Datasheet

PCI Express Non-Transparent Bridge
Intel
®
Xeon
®
Processor C5500/C3500 Series
Datasheet, Volume 1 February 2010
140 Order Number: 323103-001
3.5.2 Connecting NTB Port on Intel
®
Xeon
®
Processor C5500/C3500
Series to Root Port on Another Intel
®
Xeon
®
Processor C5500/
C3500 Series System - Symmetric Configuration
In the configuration shown in Figure 49, the NTB port on one Intel
®
Xeon
®
processor
C5500/C3500 series (the system on the left), is connected to the root port of the Intel
®
Xeon
®
processor C5500/C3500 series system on the right. The second system’s NTB
port is connected to the root port on the first system making this a fully symmetric
configuration. This configuration provides full PCIE link redundancy between the two UP
systems in addition to providing the NTB isolation. One limitation of this system is that
two out of the four PCIE ports on the two Intel
®
Xeon
®
processor C5500/C3500 seriess
are used for NTB interconnect, leaving only two other ports on each Intel
®
Xeon
®
processor C5500/C3500 series as generic PCIE root ports. The example is shown with
x4 ports but the same is possible with x8 ports but leaving no other PCIE ports for
attach points to the system.
Figure 49. NTB Port on Intel
®
Xeon
®
Processor C5500/C3500 Series Connected to Root
Port - Symmetric Configuration
Intel® Xeon® Processor
C5500/C3500 Series
PCH
x4 x4x4x4x4
DMI
PCIE
TB
PCIE
NTB
System A
PCIE devices
Local host
Intel® Xeon® Processor
C5500/C3500 Series
PCH
x4 x4x4x4x4
DMI
PCIE
TB
PCIE
NTB
System B
PCIE devices
Remote host