HP XC System Software Hardware Preparation Guide Version 2.1

1.4 System Admi
nistration Network
The S ystem Admi nist rati on network is a private network w ithin the XC system that is used
primarily for adm inistrative operations. This netw ork is treated as a flat network during run
time. Ho w ever, during the installation and configuration of the XC system, the administrative
tools probe and discover the topology of the System Administration network. This information
is used by the tools to make recommendations as to the possible configuration choices. T he
main system administration branch of the network uses Gigabit Ethernet.
The System Adm
inistration network h a s at least one Root Administra ti on Switch and can have
multiple Bra
nch Administrat ion Swi tches. These sw itches are discussed in Section 2.3.
1.5 System Ad
ministration Network: Console Branch
The C onsole Branch is part of the private System Administration Network within the XC
system that is used primarily for managing and monitoring the consoles of the unique system s
that comprise the X C system. This branch of the netw ork uses 10/100/Mbps E th ernet . During
installation and configuration of the XC system, the administrative tools probe and discover
the to pology of the whole S ystem Administration network including the Console Branch.
This information is used by the tools to make recommendations for t he possible configuration
choices.
Yo ur XC syst
em will have at least one Root Con sole Switch with the potential for multiple
Branch Cons
ole Switches. Figure 1-1 shows a graphical representation of the Console Branch.
Figure 1-1: System Administration Network: Console Branch
Compute Nodes
Root Console
Switch
Head
Node
Specialized Role Nodes
Root Administration Switch
Branch Console Switches
Hardware and Network Overview 1-3