Field Notice: TX GigaTranslator External Interface Parity Error

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Updated:April 7, 2005

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Updated August 25, 2000

April 6, 2000

Products Affected

Product	Description	Revision
GE-SX/LH-SC 800-03955-01	ASY,ELMECH,LINE CARD,GIG-E	-A0
GE-SX/LH-SC= 800-03955-02	ASY,ELMECH,LINE CARD,GIG-E	-B0
GE-SX/LH-SC= 800-03955-02	ASY,ELMECH,LINE CARD,GIG-E	-A0
GE-SX/LH-SC= 800-03955-02	ASY,ELMECH,LINE CARD,GIG-E	-B0
GE-SX/LH-SC= 800-03955-02	ASY,ELMECH,LINE CARD,GIG-E	-C0
GE-SX/LH-SC= 800-03955-02	ASY,ELMECH,LINE CARD,GIG-E	-A0
GE-SX/LH-SC= 800-03955-02	ASY,ELMECH,LINE CARD,GIG-E	-B0
GE-SX/LH-SC= 800-03955-02	ASY,ELMECH,LINE CARD,GIG-E	-A0
GE-SX/LH-SC= 800-03955-02	ASY,ELMECH,LINE CARD,GIG-E	-B0
GE-SX/LH-SC= 800-03955-02	ASY,ELMECH,LINE CARD,GIG-E	-C0

Problem Description

Excessive phase-locked-loop (PLL) jitter on one of the data path chips may cause parity errors on the data bus feeding it. This is NOT a memory-related parity error. Depending on the IOS® release, this could result in:

Dropped packets
System log error messages
Line card resets
Line card removed from service by GRP

Background

Excessive PLL jitter on the TxTranslator ASIC could cause parity errors on packets that are passed to it, causing them to be dropped in the MAC. A small percentage of GE line cards are vulnerable to this error. Most of these boards only fail at high traffic levels.

This is NOT a memory-related parity error.

When a parity error has been detected, the TxTranslator ASIC interrupts the main microprocessor. IOS clears the errors by resetting multiple devices on the board. After noticing this problem, Cisco changed a set of capacitors on the board. In subsequent traffic tests, this problem was not experienced.

Problem Symptoms

Problem symptoms vary upon the IOS release. Refer to the following table for specific information:

Error Condition	Symptoms/Actions
Error Condition	Prior to: 11.2(15)GS5.1 12.0(04.07)S 12.0(05.01)S 11.2(17)GS0.1	As of: 11.2(15)GS5.1 12.0(04.07)S 12.0(05.01)S 11.2(17)GS0.1
Between 0 and 6 PLL errors in any 2-second window	Possible dropped packets TxTranslator ASIC is reset	Possible dropped packets TxTranslator ASIC is reset Possible error/log message: "TX Translator external interface parity error"
6 or more PLL errors in any 2-second window	Possible dropped packets TxTranslator ASIC is reset	Possible dropped packets TxTranslator ASIC is reset Possible error/log message: "TX Translator external interface parity error"¹ GigE card is reset by GRP
Card is reset 3 times	Not applicable in this context. The card is not reset for these errors in these releases of IOS.	Card is removed from service (administrative down) by the GRP

¹ Because of an unrelated bug (CSCdp24209), error messages may not be logged because the line card message buffers are not flushed before the card is reset. If your system is connected to the line card when it resets, you could see the error message. If your system is connected to the GRP when the line card resets, you will not see the error message.

Workaround/Solution

Customers may request returning linecards to Cisco for an upgrade by creating a standard RMA. All currently shipping products (from manufacturing and Service Logistics) have been modified to correct the problem. (Reference ECO R99-7295.)

DDTS

To follow the bug ID link below and see detailed bug information, you must be a registered user and you must be logged in.

DDTS Bug ID	Description
CSCdm66791 (registered customers only)	GE down: TX GigaTranslator external interface parity error
CSCdm36502 (registered customers only)	GSR: GE RX/TX translator interrupt handling is awkward
CSCdm43759 (registered customers only)	GSR: GE SOP stop and startup needs rework

How To Identify Hardware Levels

Use the show diag slot command to view hardware information for an Gigabit Ethernet line card installed in your system. An example of the show diag slot command for a Gigabit Ethernet line card installed in slot 9 follows:

router# show diags 9
SLOT 9  (RP/LC 9 ):1 Port Gigabit Ethernet
MAIN:type 43,  800-3955-01 rev A0 dev 0
HW config:0x00    SW key:00-00-00
PCA: 73-3302-03 rev A0 ver 3
HW version 1.0  S/N CAB0240AAB
MBUS:MBUS Agent (1)  73-2146-07
rev B0 dev 0
HW version 1.2  S/N CAB0237A6D0
Test hist:0x00 RMA#:00-00-00 RMA hist:0x00
DIAG:Test count:0x00000000
Test results:0x00000000
MBUS Agent Software version 01.35
(RAM) (ROM version is 01.33)
Using CAN Bus A
ROM Monitor version 10.00

Physical Replacement of Parts

To replace a GE line card, see the CCO Customer Documentation for the GE-SX/LH-SC line card: Gigabit Ethernet Line Card Installation and Configuration

For More Information

If you require further assistance, or if you have any further questions regarding this field notice, please contact the Cisco Systems Technical Assistance Center (TAC) by one of the following methods:

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