System hangs when running all diagnostic tests together for many loops when Intel I340 Adapters are installed - System x3650 M4 (7915)

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H206660

Symptom

Running a Dynamic System Analysis (DSA) network All Diagnostic Tests for several loops, for example 25 loops, might hang randomly when either the following Intel I340 family Server Adapters are installed:

• Intel Ethernet Dual-Port Server Adapter I340-T2 for IBM System x, option 49Y4230 (two or more of these can cause a hang)
• Intel Ethernet Quad-Port Server Adapter I340-T4 for IBM System x, option 49Y4240 (one of these can cause a hang)
  

Affected configurations

The system can be any of the following IBM servers:

• System x3650 M4, type 7915, any model

The system is configured with at least one of the following:

• IBM Dynamic System Analysis (DSA) Preboot 9.20, any edition

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

• Intel Ethernet Dual-Port Server Adapter I340-T2 for IBM System x, option part number 49Y4230, any replacement part number
• Intel Ethernet Quad-Port Server Adapter I340-T4 for IBM System x, option part number 49Y4240, any replacement part number

The system is configured with DSA.

The system's DSA diagnostic did not complete.

The system's DSA diagnostic failed.

The system has the symptom described above.

Note: This does not imply that the network operating system will work under all combinations of hardware and software.

See the compatibility page for more information: http://www.ibm.com/systems/info/x86servers/serverproven/compat/us/

Solution

This behavior will be corrected in a future release of DSA firmware.

The target date for this release is second quarter of 2014.

The file is or will be 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

Run diagnostics one loop at a time.

Additional Information

The hang occurs because of a lack of memory resources when diagnostics for several loops are run when either of the Intel I340 Server Adapters are installed.

If diagnostics for 25 loops are run concurrently, memory resources are depleted, and cause a system hang. Running diagnostics for a single loop does not consume the same amount of resources.