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Error LABEL: VIOS_VFC_CLIENT_FAI IDENTIFIER: D119376C logged on VIO server

Troubleshooting


Problem

AIX NPIV LPAR do not discover storage devices on the SAN.

 

 

Symptom

 

  • Error LABEL: VIOS_VFC_CLIENT_FAI IDENTIFIER: D119376C logged in VIOS errpt log.

 

$ oem_setup_env

# errpt -a -j D119376C

LABEL: VIOS_VFC_CLIENT_FAI
IDENTIFIER: D119376C

Date/Time: Tue Sep 16 13:21:46 2025
Sequence Number: 754
Machine Id: 00XXXXXXXXXX
Node Id: vios1 
Class: S
Type: TEMP
WPAR: Global
Resource Name: vfchost1

Description
Misbehaved Virtual FC Client

Probable Causes
Bad IU, or Protocol Violation

Failure Causes
Bad IU, or Protocol Violation

    Recommended Actions

    Remove Virtual FC Client, then Configure the same instance

Detail Data
ERNUM
0000 0185
ABSTRACT
Invalid MAD command sent before Fabric Login
AREA
Initiator
BUILD INFO
BLD: 2508 21-12:33:12
LOCATION
Filename:npiv_cmd.c Function:npiv_mad Line:2104
DATA
mad->opcode = 0x00000200 proto_idx = 0x00000000
proto->state = 0x0000000000270000 state = 0x00000010

 

 

  • Async link_down event reported on AIX NPIV LPAR (Error Number: VFC_ERR_LOC_242) and client fcs adapter is unable to discover storage devices on the SAN (error LABEL: FCP_ERR12, errnum 0xA5 rc=ENXIO).

     

# errpt -a -j

LABEL: FCP_ERR12
IDENTIFIER: 26623394

Date/Time: Tue Sep 16 13:21:47 2025
Sequence Number: 8719
Machine Id: 00XXXXXXXXXX
Node Id: lpar1
Class: H
Type: TEMP
WPAR: Global
Resource Name: fscsi1
Resource Class: driver
Resource Type: emfscsi
Location:

Description
COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL ERROR

    Recommended Actions

    PERFORM PROBLEM DETERMINATION PROCEDURES

Detail Data
SENSE DATA
0000 0020 0000 00A5 0000 0006 0X0X 0X0X XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX0000 000X 00XX XXX

0000 0000 0000 XXXX 0000 0000 0000 XXXX 0000 0000 0000 XXXX 0X00 0000 0000 0000
0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
00FF FFFC 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
...

 

LABEL: VFC4_ERR3
IDENTIFIER: FE3E6B3B

Date/Time: Tue Sep 16 13:21:47 2025
Sequence Number: 8718
Machine Id: 00XXXXXXXXXX
Node Id: lpar1
Class: S
Type: PERM
WPAR: Global
Resource Name: fcs1

Description
Transport event while requests are active

Probable Causes
VIOS closed the CRQ
VIOS has crashed

Failure Causes
PROCESSOR

    Recommended Actions

    Investigate VIO Server Partition

Detail Data
Error Location
Filename:vfc_sm.c Error Number:VFC_ERR_LOC_242 Function:vfc_sm Line:511 RC:0
VIO Server Partition Name
vios1
Virtual Host Adapter
vfchost1
Physical Adapter Location Code
UXXXX.XX0.XXXXXXX-XX-XX-XX
Physical Adapter DRC Name
UXXXX.XXX.XXXXXXX-XX-XXXX
N Port ID of this adapter
0000 0000 00XX XXXX
Adapter State
0000 0000
Adapter Flags

00A0 1080
Adapter Max transfer size
0010 0000
Number of Channels Configured
0000 0008
DMA size Per Channel
0200 0000
VFC Log Data
No
Detailed Data
0000 0X00 0000 0242 000X 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 XXX0 0000
...

Cause

Environment

  1. AIX NPIV LPAR - All Versions
  2. PowerVM VIOS - All Versions 
  3. HBA with the following feature codes / CCIN's on VIOS:

FC EN0Y &EN12; CCIN ENOY
FC EN0F & EN0G; CCIN 578D
FC 5708 & 5270; CCIN 2B3B
FC EN1E, EN1F; CCIN 579A
FC EN1J, EN1K; CCIN 579C
FC EN1G, EN1H; CCIN 579B
FC EN2N, EN2P; CCIN 2F05
FC EN2L, EN2M; CCIN 2F06

 

 


 

Diagnosing The Problem

 
Step 1:  For accurate problem diagnosis, download the summ decoder and place it in the /tmp directory on the affected server.

The summ diagnostic tool for decoding and summarizing AIX I/O error messages, aid in diagnosing storage array or SAN fabric-related problems by providing the source of the error.
The tool is used by IBM Support worldwide, and is considered safe to run in a production environment.
 
 
Step 2:  Examine errpt log on AIX NPIV LPAR and the managing VIOS from root prompt as demonstrated below and confirm the matching symptoms.
 
  • VIOS:
 

$ oem_setup_env

# errpt -a |summ -te | grep FAI

Sep 16 13:21:46 vfchost1 T VIOS_VFC_CLIENT_FAI 00000185: NPIV_ERR_0185 Misbehaved Virtual FC Client Invalid MAD command sent before Fabric Login  

 

  • AIX NPIV LPAR

# errpt -a |summ -te|more

Sep 16 13:21:47 fscsi1 T FCP_ERR12 ioctl() send seq failure for FFFFFC; ENXIO [scsi_state LINK_DOWN| [tgt 0xFFFFFC
Sep 16 13:21:47 fcs1 P VFC4_ERR3 VFC_ERR_LOC_242 vios1 vfchost1 vfc transport failed or de-registered; sending async link_down

 

Alternatively, verify the error details as explained in the 'Symptom' section of the current document.

 

Step 3: Identify the backing FC adapter on VIOS, verify its Feature Code and the effective value of attribute sw_prli_rjt.
 
 

$ lsmap -vadapter vfchost1 -npiv| grep "FC name"
FC name:fcs1 FC loc code:XXXXX.00X.XXXXXXX-XX-XX-XX

$ lsdev -dev fcs1 -vpd|grep Feature

    Feature Code/Marketing ID...EN1G

$ oem_setup_env

# echo "cvfcs" | kdb |grep fcs1

fcs1 0xF1000XXXXXXXX000 0x00000014 0x02 (fabric) 0x00000001 0x01 0x00018E0A

 

Use the fcs device address from the output and execute the next command.

# echo "cvfcs -d 0xF1000XXXXXXXX000" | kdb | grep sw_prli_rjt

    char sw_prli_rjt = 0x0    

 

An effective value of 0x0 enables unrestricted self-login as well as unsolicited login activity to the port, which may prevent NPIV LPARs from discovering SAN-attached storage devices.

 

If all symptoms match, proceed to next step.

 

Resolving The Problem

 
Restrict self-login/ login from initiator by setting sw_prli_rjt to yes (0x1)
 
 

$ chdev -dev fcs1 -perm -attr sw_prli_rjt=yes

$ oem_setup_env

# bosboot -ad /dev/ipldevice

# exit

$ shutdown -restart

 

 

 

 

Need Further Assistance?
 
If the problem persists, please Open a case with IBM Support.

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Document Information

Modified date:
07 February 2026

UID

ibm17260048

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