sc0:SC>        

The cause for Bug 4706916 is that the NVRAM, where the network settings
are stored, was improperly initialized by SC Firmware versions 5.11.x.
While the fault in the initialization code was corrected in 5.12.x, the
existing initialization problem caused by 5.11.x is not detected until
an upgrade to 5.13.0, 5.13.1, or 5.13.2 is attempted.  These versions
of firmware improperly treat the initialization error as NVRAM
corruption and reinitialize the NVRAM, causing a loss of all settings
contained in NVRAM.

This issue has been resolved with firmware patch 112494-05 which is
now available from SunSolve.  It provides firmware version 5.13.3.
Implementation: 
---
          |   |   MANDATORY (Fully Proactive)
           ---


           ---
          | X |   CONTROLLED PROACTIVE (per Sun Geo Plan)
           ---


           ---
          |   |   REACTIVE (As Required)
           ---
Corrective Action: 
The following recommendation is provided as a guideline for authorized
Sun Services Field Representatives who may encounter the above
mentioned problem.

1. Upgrade Sun Fire systems to version 5.13.3 using patch 112494-05 
   to avoid encountering Bug 4706916.
   
OR

2. If it is necessary to upgrade from 5.11.X firmmware to a version of
   5.13.X less than 5.13.3, use the following workaround:

   Gather the following output from the SC *BEFORE* proceeding with the 
   upgrade.  This output will allow the user to restore any settings which 
   may be lost as a result of encountering Bug 4706916:
    
	'showplatform -v'
	'showboards'
	'showplatform -d ' (for each domain)
	OBP settings from each domain using the 'printenv' command
	    from the  prompt and the 'devalias' command also 
	    from the  prompt

   Further, flashupdate commands should be issued from the serial port
   of the SC (not via a network connection) in order to watch the update
   and reboot processes for errors, and to maintain control of the SC in
   the event network settings are lost.
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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