Planning Superdome Configurations
Planning Superdome Configurations
Rules and Guidelines for Configuring a Complex
Chapter 1 49
Choosing Cells for Partitions
Before you go on, read:
• “What is a Partition?” on page 22.
• “What is a Cell?” on page 27:
- “Core Cell” on page 33
• “What is an XBC (Crossbar Controller)?” on page 36:
- “Crossbar Connections” on page 38.
Other terms and concepts:
• “Recommendations for Cabling Crossbar Controllers (XBCs)” on page
48.
• 16-, 32- 64-way-capable-system, CPU cabinet:
see “What is a CPU Cabinet?” on page 23.
Points to Note
• A partition is similar to a conventional single system. This means
that the partition as a whole has access to all the resources in it:
processors, memory and I/O are all shared among all the cells in the
partition.
•A16-way-capable system should have at least two cells, a
32-way-capable system should have at least four cells, and a
64-way-capable system should have at least eight cells.
Recommended Configurations
The tables that follow show recommended cell locations for each size of
partition, from two-cell to 16-cell, for Superdome 16- through
64-way-capable systems. Cells in the same partition have the same
number and letter (2A, 2B, etc.).
Note that cell locations can differ considerably between 32- and
64-way-capable systems, even for partitions of the same size. The reason
for this is that 32- and 64-way-capable systems are cabled differently
(see “Crossbar Connections” on page 38). A 32-way-capable system has
redundant connections (and hence greater bandwidth) between its
crossbars, but a 64-way-capable system, cabled to provide a direct
connection between each of the four crossbars, has no room for