HP Cluster Platform Overview

1 Concepts
This chapter describes HP Cluster Platform architecture and technology.
An HP Cluster Platform is a factory-integrated package of HP ProLiant nodes (servers), management
networks, high-speed interconnects, and optional storage. HP Cluster Platform configurations deliver
high performance computing. Configurations are based on a common base architecture, which
allows for flexible customized systems, including choices for server and interconnect types.
NOTE: See your HP services representative to discuss your specific requirements.
HP Cluster Platform configurations combine a set of independent computers into a unified system
through high-speed networking technologies. Configurations can scale from a small number of
nodes to thousands of nodes, where one node equates to an individual server. However, the
practical number of nodes is determined by hardware and software thresholds.
An HP Cluster Platform provides:
• Preconfigured building blocks based on a range of technologies that can be easily and reliably
built using standard manufacturing processes
• Flexibility to build clusters of varying size and configuration using those building blocks
• Future growth and scalability
• HP assistance with planning the configuration that fits your needs and ordering Cluster Platform
products
• Hardware that is shipped installed in racks and pretested at the factory
• Optional preinstalled and tested software
Architecture
The major components of an HP Cluster Platform are:
• “Nodes” (page 4)
• “Console and Administrative Networks” (page 5)
• “System Interconnect” (page 8)
Optionally, an HP Cluster Platform can include storage devices.
Nodes
A node is a ProLiant server. The two types of nodes are Control and Application:
• Control Node—Provides basic cluster management services, which are defined by the software
running on the HP Cluster Platform, not by HP Cluster Platform itself.
There must be one Control Node. A second Control Node can be added to provide a
high-availability environment. The Control Node can have external, direct attached storage.
• Application Node—Used primarily or exclusively to run computational tasks and applications.
The majority of nodes in the cluster are Application Nodes, which are organized in node
groups.
A Cluster Platform must have at least one Application Node group. There may be additional
node groups. All nodes in a node group are configured identically.
Figure 1 (page 5) illustrates a typical HP Cluster Platform set of nodes.
4 Concepts