IBM Server bug could result in data loss

A recent firmware update on more than twenty models of its business servers could result in the failure of their hard disk drives. The models affected include the BladeCenter, xSeries and System x lines of servers. Apparently, the bug can be triggered after a power cycle, and would culminate in SATA disk drives becoming unavailable--with an obvious detrimental effect on a production server.

So what is IBM's advice for affected users? Try limiting or avoiding power cycling the hardware, the company helpfully suggested. Describing this as a "rare condition," IBM attributed the problem to flawed hard drive firmware. In the meantime, a fix is "scheduled for first quarter 2009." It is not known if IBM will compensate users when this condition is triggered.

For more on this story:
- check out this article at InformationWeek
- check out this Support Bulletin at IBM Support

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