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Conference mvblab::alphaserver_4100

Title:	AlphaServer 4100

Moderator:	MOVMON::DAVISS

Created:	Tue Apr 16 1996
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	648
Total number of notes:	3158

477.0. "CRDOM problems under UNIX" by KERNEL::EVANSJ () Mon Feb 10 1997 11:11

    Hello,
    
    Can anybody help with the following problem.
    
    The particular customer has a Alphaserver 4100 5/400 single CPU 
    Running v4.0a UNIX with firmware from the V3.7 CD.
    
    The problem he is seeing is copying large files (greater than 7MB) from
    the CDROM (RRD45) connected to the onboard CDROM controller.
    The system logs CAM SCSI errors and aborts the transfer.
    The SCSI errors are mainly soft recovered errors and timeouts. Which
    would normally point to a bus or termination problem.
    However the CD seems to work OK when booting a CD or when doing firmware
    upgrades with no problems. 
    
    The following hardware has been replaced:
    1. The PCI motherboard.
    2. The CDROM drive.
    3. The connecting cable between the two.
    
    I have also got the customer to downgrade the firmware to the V3.6 CD.
    
    All the SCSI bus termination has been checked and is correct.
    
    Is this a known problem or has anybody tested transfering files of this
    size before.
    
    Jon Evans

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
477.1	CD-R media	STAR::jacobi.zko.dec.com::jacobi	Paul A. Jacobi - OpenVMS Systems Group	`Mon Feb 10 1997 13:20`	8
	Are the disk that causes the errors by any chance CD-R?, i.e. matalic green in color? CD-R media is prone to soft errors, especially if the burner unit has a slightly mis-aligned head. I've seen this happen many times under OpenVMS -Paul
477.2		MAY30::CUMMINS		`Mon Feb 10 1997 17:10`	11
	You should not downgrade the firmware to the V3.6 CD. Only the V2.0-3 SRM console on the V3.7 CD (and later versions) officially support UNIX V4.0A. An FYI, the V3.8 CD contains V3.0-10 console and the V3.9 CD, which will be available in early March, will contain V4.8-4 console. You may want to consider upgrading to a newer versions versus downgrading. See release notes and readme files for info on new functionality and bug fixes since V2.0-3.
477.3	CRDOM problems under UNIX	CSC32::HUTMACHER		`Tue Feb 11 1997 08:32`	10
	we had a call like this last week on asrv4100 pedestal system that would log scsi cam errors on the rrd45 doing large transfers. ended up that the inline terminator at the end of the built in scsi buss was missing. its located up in the ocp area of a pedestal system. terminator part number was 12-37791-01. probally not the problem but just in case. jim hutmacher mvhs colorado csc 592-5561 pcibckpln b3050--rrd45--ocp box bulkhead--17-04306-01 cable--12-37791-01 terminator
477.4	CDROM contd	KERNEL::EVANSJ		`Tue Mar 25 1997 10:54`	5
	Thanks for the advise Jim. I have asked the engineer to go to site and check. Jon Evans CSC Basingstoke UK 833-3546
477.5		MAY30::CUMMINS		`Tue Mar 25 1997 11:03`	6
	See note string 493 in this same conference. Looks like same/similar issue. In particular, see reply 493.14. Swapping HW will likely not help this problem. Will post a reply when more is know about this problem. BC