Dell Unity: Unable to add host initiators with Error code: 0x60000c9

Summary: This KB explains the reason for error code 0x60000c9. (User Correctable)

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Symptoms

Receive the below error while trying to register new hosts from vCenter or add new host initiators:

Internal error: host driver failed (Error Code:0x60000c9) 

Internal error: host driver failed (Error Code:0x60000c9)

Below entries in /EMC/C4Core/log/EMCSystemLogBackup.log 

A       12/21/18 02:56:48.141 HostService        490002    [ERROR]   Audit: User local/admin attempted unsuccessfully to create host record XXXX.
A       12/21/18 02:56:52.531 HostService             0         [ERROR]   System: Caught SYSAPI::SYSAPIException: %s



Entries from "Ktrace logs - /EMC/C4Core/log/c4_safe_ktrace.log"

A       01/02/19 21:25:35.392 TCD              61b3d700 kt_std           NewInitiatorCount of 1030 exceeded MAX of 1029.
A       01/02/19 21:26:07.773 TCD              61b3d700 kt_std           NewInitiatorCount of 1030 exceeded MAX of 1029.

Cause

The maximum number of initiators have already been created on this array.

Resolution

Below matrix lists the system limits for Unity 550F 
matrix lists the system limits for Unity 550F 

Refer to the below URL for updated system limits
https://elabnavigator.emc.com/vault/pdf/EMC_Unity_ESSM.pdf?key=1546237104838 
 

The above is not a limit on hosts, but instead a limit on initiators connected. The matrix above indicates that you can have 1024 initiators. This could be 1024 hosts with 1 initiator each connected to the array (not recommended since it is not HA), 512 hosts with 2 initiators each, 256 hosts with 4 each, and so on, or any combo in between. 


In this scenario there are 512 hosts with 2 initiators per host 1024 initiators are allowed. The code also adds 5 more initiators for the "fake ports" so the coded limit is 1029. Any operation attempting to create new initiators after this limit is reached will fail.

Below steps should resolve the issue:

  • Check for the max. limit for the number of host initiators as per the array in the Simple Support Matrix
  • Reduce the number of host initiators under the system limit

Affected Products

Dell EMC Unity Family

Products

Dell EMC Unity Family
Article Properties
Article Number: 000057287
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 06 Aug 2025
Version:  4
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