HP Fabric Clustering System Release Notes, September 2004

HP Fabric Clustering System
Product Overview
Chapter
3
HP Fabric Clustering System
The information in this document is for the HP Fabric Clustering System software version B.11.23.02.
Determining Software Version
To determine the HP Fabric Clustering System software version you are running, use the swlist command.
The PCI-X HP Fabric Clustering System bundle and the IPoIB product should both be verified using the
following procedure:
1. Use the swlist -l bundle IB4X-00 command.
The following message will display if you are running the required version of software:
IB4X-00 B.11.23.02 PCI-X InfiniBand;Supptd HW=AB286A
2. Use the swlist -l product IPOIB-DRV command.
The following message will display if you are running the required version of software:
IPOIB-DRV B.11.23.02 IPOIB kernel library
NOTE If you are not running the required software version, it is recommended that you
install the 11i v2 September 2004 OE version B.11.23.0409 or later.
Product Overview
HP’s Fabric Clustering System for InfiniBand provides a high-performance computing environment intended
for use for applications sensitive to latency, bandwidth, and CPU-consumption.
InfiniBand is an RDMA-interconnect. Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) technology allows cooperating
endnodes to expose their local memory buffers for direct data placement by peer endnodes (including loop
back operation) over reliable communication fabrics. Fabrics may be internal, such as an endnode backplane,
or external like an I/O attached device / fabric. RDMA technology reduces the performance constraints
imposed by memory subsystem bottlenecks on networked computing systems.
Readers are advised also to consult the InfiniBand specifications found at http://www.infinibandta.org for
more information on the technology.
HP Fabric Clustering System Hardware
Host Channel Adapter
The HP PCI-X 2-port 4X Fabric (HPC) Adapter is the component in an end node that connects to the HP
Fabric Clustering System. An HCA is required in each server participating in the cluster.
Switch
The HP Fabric Clustering System switch provides interconnection between components in the HP Fabric
Clustering System. The switch automatically recognizes HP Fabric Clustering System servers when they are
connected to the fabric. The switch can be left un-managed, or can be used for management and
troubleshooting of the fabric.