Over the last couple days, there has been some discussion about on-board FC-AL in our filers. This summer, NetApp started shipping filers with an FC-AL adapter card rather than the on-board FC-AL to improve reliability and performance. We did this because we found errors which, though recoverable, potentially effect performance and loop stability. The problem effected a very small fraction, just a few percent, of the installed base.
As for the installed base, we've been monitoring Autosupport logs each week to identify Filers that are having these types of errors and arranging for installation of an FC-AL adapter card in cases that warrant it. Our customer support organization is fully aware of this issue and if a customer calls with an FC-AL problem we review their logs for the soft-errors, and arrange for installation of an adapter card where appropriate.
Since it effects a very small number of installed systems, it doesn't make sense to upgrade the entire installed base. Leave stable systems lie or if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Most filers will never see this problem and the recoverable errors indicative of the problem are easily identified --- so we are approaching this problem on a case-by-case basis.
For more information, or if you have concerns about your system, contact Network Appliance customer support. There will also be more technical information posted on the NOW site before the end of the day tomorrow.
Paul Norman, Product Manager Direct: (408) 822-6288 Network Appliance E-Mail: pnorman@netapp.com 495 East Java Drive Corp: (408) 822-6000 Sunnyvale, CA 94089 Web: WWW.NetApp.Com
"Norman, Paul" wrote:
Over the last couple days, there has been some discussion about on-board FC-AL in our filers. This summer, NetApp started shipping filers with an FC-AL adapter card rather than the on-board FC-AL to improve reliability and performance. We did this because we found errors which, though recoverable, potentially effect performance and loop stability. The problem effected a very small fraction, just a few percent, of the installed base.
Thank you for your reply. However, you didn't address the main concern/perception of many folks here: that NetApp apparently shipped many F700 series systems with onboard FC-AL controllers that had hard failures shortly after being put into production, after which NetApp apparently started sending out new filers with the PCI card pre-installed, to be used in place of the onboard controller. That's quite different from what you just described.
Can you elaborate on and clarify this issue for us, please?
TIA, -ste
"Paul" == Norman, Paul paul.norman@netapp.com writes:
Paul> Over the last couple days, there has been some discussion Paul> about on-board FC-AL in our filers. This summer, NetApp ... Paul> For more information, or if you have concerns about your Paul> system, contact Network Appliance customer support. There Paul> will also be more technical information posted on the NOW Paul> site before the end of the day tomorrow.
This information has yet to show up on NOW.
j. -- Jay Soffian jay@cimedia.com UNIX Systems Engineer 404.572.1941 Cox Interactive Media
This is probably not what you are looking for, but here is some interesting reading on Fibre-Channel(FCAL) Theory and Troubleshooting FCAL Loop Instability
http://now.netapp.com/NOW/knowledge/contents/TIP/TIP_700.shtml
Jay Soffian wrote:
"Paul" == Norman, Paul paul.norman@netapp.com writes:
Paul> Over the last couple days, there has been some discussion Paul> about on-board FC-AL in our filers. This summer, NetApp ... Paul> For more information, or if you have concerns about your Paul> system, contact Network Appliance customer support. There Paul> will also be more technical information posted on the NOW Paul> site before the end of the day tomorrow.This information has yet to show up on NOW.
j.
Jay Soffian jay@cimedia.com UNIX Systems Engineer 404.572.1941 Cox Interactive Media
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David Ariel Villarreal -
Jay Soffian -
Norman, Paul -
Shaun T. Erickson