Managing Superdome Complexes: A Guide for HP-UX System Administrators

Planning Superdome Conﬁgurations

Building Blocks and Deﬁnitions

Appendix A312

What is an XBC (Crossbar Controller)?

Terms:

• 64-way-capable system; CPU cabinet:

see “What is a CPU Cabinet?” on page 299.

• Cell: see “What is a Cell?” on page 303.

• Cell Controller: see “Cell Controller (CC)” on page 306.

• Partition: see “What is a Partition?” on page 298.

Full Glossary on page 287 .

Each CPU cabinet contains two crossbar backplane boards. Each cell

plugs into one of these crossbars by means of a pair of connectors,

forming a connection between the cell controller (CC) and the crossbar

controller. The crossbar controller comprises two chips and is also known

as the XBC.

There are two crossbars (and thus two XBCs) in a CPU cabinet, and a

maximum of four cells plug into each, allowing a maximum of eight cells

in a cabinet.

This diagram shows how cells connect to the backplane.