Microsoft Windows Compute Clusters

Table 5-1 HP Cluster Platform Terminology (continued)
DefinitionWindows Compute Cluster
Term
HP Cluster Platform
Term
An HP Cluster Platform based on ProLiant DL-series servers that
employ the AMD Opteron 32/64-bit CPU.
CP4000
A preconfigured bounded cluster that cannot be expanded.dense cluster
Devices that connect the nodes into administrative networks,
such as the HP ProCurve Switch 2650. These networks facilitates
management traffic between nodes and is used to perform
functions such as booting.
Ethernet switch
The customer's local area network (LAN) or wide area network
(WAN), to which the cluster can be connected via its internal
administrative network.
external network
A method of assembling cluster components into modules and
temporarily connecting the modules to form a running, testable
cluster. The cluster is partially dissasembled into its modules for
shipping.
factory integration
A network topology used by the interconnect. The topology is
characterized by a link capacity that is progressively larger closest
to the root of the tree than it is at the leaves, making the network
nonblocking.
fat tree
A cluster with more than 128 nodes, requiring that its
interconnects are organized into a node-level and top-level
hierarchy to increase the number of links. See bounded cluster.
federated cluster
A network topology consisting of a single root device with several
individual connections to multiple branch devices. The
cluster'sinternal networks are organized as a flat tree.
flat tree
An interconnect protocol and connection type supported by the
hardware that is based on HP ProCurve and Myricom Myrinet
technologies.
Windows clusters do not
support Myrinet.
Gigabit Ethernet
The fast data connection between nodes, using links through the
interconnect. This term is used only to differentiate the
interconnect network from the (low-speed) Ethernet networks.
message passing interface
(MPI)
high-speed network
See host channel adapter.HCA
The generic product name for cluster models. This product name
might be followed by a model designation, such as CP3000.
HP Cluster Platform
PCI interconnect card used in InfiniBand configurationshost channel adapter
See Interconnect Building Block.IBB
An interconnect protocol and connection type supported by
interconnect technology from Voltaire that complies with the
specification defined by the InfiniBand trade group.
InfiniBand
ProLiant DL series servers used in the CP3000cluster platform
use the Intel Xeon 32-bit CPU.
Intel Xeon
A high-speed networking device that connects nodes together
though an option card installed in the node's PCI bus. The
interconnect is not referred to as a switch.
Only InfiniBand and
Gigabit Ethernet are
supported.
interconnect
A module containing one or more interconnects.Interconnect Building
Block (IBB)
See port.interconnect port
24 HP Cluster Platform Terminology