BladeCluster Solution Manual

Advanced Cluster Hub (ACH)
NOTE: OSM refers to the Advanced Cluster Hub as a patch panel.
An Advanced Cluster Hub (ACH) is used to connect NonStop NS16000 series processor switches
and BladeSystem ServerNet switches in a BladeCluster topology. Using the ACH reduces the
number of cable connections per fabric. All cables from the p-switches or ServerNet switches in a
node are bundled together using Multifiber Termination Push-on (MTP) cables that are then connected
to the ACH. Each cable supports four ServerNet connections between a p-switch or ServerNet
switch and an ACH.
For more information, refer to “Advanced Cluster Hubs (ACHs)” (page 38).
Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexer (DWDM)
Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexer (DWDM) third-party equipment is required to support the
BladeCluster/Multi-Zone long-haul distance topology. The DWDM routes the ServerNet lanes to
their appropriate zone and one to two DWDMs are required per BladeSystem anchor node in a
zone.
For information about connections to DWDMs, refer to “Connections to BladeCluster/Multi-Zone
Solution Topologies” (page 63).
For a list of DWDMs that are supported for the BladeCluster Solution, contact your HP representative.
Software Overview
This section describes the BladeCluster software and includes these topics:
• “Maintenance Entity (ME) Firmware” (page 20)
• “OSM Package” (page 20)
• “Expand and Message-System Traffic” (page 21)
• “Software Requirements for the Current Release of BladeCluster” (page 22)
• “Migrating from Previous Releases of the BladeCluster Solution” (page 23)
Maintenance Entity (ME) Firmware
The Maintenance Entity (ME) firmware is responsible for the initialization, configuration, control
and monitoring of the ServerNet fabric. The ME firmware performs neighbor checks on all ports
associated with external ServerNet endpoints attached to the upgraded ServerNet switch and
communicates the results.
OSM Package
The HP Open System Management (OSM) product is the required system management tool for
NonStop BladeClusters. OSM works together with the ME subsystem to manage the topology.
Once you have planned your BladeCluster topology using the “Checklist for Required Installation
and Migration Tasks” (page 28), you use the OSM Add Node to ServerNet Cluster guided procedure
to select your BladeCluster configuration.
For information on the OSM package, refer to the OSM Service Connection User's Guide.
Subsystem Control Facility (SCF) Manageability
You use the Subsystem Control Facility (SCF) to configure, control, and display information about
configured objects within each subsystem. Each subsystem responds to and processes SCF
commands that affect that subsystem. For more information about SCF, the SCF Reference Manual
for J-Series and H-Series RVUs.
20 BladeCluster Solution Overview