Interface Card OL* Support Guide

Firmware Patch Information
You may need to update system firmware to enable OL*. For more information, see Read Before
Installing or Updating to HP-UX 11i.
Shared Slots
Slots that share the same PCI or PCI-X bus are called shared slots. The behavior of an OL*
operation on a shared slot depends on the state of the bus, which depends on whether cards are
already on the other shared slots of the bus.
CAUTION: If a card on a shared slot is added, replaced, or deleted, a frequency or bus mode
mismatch can cause the OL* operation to fail.
Frequency Mismatch
All cards must operate at their slot's bus frequency. A PCI card can run at a frequency lower
than its maximum capability. A card added that has a higher frequency capability than the slot
runs at the slower slot speed. Cards with a slower frequency may not be able to be installed in
a slot with a higher frequency.
Table 1-2 describes the consequences of installing a card into a slot with a different frequency.
Table 1-2 Installing Card into a Slot with a Different Frequency
ExceptionsConsequencesSlot FrequencyCard
Frequency
If this is a shared frequency domain, the installation is
rejected to prevent slowing down an already running
card.
Bus drops to match the
lower frequency.
HigherLower
No exceptions.Card speed drops to
match the bus speed.
LowerHigher
Table 1-3 describes the consequences on frequency compatibility on shared slots.
Table 1-3 Frequency Matching Scenarios for Shared Slots
DescriptionSlot 2Slot 1
No frequency issue. The slot and card operate at an optimum frequency.EmptyAdd
No frequency issue. The slot and card operate at an optimum frequency.AddEmpty
No frequency issue. The slot and card operate at an optimum frequency.EmptyReplace
No frequency issue. The slot and card operate at an optimum frequency.ReplaceEmpty
No frequency issue.EmptyDelete
No frequency issue.DeleteEmpty
The first card to be added in sets the slots operating frequency. If the second card can
match that frequency, the second Add succeeds. Otherwise, the Add operation fails.
AddAdd
The first card to be replaced sets the slots operating frequency. If the second card can
match that frequency, the second Replace succeeds. Otherwise the Replace operation
fails.
ReplaceReplace
The first card to be Added or Replaced sets the slots operating frequency. If the second
card Added or Replaced can match that frequency, the operation succeeds. Otherwise,
the second operation fails.
ReplaceAdd
Other Situations to Consider 23