Defective QLogic SCSI chips cause Adaptec to
recall RAID controllers
Semiconductor Business News
(07/19/00, 02:24:27 PM EDT)
MILPITAS, Calif.--Defective SCSI chips from QLogic Corp. have resulted in a
limited recall of Adaptec Inc. controllers for redundant arrays of independent disks
(RAID) storage. Adaptec today announced the recall, saying that errors were
discovered in QLogic's 12160A SCSI devices, which were used in DPT SmartRAID
Decade VI Ultra160 SCSI controller shipped prior to May.
The recall affects up to 2,500 RAID controllers, according to Adaptec, which
acquired the DPT product line late last year when it bought privately-held
Distributed Processing Technology (DPT) in Maitland, Fla. (see Nov. 1 story).
The flawed SCSI chips could send incorrect information to the RAID system
controller, which then can hang up the bus or cause parity errors, according to
Bob Schultz, chief operating officer at Adaptec in Milpitas.
"Adaptec has a zero tolerance policy for components that compromise data
protection," Schultz said. He added that because the defects are difficult to detect
in the QLogic chips, the company has decided to recall all of the potentially
affected components as a precaution.
During a conference call with financial analysts today, QLogic officials in Aliso
Viejo, Calif., said Adaptec's problems resulted from the company being too
aggressive in shipping RAID controller products with pre-production ICs than were
still being tested prior to release as volume products. Other system makers do
not have the same problem, since they decided not to ship products with the
pre-production SCSI devices, said H.K. Desai, chairman, CEO and president of
QLogic.
The QLogic CEO added that the problem and Adaptec's recall will have no
financial impact on his company, which today reported record revenues of $68.3
million in the fiscal quarter, ended July 2., and a net income of $21.1 million.
Adaptec's Schultz said problems in the QLogic chips were discovered during
advanced testing of compatibility in the DPT RAID controllers. Serial numbers for
the recalled products are 03-000001 through 03-005599 (located at the bottom
right hand corner on the face of the RAID controllers). Adaptec said it was
providing a replacement RAID product as well as up to $300 for installation
expenses.
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