limit the total number of high bandwidth and extra-high bandwidth adapters. If you must expand the
I/O capacity of the system for extra-high bandwidth adapters, use high-performance I/O expansion units
such as 5610, 5685, 5796, 5802, or 5877.
The following tables provide guidelines on the maximum number of high bandwidth and extra-high
bandwidth adapters you can use and still maintain optimum performance.
Note:
Because of the many types of application workloads, these guidelines cannot cover all cases. The
numbers in the following tables are suggestions for single types of adapters that are running exclusively.
For systems with mixed adapter types or that have high aggregate bandwidth requirements, consult an
IBM representative for more guidelines.
Extra-high bandwidth storage adapters
Table 7. Maximum number of extra-high bandwidth storage adapters for best performance
System
configuration
Adapters in
system slots C4
to C7
Low profile
adapters in
system slots
C1-C1 to C1-C4 if
FC 5610 or 5685
is used
Adapters per
5615 or EJ04 with
one or more 5796
Adapters per
5615 or EJ04 with
one or two 5802
or 5877
System
maximum
System with one
processor chip
module unit
3 (2 for 5735)
3
1
(2 for 5273)
4
6 (4 for 5735)
9
System with two
processor chip
module units
3 (2 for 5735)
3
1
(2 for 5273)
4 (8 in 2 drawers) 6 (12 in 2
drawers) (4 or 8
for 5735)
15 (10 for 5735)
1
Split adapters across both internal slots C4 to C7 and the four-slot riser slots C1-C1 to C1-C4 if FC 5610 or 5685 is
used.
You can install extra high-performance adapters in three out of the four base slots and in three out of four of FC
5610 or 5685 slots.
Extra-high bandwidth Ethernet adapters
Table 8. Maximum number of extra-high bandwidth Ethernet adapters for best performance
System
configuration
Adapters in
system slots C4 -
C7
Low profile
adapters in
system slots
C1-C1 to C1-C4 if
FC 5610 or FC
5685 is used
Adapters per
5615 or EJ04 with
one or more 5796
Adapters per
5615 or EJ04 with
one or two 5802
or 5877
System
maximum
System with one
processor chip
module unit
2
2
2
4
4
System with two
processor chip
module units
2
2
2 (4 in 2 drawers) 4 (8 in 2 drawers) 8
For best performance, extra high-bandwidth Ethernet adapters must be installed in 5802 or 5877 expansion drawers
when available, instead of using internal system unit slots. A maximum of two adapters in slots P1-C4 through
P1-C7, and a maximum of two adapters in slots P1-C1-C1 through P1-C1-C4 can be installed.
PCI adapter placement
49