Sun Ultra 27 Workstation Product Notes

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.

Workaround

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

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.

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

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

The Configure Advanced CPU Setting submenu screen appears.

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.

Highlight C6 and press Enter.

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.

To Perform BIOS Recovery Procedure

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).

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

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

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

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

Follow the onscreen instructions to recover system BIOS.

Headphone Volume Might Be Too Loud

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.