IV97991: LPARS USING SEA MAY LOSE NETWORK AFTER REBOOTING PRI AND SEC VIO

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• **************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:
  * Systems running the AIX 6100-09 Technology Level
  * or VIOS 2.2.5.x level
  * with ios.sea at the 6.1.9.200 or 6.1.9.201 level.
    **************************************************************
  * ERROR DESCRIPTION:
  * This issue only affects VIOS 2.2.5 using Shared Ethernet
  * Adapter (SEA) with a primary and backup in HA mode (either
  * auto or sharing).
  *
  * When the primary VIOS is rebooted, the SEA may be placed in
  * an UNHEALTHY state due to the link going down and up during
  * reboot.
  * It may stay this way for 10 minutes after rebooting.
  * If, during this time, the other VIOS providing the SEA is
  * also rebooted, network connectivity through the SEA will be
  * lost, because the UNHEALTHY SEA will not take over as
  * PRIMARY.
  *
  * To avoid the problem, after rebooting the primary VIOS, wait
  * until the state of its SEA adapter no longer shows UNHEALTHY
  * state before rebooting the partner VIOS.
  * You can check the state of the SEA adapter by using
  * 'entstat -all' on the SEA.  For example:
  *
  * $ entstat -all entX | grep State
  *       State:  UNHEALTHY
  * ....
  *
  * The fix below can also be installed to both VIOSes to avoid
  * any issue.  This fix changes the link checking part of
  * health check to no longer cause SEA to go into UNHEALTHY
  * state during reboot.  It also reduces the default health
  * time delay to 60 seconds.
    **************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:
  * Install APAR IV97991.
  * Prior to fix availability, an interim fix is available from
  * either
  * ftp://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/ifixes/iv97991/
  * https://aix.software.ibm.com/aix/ifixes/iv97991/
  * Installation of the ifix requires a reboot.
    **************************************************************
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• Given a pair of VIOS LPARs (2.2.5.x and up) with matching
  SEAs in HA mode (ha_mode set to auto or sharing) with one
  node in UNHEALTHY state, if the healthy node is rebooted
  or loses link, the UNHEALTHY node will not assume the
  PRIMARY state.
  
  In the field, a customer reboots the primary LPAR and
  waits until it is back up.  Then the customer reboots the
  backup LPAR.  Unbeknownst to the customer, the primary
  LPAR has gone into the UNHEALTHY state because the link
  came up slightly delayed.
  
  When the backup LPAR is shutdown, the primary LPAR does
  not take over and become PRIMARY as it did before the
  upgrade.
  

Problem conclusion

• Code changed to disable link check as part of health check
  and also reduce the default value of health_check attribute to
  60 secs and minimum value to 1s.
  

Temporary fix

•   *********
    * HIPER *
    *********
  

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

  IV99666 IV99667

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  VIRTUAL I/O SER

• Fixed component ID

  5765G3400

Applicable component levels

• R220 PSY U870065

     UP17/10/17 I 1000 Ž

Fix is available

• Select the PTF appropriate for your component level. You will be required to sign in. Distribution on physical media is not available in all countries.