Dell Unity: LPFC FCP errors reported on hosts with Emulex HBAs (User Correctable)

Summary: New hosts running latest ESX Emulex FC driver for Emulex HBA model numbers: LPe31000, LPe32000, LPe3500x, LPe3600x are reporting LPFC FCP errors when added to the Unity array.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
Check out other resources

Symptoms

VMkernel logs are flooded with the following error:
  
WARNING: lpfc: lpfc_handle_fcp_rsp_err:4915: 0:(0):2757 Protocol failure detected during processing of FCP I/O op: tgt x2 lun x1 cmnd x28 rspInfo3 x2

2021-11-08T14:22:08.949Z cpu8:2098569)WARNING: lpfc: lpfc_handle_fcp_rsp_err:4939: 1:(0):2757 Protocol failure detected during processing of FCP I/O op: tgt x1 lun x0 cmnd x28 rspInfo3 x2


** The read commands are rejected by Unity Array with RSP_CODE=0x2 indicating "FCP_CMND fields invalid"
** The failure in read commands results in path going DEAD/Flapping

Severe performance issue is reported.

Cause

  • Unity storage array does not properly handle nonzero value in reserved field (COMMAND REFERENCE NUMBER - Byte8) of FCP command. 
  • When the FCP_CMND payload byte 8 (COMMAND_REFERENCE_NUMBER) is not zero, Unity rejects the command with an FCP_RSP_CODE of 2, INVALID_FIELD.
  • Based on FCP 4 / 5 specifications, the target array should ignore that field if it does not support it.

Resolution

Unity OE 5.2.0.0.5.173 contains the fix for this issue.

Affected Products

Emulex Family of Adapters, Dell EMC Unity Family
Article Properties
Article Number: 000196094
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 16 Oct 2025
Version:  8
Find answers to your questions from other Dell users
Support Services
Check if your device is covered by Support Services.