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Chapter 4: System Configurations
Figure 4-4 shows a 16P (or 16 CPU) rackmount system attached with CrayLink
Interconnect cabling. This configuration requires two Rack Router boards in each
module and supports a maximum of sixteen CPUs. In this system setup, the hardware
resources (such as main memory and disk storage capacity) from one module can be
quickly and efficiently accessed by the other system module.
Note: It is possible to have a 16P configuration without CrayLink Interconnect cabling;
however, the modules cannot share resources or communicate using the fast
1600-MB/sec transmission link. This type of configuration normally uses a different
router board, either a Null Router or Star Router. For more information on the different
types of router boards, see Chapter 2, “Chassis Tour.”
Figure 4-5 shows a 16P configuration using a combination of CrayLink Interconnect
cabling and Xpress links. The Xpress links can effectively double the interconnect
bandwidth within a rack by providing additional 1600-MB/sec routing paths.