HP Integrity rx5670 Windows Integrity nPartition Guide - Page 10

Introduction Getting to know nPartitions Figure 1-2 Getting to know nPartitions Partitions are physical or logical mechanisms for demarcating operational environments within a single system or across multiple systems. Partitioning lets you consolidate systems, allocate computing resources in response to fluctuations in demand, maximize resource utilization, and protect operating environments from disruptive events. Partitioning continuum HP offers a continuum of partitioning technologies, as shown in Figure 1-2. Partitioning continuum Hard Partitions within a node VirtualPartitions within a hard partition Resource Partitions within an OS nPartition nPartition nPartition virtual partition virtual partition application application application application Isolation Partitioning Continuum Flexibility node Partition An node partition (nPartition) is a hard partition within a cell-based server. Cell-based servers can be configured either as a single large symmetric multiprocessor or as several independent systems. An nPartition has exclusive use of the memory, processor, and I/O resources belonging to the cells that are assigned to that partition, and can execute its own operating system image. virtual Partition A virtual partition is a soft partition within a node or an nPartition. A virtual partition uses a subset of the system processor, memory, and I/O resources, and includes OS and application-related software. Windows Server 2003 is not supported in a virtual partition. resource Partition A resource partition is a soft partition within either hard partitions or virtual partitions and is controlled by workload management services within the operating system. Resource partitions allow an OS instance to allocate resources between competing applications. Windows Server 2003 does not support resource partitions. This document focuses on nPartitions running Microsoft Windows Server 2003. 10 Chapter 1