Netfinity 3500 - ECA018: Mandatory BIOS upgrade to REV 29A or higher for 8644

8.221 bytes

Service Hints & Tips

Document ID: MCGN-3U3RDZ

Netfinity 3500 - ECA018: Mandatory BIOS upgrade to REV 29A or higher for 8644

Applicable to: World-Wide

PURPOSE:
This ECA provides for a required flash upgrade to the System BIOS revision level 29a or higher.

THIS IS A MANDATORY ECA

FEATURES:

Type,
Model,
Stage

With
B/M

Machines Affected
and/or Feature/Device
Description

B/M to be
Installed

Service
Hours

System
Hours

8644

B/M0000000

USA:
NETFINITY SERVER 3500
TYPE 8644 , ALL MODELS
EMEA:_SAME SYSTEMS:
TRAVEL PER SITE: 0.8HR
SERVICE
PER SYSTEM: 1.0HR

B/M0000000

01.0

00.3

PHYSICAL CHECK:
The system is any Model Netfinity server 3500 Type 8644 with a BIOS revision less than 29A.

Note: The BIOS revision level of the system may be determined by accessing the "Product Data" Selection listed in the
"Configuration/Setup Utility" screen that may be accessed by pressing <F1> when prompted during System Boot.

PREREQUISITES: NONE

COMPANION: NONE

CONCURRENT: NONE

DETAIL:
If the system meets the Physical Check criteria, flash the System BIOS to 29A or higher using the following procedure:

1- Prior to going onsite, download the "Netfinity 3500 BIOS flash update diskette version 1.29 (revision 29)" (or higher) from the IBM Website at the following URL: http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/files.html or select this document link Netfinity 3500 Flash BIOS Update Diskette

- Select SEARCH
- Type 3500 BIOS in the keywords box
- Select SEARCH
- Select the "Netfinity 3500 BIOS flash update diskette version 1.29 (revision 29)" (or higher) to download

The file is a self-extracting executable file that will create a diskette.

In addition, open and print the associated README file to reference during step 3.

2- Power down the server, place the diskette in the diskette drive, then power up the server.

3- Follow the on-screen prompts to flash the system BIOS.

********************IMPORTANT******************************
DO NOT INTERRUPT THE FLASH UTILITY OPERATION
*****************************************************************

4- Verify the upgrade by viewing the BIOS revision level (access the "Product Data" Selection listed in the "Configuration/Setup Utility" screen that may be accessed by pressing <F1> when prompted during System Boot).

NOTE: BIOS revision 29A or higher implements the following:

- Fix for installing SCO OpenServer. Installing SCO OpenServer 5.04 (with earlier system BIOS) would result in the following error message at the "Hardware Configuration" screen immediately after the boot kernel has loaded into memory (at the beginning of installation):
"k_trap - Unexpected NMI in system mode!"

- Pentium II support (A0 / A1 processor configurations).
Previous BIOS revisions do not offer A1-stepping Pentium II 66/333Mhz support, which would result in the following error after the Adaptec SCSI BIOS is displayed:
"167 No processor BIOS found"

- Language selection function in the ServerGuide boot CD. Previous BIOS versions required a work around, implemented
in ServerGuide, in order to allow users to select language desired. BIOS 29A or higher will allow correct language selection.

- Corrected the ECC algorithm for the processor L2 cache. Users must upgrade to BIOS 29A or higher to improve robustness
of the Netfinity 3500.

- Added support for CDROM boot catalog menu.

- Added support for hardfiles greater than 8.4GB.

NOTE: On rare occasions, the system may experience a hang, trap(s), or a NT Blue Screen if using a earlier BIOS revision.

NOTES:
This is a MANDATORY ECA.

This ECA will expire on November 30, 2004.

USA:
IBM TSS CE's should record all time and parts to Service code 33, ECA018, Other Office 990.

EMEA:
IBM PSS CE's as above.

Business Partner Servicers should claim using CPPS claim type 5, Code "SJ".

Adaptec is a trademark of Adaptec Inc.
NT is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Pentium II is a trademark of Intel Corporation.
SCO and OpenServer are trademarks of The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.

SAS KEYWORDS:
PSY2, PSY2ECA, ECA018, D/T8644, UNCLASSIFIED, NETFINITY, 3500, PSY2BIOS, BIOS, 29A, MANDATORY, UNCLASSIFIED, 167, K_TRAP, NMI, HEALTH, ECC, LANGUAGE, STEPPING, SCO, CDROM, 9GB, H163554

Search Keywords

PSY2, PSY2ECA, ECA018, D/T8644, UNCLASSIFIED, NETFINITY, 3500, PSY2BIOS, BIOS, 29A, MANDATORY, UNCLASSIFIED, 167, K_TRAP, NMI, HEALTH, ECC, LANGUAGE, STEPPING, SCO, CDROM, 9GB, H163554

Hint Category

ECA, Retain

Date Created

01-05-98

Last Updated

25-03-99

Revision Date

25-03-2000

Brand

IBM PC Server

Product Family

Netfinity 3500

Machine Type

8644

Model

10U; 10X; 20U; 20X; 21U; 21X; 30U; 30X

TypeModel

Retain Tip (if applicable)

H163554, ECA018

Reverse Doclinks
and Admin Purposes

USA=A, EMA=A, AFE=A, Date last altered: A98/07/21, Owning B.U.: USA

Type, Model, Stage	With B/M	Machines Affected and/or Feature/Device Description	B/M to be Installed	Service Hours	System Hours
8644	B/M0000000	USA: NETFINITY SERVER 3500 TYPE 8644 , ALL MODELS EMEA:_SAME SYSTEMS: TRAVEL PER SITE: 0.8HR SERVICE PER SYSTEM: 1.0HR	B/M0000000	01.0	00.3

	Search Keywords	PSY2, PSY2ECA, ECA018, D/T8644, UNCLASSIFIED, NETFINITY, 3500, PSY2BIOS, BIOS, 29A, MANDATORY, UNCLASSIFIED, 167, K_TRAP, NMI, HEALTH, ECC, LANGUAGE, STEPPING, SCO, CDROM, 9GB, H163554
	Hint Category	ECA, Retain
	Date Created	01-05-98
	Last Updated	25-03-99
	Revision Date	25-03-2000
	Brand	IBM PC Server
	Product Family	Netfinity 3500
	Machine Type	8644
	Model	10U; 10X; 20U; 20X; 21U; 21X; 30U; 30X
	TypeModel
	Retain Tip (if applicable)	H163554, ECA018
	Reverse Doclinks and Admin Purposes	USA=A, EMA=A, AFE=A, Date last altered: A98/07/21, Owning B.U.: USA