Note: This capacitor issue is one that affects the computer motherboard industry globally.
ANALYSIS
The scope of this Product Advisory Bulletin applies to a small percentage of BCM 3.0 and 3.5
systems.
Nortel is anticipating a small failure rate of motherboards due to this issue. We are monitoring
performance of electrolytic capacitors used in the SH815 motherboard to validate this estimate.
Note: BCM200/400 platforms that have more recent software versions may have been initially
shipped as BCM 3.0 or BCM 3.5 base systems. Please review the BCM 3.0 and BCM 3.5
product codes below to ensure the system under investigation has been correctly identified.
Existing studies of the suspect electrolytic capacitor used in the majority of BCM 3.5 systems
indicate that modifications in chemical formulation of the capacitors, initiated by capacitor vendor,
have improved their reliability and extended their Life Cycle to accepted industry standard levels.
Nortel will continue to monitor BCM 3.5 systems with the improved formulations for any abnormal
behaviors.
Finally, motherboards used in BCM 3.6 and later are manufactured with a capacitor from a
supplier different than those used in pre BCM 3.6 systems, so this issue does not exist for BCM
3.6 and later systems.
The BCM 3.0 product codes affected by this issue are:
BCM Product Description PEC CPC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NA BCM 3.0 on BCM400, Standard NT7B10AADH A0898618
NA BCM 3.0 on BCM400, Redundancy NT7B10AADJ A0898620
Int'l BCM 3.0 on BCM400, Standard NT7B10AADP A0899811
Int'l BCM 3.0 on BCM400, Redundancy NT7B10AADQ A0899812
NA BCM 3.0 on BCM200, Standard NT7B10AADT A0990913
Int'l BCM 3.0 on BCM200, Standard NT7B10AADU A0990914
The BCM 3.5 product codes affected by this issue are:
BCM Product Description PEC CPC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NA BCM 3.5 BCM400 Standard NT7B10AAED A0510880
NA BCM 3.5 BCM400 Redundancy NT7B10AAEE A0510881
Int'l BCM 3.5 BCM400 Standard NT7B10AAEF A0511056
Int'l BCM 3.5 BCM400 Redundancy NT7B10AAEG A0511057
NA BCM 3.5 BCM200 Standard NT7B10AAEH A0510882
Int'l BCM 3.5 BCM200 Standard NT7B10AAEJ A0510883
RECOMMENDATIONS
The solution for this issue is the replacement of the SH815 motherboard. The SH815
motherboard is part of the assembly within the Base Function Tray (BFT) of both the BCM400
and BCM200 platforms. Base Function Trays are a removable item in the field so replacements
can be made on site. Typical Base Function Tray replacement time is about 30 minutes,
documentation describing replacement procedures can be found in the FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION section of this advisory.
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