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Dell Precision 670 Computers Have an Interrupt Routing BIOS Bug

Hardware: VXI/VME/MXI>>MXI Interfaces>>PCI-MXI-3

Problem:
There is a known BIOS issue with Dell Precision 670 computers where interrupt routing does not function properly for the INTD pin in the legacy PCI slot. This bug can cause interrupts to be routed improperly resulting in hangs or crashes. Any National Instruments device that uses multiple interrupt lines could experience this fault. Examples of devices that use multiple interrupt lines include all MXI products (including devices behind those MXI products), the PCI-8232, PCI-8212, and PCI-1588.
There are many possible symptoms of this issue.

Using a MXI-3 or MXI-4 in the legacy PCI slot can result in the following symptoms when running MAX test panels for connected devices:

with a PXI-4472, a timeout error (-10800)
with a PXI-6608, the error message "Device not responding to 1st IRQ level"
with a PXI-654x, 655x, or 656x series, an error message and possibly a system hang
with a PXI-6115, a system hang, and the machine will have to be rebooted
with a PXI-8232, inability to establish an Ethernet connection with other devices, even if it can be detected and is configurable

Solution:
The workaround is to use either the PCI Express or PCI-X slots, not the legacy PCI slot.

Related Links:

Attachments:

Report Date: 08/21/2008
Last Updated: 01/08/2009
Document ID: 4OKFN7QA

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