Switch offers high-speed interconnect on servers.
Press Release Summary:
The eserver pSeries® High Performance Switch uses technology based on SP(TM) Switch and SP Switch2. It augments eserver pSeries 690 and 655 clustered servers by increasing communication bandwidth between servers and partitions within cluster. All network connections pass through interface card packaged as either 2 or 4-Link Switch Network Interface. Switch can be incorporated within p690 system rack, p655 system rack, or as stand-alone multi-switch rack.
Original Press Release:
IBM eserver pSeries High Performance Switch Enhances p690 and p655 Cluster 1600 Performance with High-Speed Interconnect
At a glance
IBM eserver pSeries High Performance Switch offers high-speed interconnect on p690 and p655 to enhance Cluster 1600 performance.
This new communication subsystem includes many enhancements over previous SP Switch2 offerings, including:
o Parallel, interconnected communication channels that form a unified switch network
o Improved communication bandwidth and reductions in latency
o The option to use either fiber optic or copper cables for switch-to-switch network connections
o Reliability, availability, and serviceability features (RAS)
o Addition of pSeries High Performance Switch
For ordering, contact:
Your IBM representative, an IBM Business Partner, or the Americas Call Centers at 800-IBM-CALL (Reference: RE001).
Overview
The IBM eserver pSeries® High Performance Switch (pSeries HPS) communication subsystem is an evolutionary step in network data transfers, using technology based on the proven architecture of SP(TM) Switch and SP Switch2.
The pSeries HPS technology augments the eserver pSeries 690 and 655 clustered servers by increasing the communication bandwidth between servers and partitions within the cluster.
With the pSeries HPS, all network connections pass through an interface card packaged as either a 2-Link Switch Network Interface (SNI) or a 4-Link Switch Network Interface. Each link on the SNI allows message passing between the server bus and the switch. These SNI packages are features of the p690 or p655 servers.
The pSeries HPS is delivered as a new machine type 7045, model SW4 that can be incorporated within the p690 system rack (7040-61R), the p655 system rack (7040-W42), or as a stand-alone multi-switch rack (7040-W42 without a p655 server.)
The pSeries HPS (7045-SW4) is a 4U tall, 24-inch drawer, rack-mounted device. It houses the High Performance Switch planar and associated components. When the HPS is within a p690 rack or a p655 rack (7040-W42 with a 7039-651), the switch is installed with the bottom of the drawer at Placement Indicator feature number 4601, the 1U position of either of the racks.
When the HPS is within a 7040-W42 rack without a p655 (7039-651), up to eight HPSs can be installed in the primary rack. Up to 16 High Performance Switches can be installed in the primary rack plus the Expansion Rack (#8691).
The HPS (7045-SW4) is added to the hardware models supported with the IBM pSeries Cluster 1600 running Cluster Systems Management (CSM) for AIX®, V1.3.2.
Key prerequisites
AIX 5L for POWER V5.2 with the 5200-02 Recommended Maintenance package
IBM Cluster Systems Management V1.3.2
Minimum HMC requirements are either a 7315-C01 or a 7040-681 with feature number 7316.
Planned availability date
October 31, 2003, for pSeries High Performance Switch network supporting up to 16 servers, with up to 32 links. Cluster 1600 enhancements include the High Performance Switch network in CSM clusters of p690 and p655 servers.
July 30, 2004 , for pSeries High Performance Switch network supporting up to 64 servers (of which 32 servers can be p690), with up to 128 links. Also included are Frame Extender (#6234), Dual SNI to Single SNI Converter (#6437), and Expansion Rack (#8691) for the multi-switch rack (7040-W42).
