ISS Technology Update, Volume 6 Number 10 - Newsletter

ISS Technology Update Volume 6, Number 10
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Using this I/O architecture, each of the three x8 PCIe bus/switch combinations supports multiple PCIe slots, resulting in a
sharing of the 4 GB/s aggregate bandwidth of each x8 PCIe bus coming from the Memory Controller/Hub among those slots
connected to the corresponding PCIe switch. Table 1-1 shows how this maps out for the DL580 G5.
Table 1-1. Slot support for the DL580 G5
PCIe Switch/x8 Bus Slots supported Slot configuration Bandwidth shared
PCIe x8
(using PCIe x8 option card)
4 Gigabyte/sec. bi-directional 1 1,2 and 3
PCI-X 133 Mhz and 100 Mhz
(using PCI-X option card)
4 Gigabyte/sec. bi-directional
2 4, 5 and 6 PCIe x8 4 Gigabyte/sec. bi-directional
3 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 One PCIe x8
Four PCIe x4
4 Gigabyte/sec. bi-directional
In order to maximize overall I/O throughput for the system, I/O expansion cards should be installed in the DL 580 in such a
manner as to distribute the I/O load as evenly as possible across each of these three slot groups. As an example, installing the
first three cards in slots 1, 4 and 7 respectively gives each card access to the full 4 GB/s bandwidth of the x8 bus coming to
the PCIe switch associated with that slot grouping. Installing several cards in one slot group while leaving another slot group
open would result in those cards sharing the 4 GB/s bandwidth from the PCIe switch while the bandwidth for the other slot
group goes unused.
Additional information on the DL580 G5 including features, configurations and technical specifications is available on the HP
website at the following URL:
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12770_na/12770_na.html.
How to prepare environments for Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager
About Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager
Virtual Connect Enterprise Manager 1.0 (VCEM) extends BladeSystem environments that use Virtual Connect with the following
core capabilities:
• Provides a central console to manage up to 100 Virtual Connect domains plus all WW Names and MAC addresses
• Enables the use of Virtual Connect Domain Groups to simplify change management and the configuration of new enclosures
• Facilitates server profile migration between multiple Virtual Connect Domains
This quick tip article covers some key actions to prepare an environment for the installation and operations of VCEM.
Upgrade firmware
VCEM requires Virtual Connect Firmware version 1.22 or later. Upgrading existing VC firmware prior to VCEM installation will
allow all the Virtual Connect Domains to be easily imported to VCEM. Planning this in advance will decrease possible
downtime and avoid delay in using VCEM. This would also be a good time to update to the latest firmware of other
components such as the Onboard Administrator, Mezzanine cards, NICs, and System ROMs.