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Sun Ultra 27 Workstation Product Notes

Chapter 1 Hardware and Software Issues

The following sections contain known issues and late-breaking information about the Sun Ultra 27 workstation:

General Information

Documentation

The following is a list of the available documentation:

These documents are available online at:

http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/prod/ultra27.ws~1925.1#hic

Supported Operating Systems

Sun supports the following operating systems for the Sun Ultra 27 workstation:

For an up-to-date listing of supported operating systems for the Sun Ultra 27 workstation, go to:

http://www.sun.com/desktop/index.jsp

Preinstalled Software

Depending on the configuration of your workstation, the following software might be preinstalled:

Firmware Updates

Versions of the Tools and Drivers DVD contain:

Features of the Tools and Drivers DVD v1.4.0

The following are some of the features included on the Tools and Drivers DVD v1.4.0:

Download an ISO image of the Tools and Drivers DVD from the Sun Ultra 27 workstation product page at:

http://www.sun.com/desktop/index.jsp

Hardware and BIOS Issues

The following hardware issues apply to the Sun Ultra 27 workstation, regardless of the operating system (OS) installed on the workstation.

When Updating the BIOS to v1.03, the Preserve CMOS Settings Option is Not Available

Due to CMOS structure change, users are unable to preserve the CMOS settings when updating BIOS to v1.03.

Workaround

Record customized CMOS settings before flashing the BIOS. After the update, access the BIOS Setup Utility and enter the recorded settings to customize BIOS v1.03.

C6 Package Sleep State

You must invoke C6 package sleep state to use it. There is no impact too the user if this is turned off. However, it may provide a marginal power usage improvement if set.

ProcedureWorkaround

  1. Access the BIOS Setup utility (see To Access the BIOS Setup Utility in Sun Ultra 27 Workstation Service Manual).

  2. Ensure that the BIOS is at v1.03 or later.

    The BIOS version is listed under the Product Information menu in the BIOS Setup Utility.

  3. Use the right or left arrow key to navigate to the Advanced menu screen.

  4. Use the down arrow key to highlight Configure Advanced CPU Settings and press Enter.

    The Configure Advanced CPU Setting submenu screen appears.

  5. Use the down arrow key to highlight Package C-State Limit (under Intel(R) C-State Tech) and press Enter.

    An Options popup window appears.

  6. Highlight C6 and press Enter.

  7. Save and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.

    The workstation reboots.

SunVTS Requires 2 Gb System Memory

The workstation ships with 1 Gb of system memory. For SunVTS to function properly, 2 Gb of system memory is required, with a 1 Gb swap file.

Workstation Does Not Boot (POST Code 94) with LSI SAS1064E 4-Port Controller Card in x16 Slots

The workstation might halt at POST code 94 and not boot with an LSI SAS1064E controller card installed in slots PCIe 0 or PCIe 2. PCIe 0 and PCIe 2 are x16 slots. Functionality internal to the card prevents initialization when the card is installed in the x16 slots.

Workaround

Do not install the card in slot PCIe 0 or slot PCIe 2.

Corrupted BIOS: System Does Not Perform POST

An interrupted or failed BIOS update, might result in a corrupted BIOS, which could cause the system to fail POST and not boot. To resolve this, you must recover the BIOS by performing the following BIOS recovery procedure. This procedure will be added to the Sun Ultra 27 Workstation Service Manual.

ProcedureTo Perform BIOS Recovery Procedure

  1. Copy the file /BIOS/RELEASED_BIOS/xxx/xxx.ROM from the Tools and Drivers DVD to the root directory of a USB flash drive.

    where xxx is the BIOS version number (for example, 102 or 103).

  2. On the flash drive, rename the file xxx.ROM to AMIBOOT.ROM.

  3. Insert USB flash drive into an available USB port on the workstation.

  4. Power on the workstation, press and hold the Ctrl + Home keys, and watch the USB flash drive’s access light.

  5. When the flash drive’s access light starts to blink, release the keys.

  6. Follow the onscreen instructions to recover system BIOS.

Headphone Volume Might Be Too Loud

Caution – Caution –

Possible hearing loss. Listening to headphones and earphones with the equalizer on or near the maximum setting can cause excessive sound pressure levels, which might cause hearing loss.

Excessive sound pressure from earphones and headphones can cause hearing loss. Adjusting the equalizer to the maximum setting increases the earphone and headphone sound pressure output voltage, and therefore the sound pressure level.

ROM Initialization Error Occurs When RAID is Enabled for On-board SATA Drives

Enabling RAID for the on-board SATA drives with a U320 SCSI card installed might cause the card to function incorrectly and the following BIOS error message to appear:

Expansion ROM not initialized.

Workaround

Disable SATA RAID if the option card’s expansion ROM is greater than the available shadow memory.

For example, you can use the Single Ultra-320 (1-Port) SCSI PCI-X card only when the on-board SATA RAID is disabled in the BIOS.

Pc-Check Issues

These issues apply to a Sun Ultra 27 workstation running Eurosoft Pc-Check:

DVD Is Not Detected If SATA Is Configured as RAID in the BIOS

When running CD-ROM/DVD test. Pc-Check displays the following message:

There are no CD/DVD drives installed.

Workaround

Change the setting to Compatible IDE in the BIOS and run CD-ROM/DVD test.

This issue is under investigation.

Keyboard Functionality Is Lost After Running USB Controller or Functionality Test

The user might experience the lost of keyboard functionality after running multiple iterations of USB Controller or Functional test.

Workaround

This issue is under investigation.

Software Issues

The following software issues apply to the Sun Ultra 27 workstation:

Solaris OS and OpenSolaris OS Issues

These issues apply to a Sun Ultra 27 workstation running the minimum supported Solaris OS, or later versions:

Xserver Fails to Start on OpenSolaris

Xserver might fail to start on an Ultra 27 workstation running OpenSolaris 2009.06 with dual configuration (two) Nvidia graphics cards (for example, two Nvidia FX3800 graphic cards).

Workaround

Use OpenSolaris 2008.11.

Nvidia Video Driver Version 180.xxx Does Not Install Successfully on OpenSolaris

Workaround

Use the inbox OpenSolaris Nvidia driver (for example, version 180.29).

This issue will be fixed in Nvidia video driver 185.XX.

Solaris 10 10/08 OS Does Not Support IEEE-1394 Firmware Devices

This issue is under investigation.

Clarification of the Host ID and the Preinstalled Solaris OS

On x64 systems, the Host ID is only created when you configure and use the preinstalled Solaris OS (on the HDD shipped with the system). When you boot the system for the first time, the Solaris OS will randomly generate a unique Host ID. This Host ID is for use with the software license. If you do not use the preinstalled Solaris OS, then there is no need for the Host ID. Because the Host ID is randomly generated during the initial boot, it is not provided on the CIS sheet that is shipped with your system.

Limited RAID Support in the Solaris OS

Current released versions of the Solaris OS do not have support for RAID through the on-board ICH10R controller. However, RAID is supported through the LSI 3041E HBA controller card.

Open Solaris Installation Fails When VT-d is Enabled

Open Solaris might fail when VT-d is set to Enabled in the workstation BIOS.

Workaround

Before installing Open Solaris, access the workstation BIOS and set the VT-d option to Disable.

Unable to Remove Existing Nvidia Driver on Open Solaris

Workaround

Open a terminal and type the following command:

# pkg uninstall NVDAgraphics

Linux Issues

The following issues apply to a Sun Ultra 27 workstation running a Linux OS:

SUSE-Specific Issues:

Red Hat and General Linux-Related Issues:

On SLED 11 64–Bit, X-Server Might Fail to Start on a Dual Display System that Uses the Nvidia FX 3800 Card

Workaround

Open a terminal and run nvidial-xconfig -a and then restart X-server.

On SLED 11 64–Bit, LSI MSM RAID Manager Requires Specific RPM

Workaround

Download and install compat-libstdc++-5.0.7–121.1x86.rpm before installing LSI MSM RAID Manager.

A dmesg Error Occurs on SLED 10 SP2 64–bit

Workaround

Download and update the latest kernel from the Novell website at:

http://www.novell.com/linux/

Firefox Fails to Launch in SLED 10 SP2 64-bit

The following message will appear when launching Firefox:

/usr/lib/firefox/firefox-bin: error while loading share libraries: libasound.so.2: wrong ELF class: ELFCLASS64

There is a shared library error with the RealTek audio driver and the preinstalled Firefox web browser.

Workaround

Download and install the latest version of Firefox at:

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all.html

Unknown CPU Information is Shown in HAL Device Manager

For Linux operating systems, the HAL Device Manager shows Unknown for CPU information.

This issue is under investigation.

Automount Might Cause a Permission Problem When install.sh is Executed

For Linux operating systems, executing install.sh might cause a permission error message.

Workaround

Manually mount the Tools and Drivers DVD using the following commands:

# init 3 (login as root)

# mount /dev/cdrom /mnt

# /mnt/drivers/linux/OS/install.sh

where OS is either red_hat or suse

Limited RAID Support in Linux Operating Systems

Current released versions of Linux operating systems do not have support for RAID through the on-board ICH10R controller, but RAID is supported through the LSI3041E HBA.

Error Message Appears in Red Hat 5.1 and 5.2 Operating System

The following error messages might appear in dmesg and /var/log/messages:

kernel: ata2: spurious interrupt (irq_stat 0x4 active_tag -84148995 sactive 0x3)

This issue is under investigation.

System Fails to Perform PXE Installation of Linux Operating Systems

The system can successfully PXE boot from the on-board Intel 82567LM-2 NIC, but Red Hat and SUSE installation setups fail to detect the NIC. Current released versions of Red Hat and SUSE do not support the Intel 82567LM-2 NIC.

Please wait until RHEL 4.8, RHEL 5.3, SLED10 SP3, and SLED 11 for built-in 82567LM-2 Ethernet support or perform the following workaround.

Workaround

Install a PCI/PCIe NIC card, and then PXE install from the new NIC.

-or-

Do a CD/DVD installation, and then run the following command to install all (graphics, NIC, audio) drivers:

tools_and_drivers/drivers/linux/OS/install.sh

where tools_and_drivers is the location of the Tools and Drivers DVD, and OS is the directory of the operating system (either red_hat or suse).

Older Versions of Linux Operating Systems Do Not Support AHCI

The operating system installation setup does not detect the hard drive or CD/DVD media. You will have to configure SATA as IDE in the system BIOS to work around this issue.

See theSun Ultra 27 Workstation Linux, OpenSolaris and Solaris Operating System Installation Guide for instructions.

Windows Issues

The following issues apply to a Sun Ultra 27 Workstation running Windows:

Windows Vista-Related Issues

Windows XP-Related Issuses

Windows—Related General Issues

Windows Vista Boot Halts With a Black Screen

During boot-up a Windows Vista system might halt resulting in a black screen and a failure to boot. Rebooting the workstation might resolve the issue.

This issue is under investigation

Windows Vista/2008 Blue Screen After Installing SATA RAID Driver Using Tools and Drivers DVD

On SATA RAID systems, a blue screen might appear after you install the SATA RAID driver/manager from the Tools and Drivers DVD.

Workaround

Enter the BIOS and change from ACHI to RAID mode if the system is configured as SATA RAID.

Incompatibility Between Intel QuickPath Architecture I/O hub and Windows Vista.

An incompatibility issue might exist between the Intel QuickPath architecture I/O hub and the Windows Vista OS.

Workaround

Blue Screen Error on Windows XP With LSI SAS HBA and AHCI Setting

When the BIOS is set to AHCI on a Windows XP system with an LSI SAS HBA controller card, a blue screen error might occur. To resolve this issue, load the LSI SAS driver before the Windows XP installation process.

ProcedureLoad the LSI SAS Driver

  1. Access the BIOS Setup Utility (see To Access the BIOS Setup Utility in Sun Ultra 27 Workstation Service Manual).

  2. Use the left or right arrow keys to navigate to the Advanced menu.

  3. Use the down arrow key to highlight Integrated Device and press Enter.

  4. Highlight the option to Configure Slot 0–3 and press Enter.

    An Options pop-up window appears.

  5. Highlight IDE and press Enter.

  6. Press F10 to save and exit.

  7. Reboot using the Windows XP installation media and follow the prompts.

  8. When Press F6 if you need to install a third-party SCSI or RAID driver... appears at the bottom of the Windows Setup screen, press F6 and follow the instructions to install the LSI driver.

  9. After installing the LSI SAS driver, continue with the Windows XP installation.

RAID Driver is Required for Installing Windows XP on a SATA Configuration Set to RAID Mode

When the BIOS is set to RAID mode, the RAID driver must be installed before you install the OS.

ProcedureTo Install the RAID Driver

  1. Copy the RAID driver from the Tools and Drivers DVD to a USB floppy drive.

  2. Connect the USB floppy drive to a USB port on the workstation.

    The USB floppy drive must be connected directly to a USB port on the workstation. Do not connect to a USB hub.

  3. Reboot the workstation and access the BIOS Setup Utility (see To Access the BIOS Setup Utility in Sun Ultra 27 Workstation Service Manual).

  4. Use the Boot menu in the BIOS Setup Utility to verify that the USB floppy drive is seen by the workstation.

  5. Press the Esc key to exit the BIOS Setup Utility and reboot the workstation using the Windows XP installation media.

  6. When Press F6 if you need to install a third-party SCSI or RAID driver... appears at the bottom of the Windows Setup screen, press F6 and follow the instructions to install the RAID driver from the USB floppy drive.

  7. Press S to specify an additional device.

    A list appears.

  8. Select the Intel ICH10R RAID SATA controller from the list and proceed with the installation.

XP Reburn Does Not Include Audio and Video Drivers

Due to the limited size of the XP reburn CD, you must install audio and video drivers from the Tools and Drivers DVD.

AHCI Mode Not Supported on Windows XP

Only IDE mode of RAID mode of SATA Configurations is supported when installing Windows XP.

Blank Screen during Windows Installation

During a Windows installation, you might encounter a blank screen if there is a Linux partition present on the hard drive.

ProcedureWorkaround

  1. If there is a Linux partition on the hard drive, run the wipedisk utility to erase the primary boot partition before you install Windows.

    The wipedisk utility is available on the Tools and Drivers DVD by accessing the Erase Primary Boot Hard Disk (option 5).

  2. Install Windows.

Install the Windows Intel Matrix Manager on RAID-Configured Systems Only

Installing the Intel Matrix Manager Software from the Tools and Drivers DVD on non-RAID systems might cause a blue screen crash.

Workaround

Do not install the Intel Matrix Manager on non-RAID systems. If you have the Intel Matrix Manager installed on a non-RAID system, boot the workstation using safemode and uninstall the Intel Matrix Manager software.