MF68521 - LIC-INCORROUT VFC client fails to recover lost connection

TYPE PROGRAM  RELEASE   NUMBER   MIN/MAX  OPTION
---- -------- --------- -------  -------  ------
TR   5770999  V7R3M0    MF99210   00/00    0000



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-------
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APAR Error Description / Circumvention

-----------------------------------------------
When there is a loss of the link between a Fibre Channel switch
and a storage device port that lasts less than 30 seconds, the
IBM i D/T6B25 virtual Fibre Channel client adapter driver may
not determine that its logical connection to the storage device
has been lost and needs to be reestablished.  This may result in
I/O timeout errors on devices attached to the system through the
virtual adapter, which can lead to long device recovery periods
followed by the devices becoming not operational. This behavior
is most likely to occur when the loss of link is brief (just a
few seconds).

Normal operations can be restored by using the Hardware Service
Manager I/O debug option of System Service Tools (SST) to IPL
the affected logical 6B25 I/O Processor (IOP) resource(s).  In
some cases, disk timeout recovery may initiate an IOP IPL
automatically; at other times, it must be done manually to
restore devices to operational status.

Disconnecting the affected storage port link for more than 30
seconds may also restore normal operations when the link is
reconnected.

CORRECTION FOR APAR MA48955 :
-----------------------------
The 6B25 virtual adapter driver will add logic to test the port
connection whenever the driver is unsure of its logical
connection status. This will allow the driver to determine if
the logical connection was lost and if so, to initiate
connection recovery.

CIRCUMVENTION FOR APAR MA48955 :
--------------------------------
If the storage ports are being disabled intentionally, allow
them to remain disconnected for more than 30 seconds.


Activation Instructions


None.




Special Instructions


None.


Default Instructions

THIS IS A DELAYED PTF TO BE APPLIED AT IPL TIME.



Supersedes

PTF/FIX NO(S).  APAR TITLE LINE
--------------  ------------------------------------------------------------
     NONE

Summary Information

IBM i Support