PCI Slots 10-12 decoded incorrectly as 16-18 in IPMI log - IBM Servers

Resolving The Problem

Source

RETAIN tip: H213787

Symptom

Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) slots 16, 17 and 18 are being identified in the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) log in association with an issue. These slots do not exist in the system, as slot values range from 1 thru 12.

Example Message:

Affected configurations

The system may be any of the following IBM servers:

• System x3850 X6, type 3837 (4-socket, 3-year warranty), any model
• System x3850 X6, type 3839 (4-socket, 4-year warranty), any model
• System x3950 X6, type 3837 (8-socket, 3-year warranty), any model
• System x3950 X6, type 3839 (8-socket, 4-year warranty), any model

This tip is not software specific.

This tip is not option specific.

The following system BIOS or UEFI level(s) are affected:

• Build ID: A8E112B and prior
  

Solution

This behavior will be corrected in a future release of UEFI.

The target date for this release is scheduled for second quarter 2015.

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

Convert the displayed PCI Slot number in the IPMI log to HEX in order to get the correct slot number.

examples:

Additional information

This symptom occurs because the reporting firmware improperly assumes the affected PCIe slot value is hexadecimal, when it is actually decimal and wrongly converts it to a more understandable decimal value for the user/operator/servicer.

examples:

The Workaround allows the user/operator/servicer to reconvert the value, to see which slot is actually being identified.