Re: Call for opinions on UltraSparc III perf issues
From: Scott Howard (scott_at_hunterlink.net.au)
Date: 07/31/03
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Date: 31 Jul 2003 13:11:40 GMT
Dr. David Kirkby <drkirkby@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>> I can't think of a single reason why one WOULDN'T apply OBP
>> patches and the like. I believe that prevention is better
>> than cure.
>
> One reason must surely be that if something goes wrong, it is remotely
> possible to end up with a dead machine. The patch instructions always
> warn of the risks and say the mains must not be removed. There is a
> recovery procedure, but if that fails to work you need to call Sun for
> help.
Most system nowdays have some form of fail-safe method to avoid such
problems.
eg, on the V880's there are actually two copies of the OBP in prom.
When you're doing the upgrade it erases one, re-programs it, and then
verifies it. Only once it's done that does it start on the 2nd copy.
In the event of a non-correctable problem during the upgrade (eg, power
outage halfway through the upgrade) then you'll have one of two
possabilities.
If you were upgrading the "spare" copy of the PROM at the time then the
machine will boot OK (from the "main" copy) and you can just re-run the
upgrade to repair the spare copy.
If you were upgrading the "main" copy of the PROM then you'll need to
move a jumper on the I/O board to boot using the spare copy. You can then
just re-run the upgrade to repair the main copy and (optionally?) move
the jumper back.
For some other system the jump between the two copies happens
automatically if it finds the primary one to be corrupt.
> I'd personally not update the OBP unless the system was on a *decent*
> ups. I've updated the OBP on this U80, but have chosen not to do so on
The U80 also has this two-copy PROM, with a jumper on the motherboard to
jump between the two.
Scott
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