Multi-cabinet
Multi-cabinet
Multi-cabinet
Multi-cabinet
Configurations
Configurations
Configurations
Configurations
In order to support the maximum number of PCI slots, a 16-cell Superdome system requires 16 I/O
chassis. The two Superdome cabinets (left and right) that make up a 16-cell Superdome system only
provide eight I/O chassis, therefore four I/O chassis enclosures, each with two I/O chassis are needed.
The I/O chassis enclosures are placed in the I/O expansion cabinet. Each I/O expansion cabinet
supports up to three I/O chassis, so two I/O expansion chassis are needed. Please note that in order to
have 16 I/O chassis, there must also be 16 cells configured.
When configuring Superdome systems that consist of more than one cabinet and include I/O expansion
cabinets, certain guidelines must be followed, specifically the I/O interface cabling between the
Superdome cabinet and the I/O expansion cabinet can only cross one additional cabinet due to cable
length restrictions.
Configuration Rules
Configuration Rules
Configuration Rules
Configuration Rules
SuperDome Configuration Guidelines/Rules
SuperDome Configuration Guidelines/Rules
SuperDome Configuration Guidelines/Rules
SuperDome Configuration Guidelines/Rules
Category
Category
Category
Category
Rule Index
Rule Index
Rule Index
Rule Index
Rule Description
Rule Description
Rule Description
Rule Description
General
General
General
General
1
Every Superdome complex requires connectivity to a Support Management Station (SMS). For
Superdome PA-8800, the PC-based SMS also serves as the system console. For Superdome PA-
8600/PA-8700, a separate system console is needed.
2
Every cell in a Superdome complex must be assigned to a valid physical location.
Processor
Processor
Processor
Processor
3
All processors in a cell are the same type, same Front Side Bus (FSB) frequency and same core
frequency. Every cell within a partition must be of the same type, same Front Side Bus (FSB)
frequency and same core frequency with no mixing. With PA-8800, the entire cabinet must consist
of only PA-8800 cell boards.
Memory
Memory
Memory
Memory
4
Configurations with 8, 16 and 32 DIMM slots are recommended (i.e. are fully qualified and offer
the best bandwidth performance.
5
Configurations with 4 and 24 DIMM slots are supported (i.e. are fully qualified, but don't
necessarily offer the best bandwidth performance).
6
DIMMs can be deallocated in 2 DIMM increments (to support HA) in Superdome PA-8800
systems. ). DIMMs are deallocated in 4 DIMM increments for Superdome PA-8600/8700
systems.
7
Superdome PA-8800 only
Superdome PA-8800 only
Superdome PA-8800 only
Superdome PA-8800 only: Mixed DIMM sizes within a cell board are supported, but only in
separate Mbat interleaving groups. At the time of boot, the system firmware gathers information
on which DIMMs are present and how to best interleave the memory. Thus, DIMMs of different
sizes will not be in the same Mbat interleaving group. From a customer perspective, it is it
automatically done by the system firmware.
8
Superdome PA-8800 only
Superdome PA-8800 only
Superdome PA-8800 only
Superdome PA-8800 only: System orders from the factory provide mixed DIMM sizes in
recommended configurations only.
9
For system orders from the factory, the same memory configuration must be used for all cells
within a partition.
10
DIMMs in the same rank must have SDRAMs with the same number of banks and row and
column bits.
11
Size of memory within an interleave group must be power of 2.
12
DIMMs within the same interleave group must be same size and have same number of banks,
row bits, and column bits.
QuickSpecs
HP 9000 Superdome Servers (PA-8600, PA-8700, PA-
HP 9000 Superdome Servers (PA-8600, PA-8700, PA-
HP 9000 Superdome Servers (PA-8600, PA-8700, PA-
HP 9000 Superdome Servers (PA-8600, PA-8700, PA-
8800 and PA-8900)
8800 and PA-8900)
8800 and PA-8900)
8800 and PA-8900)
System Management Features
DA - 11721 Worldwide — Version 28 — October 23, 2009
Page 37
