Field Notice: FN - 63716 - ASR 903 Platform 8X1G Interface Modules:A900-IMA8S and A900-IMA8T - Software Upgrade Recommended

Notice

THIS FIELD NOTICE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS AND DOES NOT IMPLY ANY KIND OF GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY, INCLUDING THE WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY. YOUR USE OF THE INFORMATION ON THE FIELD NOTICE OR MATERIALS LINKED FROM THE FIELD NOTICE IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. CISCO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR UPDATE THIS FIELD NOTICE AT ANY TIME.

Revision History

Revision	Publish Date	Comments
1.0	20-Dec-13	Initial Release
10.0	11-Oct-17	Migration to new field notice system
10.1	11-Jun-18	Fixed Broken Image Links

Products Affected

Affected Product ID	Comments
A900-IMA8S
A900-IMA8T

Defect Information

Defect ID	Headline
CSCue72438	Solution to support hardware revision V02 of 8X1G Interface Modules: A900-IMA8S and A900-IMA8T

Problem Description

A new hardware revision (V02) of 8x1G Interface Modules (A900-IMA8S and A900-IMA8T) is scheduled for release by the end of December 2013. V02 is not backward compatible with previous Cisco IOS XE^® software releases and will not boot with these older XE software releases:

3.5.x, 3.6.x, 3.7.0, 3.7.1, 3.7.2, 3.7.3, 3.8.0, 3.8.1, 3.8.2, 3.9.0

Customers should migrate to one of the latest Cisco IOS XE software releases: 3.7.4, 3.9.1, 3.10.0, 3.11.0 or later versions.

Background

Cisco has upgraded to the latest hardware revision (V02) of the 8x1G Interface Modules, A900-IMA8S and A900-IMA8T, in order to improve yield from the manufacturing process. V02 will be rolled out by the end of December 2013.

V02 is interchangeable only if one of the latest Cisco IOS XE software releases is used: 3.7.4, 3.9.1, 3.10.0, 3.11.0 or later versions.

Problem Symptom

Once the new revision of hardware (V02) is released by the end of December 2013, customers who order replacements (RMAs) for 8x1G Interface Modules, A900-IMA8S and A900-IMA8T, will get the new revision of hardware (V02). Refer to the How To Identify Affected Products section in order to check the hardware revision of the product.

This new hardware revision (V02) will not boot with these earlier versions of Cisco IOS XE software releases: 3.5.x, 3.6.x, 3.7.0, 3.7.1, 3.7.2, 3.7.3, 3.8.0, 3.8.1, 3.8.2, or 3.9.0.

If customers have hardware revision V01 of the 8x1G Interface Modules, Cisco recommends that they upgrade to one of the latest Cisco IOS XE software releases: 3.7.4, 3.9.1, 3.10.0, 3.11.0 or later versions. This upgrade fixes this problem.

Workaround/Solution

The latest Cisco IOS XE software releases - 3.7.4, 3.9.1, 3.10.0, 3.11.0 or later versions - are available and work with the latest revision of this hardware (V02).

Cisco recommends that customers migrate to one of these Cisco IOS software releases.

There is no change to the specifications of the product, and no change to the form factor, functionality, power consumption, or compliance.

How To Identify Affected Products

The Hardware Revision Number (Version ID) is labeled on the Interface Modules. See the pictures below for the details about where the Version ID is located on the Interface Modules.

A900-IMA8S Hardware Version Label Location:

A900-IMA8T Hardware Version Label Location:

Additional Information

Q. With this new revision, do you need to restart a new certification cycle?

A. No. The hardware is interchangeable, and what you have tested with the old version is applicable to the new one.

Q. What was changed in the hardware?

A. In order to improve manufacturing yield, one component was upgraded to a new revision. This is the only change that was performed, and the change has no effect on current functions and behaviors.

Q. What is the improvement in manufacturing yield?

A. With this new component, the manufacturing process is improved in order to provide better yield. This revision is related to process improvement, and there is no quality issue with the current component.

Q. How can you identify the revision of the product?

A. The revision number is the Version ID (VID) printed on the label on the switch. The new revision shows a VID of 02. Refer to the How to Identify Affected Products section in this field notice in order to identify the version of your hardware.

Q. Why is the current software not compatible?

A. The vendor provided a patch to an API, which required a minor code change in the Cisco IOS software. The changes for both the API and the Cisco IOS software are very minor (<100line), do not relate to functionality, and simply ensure that the modules with the new revision of the component will boot and function. This minor patch has no effect on the current product.

Q. Does this change have any impact on any other component, such as licensing or Management Information Base (MIB) information?

A. No. Other than the VID version to be updated, the change does not impact software components such as licensing or MIB support. The VID is not used by any components in software, and licensing does not use the VID.

Q. With two revisions of the product, do you have to track different software releases, Cisco IOS images, or Bug IDs?

A. No. Both hardware revisions are supported in these (and later) Cisco IOS-XE software releases: 3.7.4, 3.9.1, 3.10.0, 3.11.0. All future releases will support both revisions.

Q. What testing has been performed on this new revision, and the Cisco IOS software change?

A. The code change has passed a full test cycle, which includes a Regression test, a Development test, and a System test. The new revision of the hardware has passed the Electronic Design Validation Test (EDVT) and the Optical Design Verification Test (ODVT).

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:

• Open a service request on Cisco.com
• By email
• By telephone

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