FCO 9XXX-0005, Failures of interconnect cables cause sys failures

This Field Change Order (FCO 9XXX-0005) addresses intermittent system and initialization failures in VAX 9000-2XX and 4XX systems. The problem is caused by faulty interconnect cables (AMP and early production Woven Electronics cables) which are developing shorts and opens due to poor vendor assembly.

The solution involves replacing all identified problematic cables with new Woven cables that have solid gray connectors. The procedure, estimated to take 8 hours, includes:

1. Performing a complete system shutdown and power-down.
2. Auditing the system to identify and disconnect old AMP cables (all black connectors) and early Woven cables (black and gray connectors).
3. Installing new Woven interconnect cables (e.g., SCAN, JXDI Buss, Clock Control, High Speed Signal SJI cables), ensuring adequate strain relief.
4. Conducting a comprehensive final system test, involving hardcore diagnostics, various macro diagnostics, and an extended UETP run under full system load, to verify proper functionality and stability.
5. Reporting the FCO activity on a LARS form.