The bit error rate threshold is used by the switch to detect an increased error

rate before performance degradation seriously affects traffic.

The bit errors can occur for the following reasons:
� Faulty or bad cable.
� Faulty or bad Gigabit Interface Converter (GBIC) or Small-Form Factor
Pluggable (SFP).
� GBIC or SFP is specified to operate at 1 Gbps but is used at 2 Gbps.
� GBIC or SFP is specified to operate at 2 Gbps but is used at 4 Gbps.
� Short haul cable is used for long haul or long haul cable is used for short
haul.
� Momentary sync loss.
� Loose cable connection at one or both ends.
� Improper GBIC or SFP connection at one or both ends.
Per FC standard at 1Gbit speed bit error rate threshold is detected when 15 error
bursts occur in a 5-minute period. By default, the switch disables the interface
when the threshold is reached.You will have to reenable the interface in Device
Manager or CLI command "no shut".
You can configure the switch to not disable an interface when the threshold is
crossed. By default, the threshold disables the interface.

Resolution To resolve this issue:

1. Identify the node and switch port involved in the communications failure.

2. Verify that the switch port is administratively up (unblocked, no shut, or

enabled).

(WARNING: Before proceeding any further make sure you know how your node will react
if it gets a new fcid. Some OS versions of AIX and HP-UX do not react well to such
changes. If you have any doubts, consult with an EMC SSC Support Engineer.)

3. Move your SFP and fibre cable at the switch to any available unused port on
the same switch.

4. If the issue remains with the original port, then the switch is the issue.
If not, then we know that the issue is either the SFP, fibre cabling, or node bus
adapter.

5. Move just the fibre cable back to your original port. Leave the SFPs you
moved in step 2 still swapped between ports.

6. If the issue returns to the original port, then the issue is either the fibre
cabling or the node bus adapter. If the issue stays at the new port then the SFP
is the problem.

7. Once the SFP has been eliminated as the hardware problem, swapping cables is
the next least intrusive troubleshooting test. With a known good working cable
replace the original fibre cable between node and switch.

8. If the issue remains, then the issue is at the node. Check out the HBA if a
host, or else have the correct platforms group investigate their array's fibre
channel bus adapter in question (FA or SP).