Patch-ID# 103421-01
Keywords: point patch SSA RAID5 mirror NVRAM fast_write firmware verify recovery
Synopsis: Solstice DiskSuite 4.0: POINT PATCH: recovery from SSA fast_write issue
Date: Apr/18/96

Solaris Release: 2.4, 2.5

SunOS Release: 5.4, 5.5

Unbundled Product: Solstice DiskSuite

Unbundled Release: 4.0

Topic: Solstice DiskSuite 4.0: SSA fast_write issue: SDS verify/recover Point patch

BugId's fixed with this patch:

	NOTE: see patch description below

Changes incorporated in this version:

Relevant Architectures: sparc

Patches accumulated and obsoleted by this patch: 

Patches which conflict with this patch: 

Patches required with this patch: 
	NOTE:103290-02 (Solaris 2.4 SSA patch) or 103017-04 (Solaris 2.5 SSA patch)

Obsoleted by: 

Files included with this patch: 

/usr/opt/SUNWmd/docs/SDS4.0recovery-procedure.txt
/usr/opt/SUNWmd/docs/raid5SDS4.0verify.README
/usr/opt/SUNWmd/sbin/raid5SDS4.0verify

Problem Description: 

When to apply:  Systems with SDS 4.0 on SPARCstorage Array (SSA) disks
that have had the SSA fast_write feature enabled on SSA's with firmware
revision less than 3.6, require verification and/or recovery of RAID5
metadevices using the program in this Point patch.  Other types of SDS
metadevices (concatenations, mirrors) may require recovery also.  See
below for details.


Patch Installation Instructions: 
-------------------------------- 
  Refer to the "Install.info" file within the patch for instructions on
  using the generic 'installpatch' and 'backoutpatch' scripts provided
  with each patch.  Any other special or non-generic installation
  instructions should be described below.

Patch Description:
------------------

  SDS systems using SDS metadevices on SPARCstorage Array (SSA) disks
  that have had the SSA fast_write feature enabled on SSA's with
  firmware revision less than 3.6, will require verification and/or
  recovery of metadevices using the program and procedure in this Point
  patch.  This affects both SSA-100 and SSA-200 series SPARCstorage
  arrays.

  All types of SDS metadevices may have been affected.  By far the
  worst affected are the parity slices of SDS Raid-5 metadevices.  The
  program raid5SDS4.0verify is supplied with this patch to allow
  checking of SDS Raid-5 parity slices only.  The document
  SDS4.0recovery-procedure.txt offers procedures to assist in
  verification and recovery of both Raid-5 and other SDS metadevices.


  A note about other patches required with this patch:

  Prior to recovery, the relevant SPARCstorage Array (SSA) patch must
  be applied (or the fast_write feature must be disabled until the
  patch can be obtained from your local service representative).

  In other words, this SDS 4.0 Point-Patch must only be used hand-
  in-hand with the relevant SPARCstorage Array (SSA) patches.

  The relevant SPARCstorage Array (SSA) patches are patch 103290-02 or
  above for Solaris 2.4, and patch 103017-04 or above for Solaris 2.5.
  Both of these patches contain SPARCstorage Array (SSA) firmware
  revision level 3.6.    The fix to the problem is in the firmware for
  the SPARCstorage Array (SSA).  Ensure that after installing the
  relevant SSA patch, the patched firmware has been downloaded and the
  SPARCstorage Array has been reset, as per the instructions given in
  the READMES for the SSA patches.

  (Any SPARCstorage Array patches containing firmware revision level
  less than 3.6 will not contain the fix for this problem therefore the
  patches mentioned here or later revisions will need to be obtained.)


  Cases that need special attention - you may still be affected:

  IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THE ABOVE SPARCSTORAGE ARRAY PATCHES APPLIED, YOU
  MAY STILL NEED TO USE THE SDS RAID5 VERIFICATION PROGRAM AND GENERAL
  SDS RECOVERY PROCEDURE CONTAINED IN THIS POINT PATCH, IF AND ONLY IF
  YOU HAD THE SPARCSTORAGE ARRAY FAST_WRITE FEATURE ENABLED ON DISKS
  THAT ARE COMPONENTS OF SDS METADEVICES, PRIOR TO INSTALLING THE
  AFOREMENTIONED SPARCSTORAGE ARRAY PATCH REVISIONS.


  Cases where you are definitely not affected:

  IF YOU ARE USING SDS METADEVICES BUT YOU DO NOT OWN ANY SPARCSTORAGE
  ARRAYS YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE THIS POINT PATCH.

  IF YOU HAVE NOT EVER ENABLED THE FAST_WRITE FEATURE ON ANY
  SPARCSTORAGE ARRAY DISKS, YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE THIS POINT PATCH.
  NOTE THAT THE SPARCSTORAGE ARRAY FAST_WRITE FEATURE IS DISABLED WHEN
  SHIPPED.

  IF YOU ARE RUNNING SOLARIS 2.3 YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE THIS POINT
  PATCH.  THE FAST_WRITE FEATURE OF THE SPARCSTORAGE ARRAY IS NOT
  SUPPORTED IN SOLARIS 2.3.

  IF YOU ARE RUNNING HA-NFS YOU DO NOT NEED TO USE THIS POINT PATCH.
  THE FAST_WRITE FEATURE IS NOT SUPPORTED IN HA-NFS.

  IF YOUR SPARCSTORAGE ARRAY WAS SHIPPED WITH 3.6 FIRMWARE, YOU DO NOT
  NEED TO USE THIS POINT PATCH EXCEPT IN THE CASE WHERE YOU HAVE USED
  MIRRORING OR RAID METADEVICES IN CONJUCTION WITH OTHER SPARCSTORAGE
  ARRAYS THAT HAD OLDER FIRMWARE REVISION LEVELS AND HAD THE FAST_WRITE
  FEATURE ENABLED.


  For more information, please see the SDS4.0recovery-procedure.txt
  document included with this patch.