HP XC System Software Hardware Preparation Guide Version 3.1

2 Making Node and Switch Connections
This chapter provides information about the connections between nodes and switches that are required
for an HP XC system.
The following topics are addressed:
• “Cabinets” (page 19)
• “Trunking and Switch Choices” (page 19)
• “Switches” (page 20)
• “Interconnect Connections” (page 28)
IMPORTANT: The specific node and switch port connections documented in this chapter do not apply
to hardware configurations containing HP server blades and enclosures.
For more information, see the HP XC Systems With HP Server Blades and Enclosures HowTo, which is available
at the following Web site:
http://www.docs.hp.com/en/highperfcomp.html
2.1 Cabinets
Cabinets are used as a packaging medium. The HP XC system hardware is contained in two types of
cabinets:
• Application cabinets
• Utility cabinets
Application Cabinets The application cabinets contain the compute nodes and are optimized to meet
power, heat, and density requirements. All nodes in an application cabinet are connected to the local
branch switch.
Utility Cabinets The utility cabinet is intended to fill a more flexible need. In all configurations, at a
minimum, the utility cabinet contains the head node. Nodes with external storage and nodes that are
providing services to the cluster (called service nodes or utility nodes) are also contained in the utility
cabinet. All nodes in the utility cabinet are connected to the root switches (administration and console).
Figure 2-1 illustrates the relationship between application cabinets, utility cabinets, and the Root
Administration Switch. For more information about the Root Administration Switch, see“Root
Administration Switch” (page 23) .
Figure 2-1 Application and Utility Cabinets
Utility Cabinet
Application
Cabinet
Application
Cabinet
Application
Cabinet
Application
Cabinet
Root Administration Switch
2.2 Trunking and Switch Choices
The HP XC System Software supports the use of port trunking on the ProCurve switches to create a higher
bandwidth connection between the Root Administration Switches and the Branch Administration Switches.
2.1 Cabinets 19