MAP 5600: Fibre-channel

MAP 5600: Fibre-channel helps you to solve problems that have occurred on the SAN Volume Controller fibre-channel ports.

If you are not familiar with these maintenance analysis procedures (MAPs), first read Using the maintenance analysis procedures.

This MAP applies to all SAN Volume Controller models. Be sure that you know which model you are using before you start this procedure. To determine which model you are working with, look for the label that identifies the model type on the front of the node.

You might have been sent here for one of the following reasons:
  • A problem occurred during the installation of a SAN Volume Controller system and the fibre-channel checks failed
  • Another MAP sent you here
Perform the following steps to solve problems caused by the fibre-channel ports:
  1. Are you here to diagnose a problem on a SAN Volume Controller 2145-4F2 or SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F2?
    NO
    Go to step 2.
    YES
    Go to step 3.
  2. Are you trying to resolve a fibre-channel port speed problem?
    NO
    Go to step 3.
    YES
    Go to step 12.
  3. (from step 1 and step 2) Display fibre-channel port 1 status on the SAN Volume Controller front-panel display. For more information, see Using the front panel of the SAN Volume Controller.
    Is the front-panel display on the SAN Volume Controller showing fibre-channel port-1 active?
    NO
    A fibre-channel port is not working correctly. Check the port status on the second line of the display.
    • Inactive: The port is operational but cannot access the fibre-channel fabric. The fibre-channel adapter is not configured correctly, the fibre-channel SFP has failed, the fibre-channel cable has either failed or is not installed, or the device at the other end of the cable has failed. Make a note of port-1. Go to step 8.
    • Failed: The port is not operational because of a hardware failure. Make a note of port-1. Go to step 10.
    • Not installed: This port is not installed. Make a note of port-1. Go to step 11.
    YES
    Press and release the right button to display fibre-channel port-2 . Go to step 4.
  4. (from step 3)

    Is the front panel display on the SAN Volume Controller showing fibre-channel port-2 active?

    NO
    A fibre-channel port is not working correctly. Check the port status on the second line of the display.
    • Inactive: The port is operational but cannot access the fibre-channel fabric. The fibre-channel adapter is not configured correctly, the fibre-channel SFP has failed, the fibre-channel cable has either failed or is not installed, or the device at the other end of the cable has failed. Make a note of port-2. Go to step 8.
    • Failed: The port is not operational because of a hardware failure. Make a note of port-2. Go to step 10.
    • Not installed: This port is not installed. Make a note of port-2. Go to step 11.
    YES
    Press and release the right button to display fibre-channel port-3. Go to step 5.
  5. (from step 4)

    Is the front panel display on the SAN Volume Controller showing fibre-channel port-3 active?

    NO
    A fibre-channel port is not working correctly. Check the port status on the second line of the display.
    • Inactive: The port is operational but cannot access the fibre-channel fabric. The fibre-channel adapter is not configured correctly, the fibre-channel SFP has failed, the fibre-channel cable has either failed or is not installed, or the device at the other end of the cable has failed. Make a note of port-3. Go to step 8.
    • Failed: The port is not operational because of a hardware failure. Make a note of port-3. Go to step 10.
    • Not installed: This port is not installed. Make a note of port-3. Go to step 11.
    YES
    Press and release the right button to display fibre-channel port-4. Go to step 6.
  6. (from step 5)

    Is the front panel display on the SAN Volume Controller showing fibre-channel port-4 active?

    NO
    A fibre-channel port is not working correctly. Check the port status on the second line of the display.
    • Inactive: The port is operational but cannot access the fibre-channel fabric. The fibre-channel adapter is not configured correctly, the fibre-channel SFP has failed, the fibre-channel cable has either failed or is not installed, or the device at the other end of the cable has failed. Make a note of port-4. Go to step 8.
    • Failed: The port is not operational because of a hardware failure. Make a note of port-4. Go to step 9.
    • Not installed: This port is not installed. Make a note of port-4. Go to step 11.
    YES
    Go to step 7.
  7. (from step 6)

    A previously reported fault with a fibre-channel port is no longer being shown. A problem with the SAN fibre-channel fabric might have been fixed or there might be an intermittent problem.

    Check with the customer to see if any fibre-channel ports have been disconnected or if any component of the SAN fibre-channel fabric has failed and has been fixed recently.

    Is the fibre-channel port failure explained by the previous checks?

    NO
    There might be an intermittent fibre-channel error.
    1. Use the SAN problem determination procedure to check for and resolve any fibre-channel fabric connection problems. If you resolve a problem, continue with MAP 5700: Repair verification.
    2. Check if similar fibre-channel errors have occurred recently on the same port on this SAN Volume Controller node. If they have, replace the fibre-channel cable, unless it has already been replaced.
    3. Replace the fibre-channel SFP connector, unless it has already been replaced.
      Note: SAN Volume Controller nodes are supported with both long-wave SFPs and short-wave SFPs. You must replace an SFP with the same type of SFP that you are replacing. If the SFP to replace is a long wave SFP, for example, you must provide a suitable replacement. Removing the wrong SFP connector could result in loss of data access.
    4. Replace the fibre-channel adapter assembly shown in the following table.
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-CF8 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8A4 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8G4 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F4 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F2 port 1 or 2 Dual port fibre-channel host bus adapter (HBA) - Low profile
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F2 port 3 or 4 Dual port fibre-channel HBA - Full height
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-4F2 port 1, 2, 3 or 4 Fibre-channel adapter
    5. Verify the repair by continuing with MAP 5700: Repair verification.
    YES
    Verify the repair by continuing with MAP 5700: Repair verification.
  8. (from steps 3, 4, 5, and 6)

    The noted port on the SAN Volume Controller is showing a status of inactive. For certain models, this might occur when the fibre-channel speed is not set correctly.

    Are you diagnosing a problem on a SAN Volume Controller 2145-4F2 or SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F2?

    NO
    Go to step 9.
    YES
    All SAN Volume Controller ports on the SAN Volume Controller 2145-4F2 or the SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F2 nodes must run at the same speed. This speed is set by one of the cluster properties; therefore the cluster speed must be set to a speed that all SAN Volume Controller ports can use.

    If the node or nodes are currently online in the cluster, change the cluster speed property to a speed that all SAN Volume Controller 2145-4F2 or SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F2 ports can use.

    Attention: Changing the SAN Volume Controller speed setting causes an I/O outage on the cluster. Ensure that all host operations are stopped before performing these steps.
    1. Press the down button until the top line of the display shows Ethernet. If the second line of the display shows Active or Inactive, refer to the IBM® System Storage SAN Volume Controller Troubleshooting Guide, Release 4.3.1.
    2. Press the right button until the top line displays Speed 1.
    3. If the second line of the display shows link offline, record this port as one that requires fixing.
    4. If the cluster is configured with two Ethernet cables per node, press the right button until the top line of the display shows Speed 2 and repeat the previous step.
    5. Go to step 9.
    If the node is not currently online in the cluster, you might need to set the speed of the node to a different speed setting before the SAN Volume Controller node can join the cluster. To temporarily set the speed of the node, perform the following steps:
    Note: After the SAN Volume Controller joins the cluster, the node's fibre-channel port speed will be changed to match the cluster setting. Check the cluster setting before changing the node.
    1. Press and hold the down button.
    2. Press and release the select button.
    3. Release the down button.
      The fibre-channel speed setting is shown on the display. If this value does not match the speed of the SAN, use the down and up buttons to set it correctly.
    4. Press the select button to accept any changes and return to the fibre-channel status display.
    5. If the status shows active, continue with MAP 5700: Repair verification. Otherwise, go to step 9.
  9. (from step 8)

    The noted port on the SAN Volume Controller displays a status of inactive. If the noted port still displays a status of inactive, replace the parts that are associated with the noted port until the problem is fixed in the following order:

    1. Fibre-channel cables from the SAN Volume Controller to fibre-channel network.
    2. Faulty fibre-channel fabric connections, particularly the SFP connector at the fibre-channel switch. Use the SAN problem determination procedure to resolve any fibre-channel fabric connection problem.
    3. SAN Volume Controller fibre-channel SFP connector.
      Note: SAN Volume Controller nodes are supported with both long-wave SFPs and short-wave SFPs. You must replace an SFP with the same type of SFP that you are replacing. If the SFP to replace is a long wave SFP, for example, you must provide a suitable replacement. Removing the wrong SFP connector could result in loss of data access.
    4. Fibre-channel adapter assemblies.
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-CF8 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8A4 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8G4 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F4 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F2 port 1 or 2 Dual port fibre-channel host bus adapter (HBA) - Low profile
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F2 port 3 or 4 Dual port fibre-channel HBA - Full height
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-4F2 port 1, 2, 3 or 4 Fibre-channel adapter
    5. Verify the repair by continuing with MAP 5700: Repair verification.
  10. (from steps 3, 4, 5, and 6)

    The noted port on the SAN Volume Controller displays a status of failed. Verify that the fibre-channel cables that connect the SAN Volume Controller nodes to the switches are securely connected. Replace the parts that are associated with the noted port until the problem is fixed in the following order:

    1. Fibre-channel SFP connector.
      Note: SAN Volume Controller nodes are supported with both long-wave SFPs and short-wave SFPs. You must replace an SFP with the same type of SFP that you are replacing. If the SFP to replace is a long wave SFP, for example, you must provide a suitable replacement. Removing the wrong SFP connector could result in loss of data access.
    2. Fibre-channel adapter assemblies.
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-CF8 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8A4 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8G4 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F4 port 1, 2, 3 or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F2 port 1 or 2 Dual port fibre-channel host bus adapter (HBA) - Low profile
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F2 port 3 or 4 Dual port fibre-channel HBA - Full height
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-4F2 port 1, 2, 3 or 4 Fibre-channel adapter
    3. Verify the repair by continuing with MAP 5700: Repair verification.
  11. (from steps 3, 4, 5, and 6)

    The noted port on the SAN Volume Controller displays a status of not installed. If you have just replaced the fibre-channel adapter, make sure that it is installed correctly. If you have replaced any other system board components, make sure that the fibre-channel adapter has not been disturbed.

    Is the fibre-channel adapter failure explained by the previous checks?
    NO
    1. Replace the fibre-channel adapter assembly for the node, as listed in Table 1.
      Table 1. SAN Volume Controller fibre-channel adapter assemblies
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-CF8 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8A4 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8G4 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F4 port 1, 2, 3, or 4 4-port fibre channel HBA
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F2 port 3 or 4 Dual port fibre-channel HBA - Full height
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F2 port 1 or 2 Dual port fibre-channel host bus adapter (HBA) - Low profile
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-4F2 port 1, 2, 3 or 4 Fibre-channel adapter
    2. If the problem is not fixed, replace the fibre-channel connection hardware in the order that is shown in Table 2.
      Table 2. SAN Volume Controller fibre-channel adapter connection hardware
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8A4 port 1, 2, 3, or 4
      1. Riser card, PCI Express
      2. System board
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8G4 port 1, 2, 3, or 4
      1. Riser card, PCI Express
      2. System board
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F4 port 1, 2, 3, or 4
      1. Riser card, PCI Express
      2. Frame assembly
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F2 port 1 or 2
      1. Riser card, PCI Low profile
      2. Frame assembly
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-8F2 port 3 or 4
      1. Riser card, PCI
      2. Frame assembly
      SAN Volume Controller 2145-4F2 System board assembly
    3. Verify the repair by continuing with MAP 5700: Repair verification.
    YES
    Verify the repair by continuing with MAP 5700: Repair verification.
  12. (from step 2)

    For the SAN Volume Controller models 2145-8A4, 2145-8G4, and 2145-8F4, each fibre-channel port autonegotiates its operating speed with the switch to which it is connected. If the speed at which it is operating is lower than the operating speed that is supported by the switch, this indicates that a high number of link errors are being detected.

    To display the current speed of the link, perform the following steps:
    1. Press the up or down button on the front panel until FC Port-1: is displayed on the first line of the service panel.
    2. Press the left or right button until the required port is displayed.
    3. Press and hold the down button.
    4. Press and release the select button.
    5. Release the down button.

    The second line of the front-panel display shows the current fibre-channel speed of the port.

    Is the port operating at lower than the expected speed?
    NO
    Repeat the check with the other fibre-channel ports until the failing port is located. If no failing port is located, the problem no longer exists. Verify the repair by continuing with MAP 5700: Repair verification.
    YES
    Perform the following steps:
    1. Check the routing of the fibre-channel cable to ensure that no damage exists and that the cable route contains no tight bends. Any bend should have no less than a 3-inch radius. Either reroute or replace the fibre-channel cable.
    2. Remove the fibre-channel cable for 2 seconds and then reinsert it. This will cause the fibre-channel adapter to renegotiate its operating speed.
    3. Recheck the speed of the fibre-channel port. If it is now correct, you have resolved the problem. Otherwise, the problem might be caused by one of the following:
      • 4-port fibre channel HBA
      • SAN Volume Controller SFP connector
      • Fibre-channel switch GBIC or SFP
      • Fibre-channel switch
      Recheck the speed after changing any component until the problem is resolved and then verify the repair by continuing with MAP 5700: Repair verification.
Parent topic: Using the maintenance analysis procedures
Related concepts
Fibre-channel port-1 through 4 option
SAN Volume Controller menu options
Related tasks
Removing and replacing the fibre-channel SFP connector on a SAN Volume Controller node
SAN problem determination
MAP 5700: Repair verification
Replacing the SAN Volume Controller 2145-8G4 system board
Removing the SAN Volume Controller 2145-4F2 system board
Viewing the fibre-channel fabric connections
Related reference
Front-panel display
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