Conference netcad::hub_mgnt

2659.0. "DEF1H and PE9ooTX - We are seeing a reliabilty issue." by GIDDAY::STANISLAUS () Tue Aug 22 1995 01:20

	We sold 6 DEF1H and 6 PE900TX to a customer. The DEF1H has MMF PMDs
on both ports. We have the following problem on 4 of the 6 systems. The
customer has asked us to take away all the 4 units and give him a working
solution. So we have replaced the above by DECswitch 900EFs and the customer 
is comparatively happy. He has put those 900EFs in 900 Multiswitch backplanes
and is using the DEcswitch 900EFs instead.

	 I am going to IPMT (CLD) this case. But before that I wanted to know if
someone else has seen the problem or is it that this customer has a bad batch.

	Fault symptom:
	---------------

	Everything works fine for a while. The PHY LEDs on both PMDs are ON.
The LEDs next to the PHY LEDs on both PMDs are flashing. So far so good.

 	After sometime (anywhere from 15 minutes to a day), the PHY LEDs will
start flashing and the LEDs next to the PHY LEDs will go OFF. Users will loose
connection to the FDDI ring. Once this happens, the only way is to turn OFF the
DEF1H for a few minutes and turn it back ON again. Again all OK for another 15
minutes or a few hours or may be even a day.

	We are having this problem on 4 out 6 systems.

	Right now I have one in front of me doing this. It's details are:

	DEF1H-MB Rev A01, S/N 1R51400358. The module in it is 54-22859-01 Rev
D01. The PMDs are both 54-19459-01 Rev C01. They also have stickers saying
CE. What is CE ?

	The PE900TX is DESBF-M, Rev A01, S/N 1R51405119.

	I am sure Digital would have sold 100s of the above. Is anyone seeing
the above problem. This customer is about to order another 14 but is waiting
till we give him an answer about the reliabilty.

	I may have to IPMT this case soon.

	I suspect the problem is with the DEF1H and not the PE900TX or the 
PMDs. Those PMDs are used in our other products and we have not had any
problems. The problem could be in the PE900TX FDDI portion, but I am not sure.

	I am willing to ship the ones I have in front of me after IPMT'ing the
case.




Alphonse

    <---- RE: -1 
    Alphonse
    This looks like a known bug problem recently found with the fix 
    identified. This will be fixed in the 60-day Firmware upgrade to be 
    released within the next week or so, so I am told. It's your option
    on whether you IPMT it or not. 
    The CE sticker is the CE notice of compliance of the product being
    a Class A Computing Device.
    
    Bob