IBM Support

Nortel Gb Ethernet Switch Module fails to link IBM eServer BladeCenter T to IBM BladeCenter HS40 - IBM BladeCenter

Troubleshooting


Problem

After installing a Nortel GbESM (Ethernet Switch Module) in bay 2 of a BladeCenter Telco chassis, a customer may find the GbESM failed to link with an existing HS40 Blade Server. Conversely, a link failure may also occur if an HS40 is added to a Telco chassis that already has a GbESM installed in bay 2.

Resolving The Problem

Source
RETAIN tip: H182696
 
Symptom
  • After installing a Nortel GbESM (Ethernet Switch Module) in bay 2 of a BladeCenter Telco chassis, a customer may find the GbESM failed to link with an existing HS40 Blade Server.  
  • Conversely, a link failure may also occur if an HS40 is added to a Telco chassis that already has a GbESM installed in bay 2.
Affected configurations
The system may be any of the following IBM BladeCenter:  
  • IBM BladeCenter HS40, type 8839, any model
  • IBM BladeCenter T, type 8730, any model
  • IBM BladeCenter T, type 8720, any model

The system is configured with the following option:  

  • Nortel Networks Layer 2-7 Gigabit Ethernet Switch Module, option part number 73P9057, replacement part number (FRU) 73P9044.
Solution
This behavior will be corrected in a future release of GbESM firmware.
 
The target date for the release is:
  • 1st quarter, 2005

It will be available from IBM's xSeries Support Web site.

Workaround
The most effective workaround is to move the GbESM from bay 2. If it is not possible to move the GbESM from bay 2, we suggest moving the HS40 to the lowest numbered slot available.
 
In the unlikely event that neither of these actions resolve the link issue, please contact IBM support for further options.  

Additional information
A Nortel GbESM installed in bay 2 of a BladeCenter Telco chassis (either type 8730 or 8720) may not successfully link with an HS40 Blade Server (type 8839). This failure prevents the two devices from successfully linking. For this reason, the failure will always be seen when the GbESM and HS40 are combined for the first time. Due to the nature of the defect, the link failure is less likely to occur when the HS40 is installed in a numerically lower Blade Server slot.
 
This tip applies only if the link failure is between a Nortel GbESM installed in bay 2 of a BladeCenter Telco chassis and an HS40 Blade Server.

 
 

Document Location

Worldwide

Operating System

System x Hardware Options:All operating systems listed

BladeCenter:Operating system independent / None

[{"Type":"HW","Business Unit":{"code":"BU016","label":"Multiple Vendor Support"},"Product":{"code":"HW20G","label":"BladeCenter->BladeCenter HS40"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Line of Business":{"code":"LOB18","label":"Miscellaneous LOB"}},{"Type":"HW","Business Unit":{"code":"BU016","label":"Multiple Vendor Support"},"Product":{"code":"HW20M","label":"BladeCenter->BladeCenter T Chassis"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Line of Business":{"code":"","label":""}},{"Type":"HW","Business Unit":{"code":"BU016","label":"Multiple Vendor Support"},"Product":{"code":"QU00RKF","label":"System x Hardware Options->BladeCenter Switch Module->Gigabit->73P9057"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Line of Business":{"code":"","label":""}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
29 January 2019

UID

ibm1MIGR-57101

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