HP AA HP Netserver 4000 Reference Guide

Ch 1: Architecture Overview and Terminology
Network Server Division
1-3
HPAA Components
There are four major hardware componenets of the HPAA system:
• The NetServers – Four NetServers are needed, two perform a
synchronous operation of the NT operating system and the other
two perform asynchronous I/O operations.
• Marathon Interface Cards (MIC) – Each NetServer has a MIC
placed in a particular PCI slot. The MICs are identical and all of
them must have the same firmware revision levels.
• SplitSite Data Link (SSDL) – There are two SSDLs that
provide for the interconnection between the four NetServers. The
SSDLs are simply a transport mechanism between theNetServers
and offer little software control of the system. The SSDLs are
also used to provide video, keyboard, and mouse functions to the
administrator of the system. More information on the SSDLs
will be provided later.
• MIC Cables – Each MIC attaches to the SSDL through the
implementaiton of a 100 pin serial cable. There are two different
MIC cables. The four NetServers attach to the SSDL with an
indentical 5-meter cable. The SSDLs attach to each other with a
similar, but unique cable. This cable is identified as the one
cable in the kit that has a ferrite (thicker, black rectangle shape)
incorporated at one end of the cable.