Expand Configuration and Management Manual (G06.24+)

Planning a Network Design

Expand Configuration and Management Manual—523347-008

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Topology Limitations

With the exception of FOX networks (which are always configured in a ring topology),

Expand networks are not limited to any particular network topology. However, the

resource limitations described below can affect your network topology design.

Expand Line-Handler Process Limitation

Because each system in an Expand network can contain a maximum of 255 Expand

line-handler processes, each node can have a maximum of 254 neighbors. This

restriction limits the size of any network configured as a fully connected mesh to 255

nodes.

FOX Network Limitations

A FOX ring can have a maximum of 14 servers and must be configured in a physical

ring topology. Each server in a FOX ring must be logically connected to every other

server in the FOX ring (a logical fully connected mesh). Servers in the ring can be up to

4 kilometers apart.

Creating a Network Diagram

Before you configure your Expand network, HP recommends that you create a diagram

of the complete network topology. This network diagram shows the network nodes and

the lines that connect the nodes. This type of diagram can help you and the operations

staff monitor systems, recognize problems, and prepare for configuration changes.

Figure 3-5 shows one way to create a network diagram. Network diagrams should

show system names, system numbers, communications hardware device names, and

Expand line-handler process names.

Note. System names and numbers are configured through the SCF interface to the NonStop

Kernel subsystem. See the SCF Reference Manual for the Kernel Subsystem for more

information about configuring system names and numbers.