IBM BladeCenter HS23 Blade Sever reporting 'Bus Uncorrectable Error' with 16 GB DIMMs, option part number 90Y3157, replacement part number 90Y3159 - IBM BladeCenter HS23

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H212016

Symptom

IBM BladeCenter HS23 Blade Servers populated with 16 GB VLP RDIMMs, option part number 90Y3157, replacement part number 90Y3159, while under heavy I/O load might intermittently restart.

The following errors are logged in the Advanced Management Module (AMM) event log:

Affected System UEFI code levels are:

• UEFI: v1.50, Build ID: TKE136TUS
  
• UEFI: v1.51, Build ID: TKE136V

(where VLP= very low profile, RDIMM = Registered Dual In-Line Memory Module)

Affected configurations

The system can be any of the following IBM servers:

• BladeCenter HS23, type 1929, any model
• BladeCenter HS23, type 7875, any model

The system is configured with one or more of the following IBM options:

• 16 GB (Dual-Rank x4) 1.5 V PC3-12800 CL11 ECC DDR3 1600 MHz VLP RDIMM, option part number 90Y3157, any model

This tip is not software specific.

The following system BIOS or UEFI levels are affected:

• UEFI: v1.50, Build ID: TKE136TUS
• UEFI: v1.51, Build ID: TKE136V

The system has the symptom described above.

Solution

This behavior is corrected in Memory Reference Code Release (MRC) version 2.0.0.3 that is incorporated in system UEFI firmware Version 1.60, Build ID: tke140y.

The file is available by selecting the appropriate Product Group, type of System, Product name, Product machine type, and Operating system on IBM Support's Fix Central web page, at the following URL:

http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/

Workaround

There are two workaround options available for this issue.

Workaround 1

Change memory performance mode in the UEFI F1 Setup menu, from Max Performance to Balanced Performance:

1. Select F1 System Configuration and Boot Manager.
2. Select System Settings -> Operating Modes
3. Select Operating Mode to Custom Mode.
4. Change Memory Speed from Max Performance to Balanced Performance.
5. Select Save Settings.
6. Exit UEFI.

Workaround 2

Use UEFI Version 1.42 - Build ID: TKE130D, which can be located using these steps:

1. Navigate to IBM Fix Central Web page and select the appropriate Product Group, type of System, Product name, Product machine type, and Operating system

   http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/

2. After the Select Fixes page is loaded for the IBM HS23 Blade Server at the top of the page, click on the hyperlink Include superseded fixes.
3. The Select Fixes page will now contain previous code fix releases. Locate the UEFI section of the page, and select the UEFI package named ibm_fw_uefi_tke130d-1.42.