HP Integrity rx2800 Installation Guide, Windows Server 2008 R2 v7.0 - Page 83

Properties of nPartitions, Active and Inactive Cells

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The hardware of a cell-based server-including cells, I/O expansion cabinets, cables, cabinet hardware, fans, and power and utility components-is known as a server complex: • A Superdome server complex can consist of one or two server cabinets and can include one or two I/O expansion cabinets (which provide additional I/O chassis). • An rx8640 server complex consists of a single server cabinet and can include one I/O expansion cabinet (which provides two additional I/O chassis). • An rx7640 server complex consists of a single server cabinet only. An nPartition is a partition of the server complex that you can reconfigure without physically modifying the server hardware. An nPartition contains cells communicating coherently over a high-bandwidth, low-latency, crossbar fabric. Special firmware in each cell defines the boundaries of an nPartition to ensure isolation from other nPartitions. Each nPartition has exclusive use of the memory, processor, and I/O resources belonging to the cells assigned to that nPartition. An nPartition must have at least one core I/O card to support console services, booting, and management operations. Each nPartition has its own system boot interface, boots independently, and executes its own operating system image. Properties of nPartitions An nPartition has the following properties: Partition Numbers Each nPartition is identified by a unique partition number. When you create an nPartition, it is assigned the lowest available number. That is, the first nPartition is partition 0 and the second nPartition is partition 1. When you remove an nPartition, its partition number is released and you can reuse it when you create a new nPartition. Consider a server with partitions 0, 1, 2, and 3. When you remove partition 2, for example, and then create a new nPartition, the new nPartition is identified as partition 2. Assigned and Unassigned Cells Base Cells Active and Inactive Cells If a cell in a server complex is not assigned to an nPartition, the cell is considered unassigned. If an I/O chassis is attached to an assigned cell, the chassis is assigned to that nPartition. Cells that are unassigned are available resources. They can be assigned to any existing nPartition or used to create a new nPartition. All cells in an nPartition are base cells. If you do not specify the cell type, nPartition administration tools set the cell type to base cell. Active cells are assigned cells that boot to form an nPartition whose resources (processors, memory, and attached I/O) can be used by software running in that nPartition. Inactive cells are not assigned to an nPartition or have not participated in partition rendezvous with other cells in the nPartition to form an nPartition. (Partition rendezvous is the event during the nPartition boot process when available cells in an nPartition join to determine which cells are active for the current boot of the nPartition.) The resources belonging to inactive cells are not used by an nPartition. Core Cell The core cell is an active cell that is attached to an I/O chassis with a functional core I/O. Each nPartition must have one core cell. Although an nPartition can have multiple core-capable cells (any assigned cell that has an Getting to Know nPartitions 83

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The hardware of a cell-based server—including cells, I/O expansion cabinets, cables, cabinet
hardware, fans, and power and utility components—is known as a server complex:
•
A Superdome server complex can consist of one or two server cabinets and can include one
or two I/O expansion cabinets (which provide additional I/O chassis).
•
An rx8640 server complex consists of a single server cabinet and can include one I/O
expansion cabinet (which provides two additional I/O chassis).
•
An rx7640 server complex consists of a single server cabinet only.
An nPartition is a partition of the server complex that you can reconfigure without physically
modifying the server hardware. An nPartition contains cells communicating coherently over a
high-bandwidth, low-latency, crossbar fabric. Special firmware in each cell defines the boundaries
of an nPartition to ensure isolation from other nPartitions.
Each nPartition has exclusive use of the memory, processor, and I/O resources belonging to the
cells assigned to that nPartition. An nPartition must have at least one core I/O card to support
console services, booting, and management operations. Each nPartition has its own system boot
interface, boots independently, and executes its own operating system image.
Properties of nPartitions
An nPartition has the following properties:
Partition Numbers
Each nPartition is identified by a unique partition number.
When you create an nPartition, it is assigned the lowest
available number. That is, the first nPartition is partition
0 and the second nPartition is partition 1.
When you remove an nPartition, its partition number is
released and you can reuse it when you create a new
nPartition. Consider a server with partitions 0, 1, 2, and 3.
When you remove partition 2, for example, and then create
a new nPartition, the new nPartition is identified as
partition 2.
Assigned and Unassigned Cells
If a cell in a server complex is not assigned to an nPartition,
the cell is considered unassigned. If an I/O chassis is
attached to an assigned cell, the chassis is assigned to that
nPartition. Cells that are unassigned are available
resources. They can be assigned to any existing nPartition
or used to create a new nPartition.
Base Cells
All cells in an nPartition are base cells. If you do not specify
the cell type, nPartition administration tools set the cell
type to base cell.
Active and Inactive Cells
Active cells are assigned cells that boot to form an
nPartition whose resources (processors, memory, and
attached I/O) can be used by software running in that
nPartition.
Inactive cells are not assigned to an nPartition or have not
participated in
partition rendezvous
with other cells in
the nPartition to form an nPartition. (Partition rendezvous
is the event during the nPartition boot process when
available cells in an nPartition join to determine which cells
are active for the current boot of the nPartition.) The
resources belonging to inactive cells are not used by an
nPartition.
Core Cell
The core cell is an active cell that is attached to an I/O
chassis with a functional core I/O. Each nPartition must
have one core cell. Although an nPartition can have
multiple core-capable cells (any assigned cell that has an
Getting to Know nPartitions
83