HP XC System Software Hardware Preparation Guide Version 3.2

Table of Contents
About This Document.......................................................................................................11
Intended Audience................................................................................................................................11
New and Changed Information in This Edition...................................................................................11
Typographic Conventions.....................................................................................................................12
HP XC and Related HP Products Information.....................................................................................13
Related Information..............................................................................................................................14
Manpages..............................................................................................................................................17
HP Encourages Your Comments..........................................................................................................17
1 Hardware and Network Overview............................................................................19
1.1 Supported Cluster Platforms...........................................................................................................19
1.1.1 Supported Processor Architectures and Hardware Models...................................................19
1.1.2 Supported HP ProLiant C-Class Server Blade Models...........................................................20
1.1.3 Supported Server Blade Combinations...................................................................................21
1.2 Server Blade Enclosure Components..............................................................................................21
1.2.1 HP Server Blade c7000 Enclosure............................................................................................21
1.2.2 HP BladeSystem c-Class Onboard Administrator .................................................................22
1.2.3 Insight Display........................................................................................................................22
1.3 Server Blade Mezzanine Cards........................................................................................................22
1.4 Server Blade Interconnect Modules.................................................................................................22
1.5 Supported Console Management Devices......................................................................................23
1.6 Administration Network Overview................................................................................................25
1.7 Administration Network: Console Branch......................................................................................25
1.8 Interconnect Network......................................................................................................................25
1.9 Large-Scale Systems........................................................................................................................26
2 Cabling Server Blades.................................................................................................27
2.1 Network Overview .........................................................................................................................27
2.2 Cabling for the Administration Network........................................................................................27
2.3 Cabling for the Console Network...................................................................................................28
2.4 Cabling for the Interconnect Network............................................................................................29
2.4.1 Configuring a Gigabit Ethernet Interconnect..........................................................................29
2.4.2 Configuring an InfiniBand Interconnect.................................................................................30
2.4.3 Configuring the Interconnect Network Over the Administration Network..........................31
2.5 Cabling for the External Network...................................................................................................31
2.5.1 Configuring the External Network: Option 1.........................................................................31
2.5.2 Configuring the External Network: Option 2.........................................................................32
2.5.3 Configuring the External Network: Option 3 - Non Gigabit Ethernet Interconnect
Clusters............................................................................................................................................33
2.5.4 Creating VLANs......................................................................................................................34
3 Making Node and Switch Connections....................................................................35
3.1 Cabinets...........................................................................................................................................35
3.2 Trunking and Switch Choices..........................................................................................................35
3.3 Switches...........................................................................................................................................36
3.3.1 Specialized Switch Use............................................................................................................36
3.3.2 Administrator Passwords on ProCurve Switches...................................................................37
3.3.3 Switch Port Connections.........................................................................................................37
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