HP Server rp7420 Installation Guide, Fifth Edition - HP 9000 rp7420 Server - Page 23

Introduction Detailed HP 9000 rp7420 Server Description Cells and nPartitions A cell board that has an I/O link to a bootable device and a console (usually supplied by an MP Core I/O card) is a potential boot cell. The cell that contains the boot console I/O path is the called the root cell. Both cells are potential root cells. The primary or default root cell in a single nPartition system is the bottom cell (cell 1). An nPartition (also called a Protection Domain) is a cell or cells running the same operating system and sharing processes and memory space among the components. Each nPartition must have one root cell and can contain both cells. The HP 9000 rp7420 Server has only two possible nPartition configurations: single or dual. The additional cell that can be part of the nPartition does not require I/O links or MP Core I/O cards. In the single nPartition case, if two cells are present, either cell can be the root cell, assuming both cells have MP Core I/O functionality present. If only one cell is present, that cell is the root cell (and should be cell 1). In the dual nPartition case (two cells required), each nPartition consists of one cell, and each cell must be a root cell. The ability to interconnect two cells in one nPartition or isolate the cells in a dual nPartition system provides system configuration flexibility. System partitioning is configured by the system management processor. NOTE Partition configuration information is available at http://docs.hp.com. Refer to HP Systems Partition Guide: Administration for nPartitions for more detail. Chapter 1 23