Windows nPartition Guide v5.5

Table Of Contents
1 Introduction
A cell-based HP Integrity server (such as the rx7620, the rx7640, the rx8620, the rx8640, or
Superdome) can be configured as a single system or partitioned into several independent systems.
Partitioning provides hardware and software isolation, in which each partition is assigned
memory, processors, and I/O resources for its exclusive use, and executes its own operating
system image. This chapter introduces node partitions (nPartitions) on cell-based HP Integrity
servers running Microsoft® Windows® Server 2003 and describes the tools to manage them.
Quick Start
This section provides an overview of the installation and configuration steps needed to get you
up and running as quickly as possible.
Figure 1-1 shows the hardware, software, and most commonly used connection method. All
components are described in greater detail later in this chapter.
Figure 1-1 System overview
management station
Partition Manager
nPartition Commands
MP Commands
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Cell 0 Core I/O Cell 1 Core I/O
Cell 3
Cell 1
M e m o r y
Cell 0
Cell 2
Chipset HP SX 1000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8
Console LAN
Console
LAN
L V D
SCSI
Partition 0Partition 0
Optional Cell
Board
Optional
Cell Board
Optional
Cell Board
Partition 1 Partition 1
BPS3 BPS5
BPS2 BPS4
PDCA A1
PDCA A0
BPS 1
BPS 0
PDCA B1
PDCA B0
TwinTurbo PCI-X
TwinTurbo PCI-X
TwinTurbo PCI-X
TwinTurbo PCI-X
TwinTurbo PCI-X
TwinTurbo PCI-X
Turbo PCI-X
TwinTurbo PCI-X
TwinTurbo PCI-X
TwinTurbo PCI-X
TwinTurbo PCI-X
TwinTurbo PCI-X
TwinTurbo PCI-X
TwinTurbo PCI-X
u320 Disk Slot u320 Disk Slot
u320 Disk Slot u320 Disk Slot
CPU 1
CPU 2
CPU 3
CPU
CPU 0
rx8620
Modem
UPS
Cons ole
Serial
1000t LAN
Mode m
UPS
Cons ole
1000t LAN
Serial
L V D
SCSI
TwinTurbo PCI-X
DVD / DDS DVD / DDS
Turbo PCI-X
HP Integrity rx8620 server
IPMI / LAN
Windows
HP-UX
The most common setup for nPartition management of HP Integrity servers running Windows
involves a remote management station. This dedicated management station hosts the management
tools and issues commands over a network connection to the servers management processor,
enabling you to manage the complex even if no nPartitions exist on the complex yet.
To set up and configure the management station:
1. Establish a dedicated management station for the HP Integrity server. See “Setting up the
management station” (page 22).
2. Install the nPartition tools. See “Install nPartition Commands Bundle from the Smart Setup
media” (page 31) and “Install the Partition Manager Bundle from the Smart Setup media”
(page 32).
3. Verify installation of the management software. See “Verifying the installation” (page 33).
Quick Start 11