HP XC System Software 3.2.1 User Manual
3 Making Node and Switch Connections
This chapter provides information about the connections between nodes and switches that are
required for an HP XC system.
required for an HP XC system.
The following topics are addressed:
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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 information
on cabling server blades, see
on cabling server blades, see
3.1 Cabinets
Cabinets are used as a packaging medium. The HP XC system hardware is contained in two
types of cabinets:
types of 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.
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).
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).
illustrates the relationship between application cabinets, utility cabinets, and the Root
Administration Switch. For more information, see
.
Figure 3-1 Application and Utility Cabinets
Utility Cabinet
Application
Cabinet
Cabinet
Application
Cabinet
Cabinet
Application
Cabinet
Cabinet
Application
Cabinet
Cabinet
Root Administration Switch
3.2 Trunking and Switch Choices
The HP XC System Software supports the use of port trunking (that is, the use of multiple network
ports in parallel to increase link speed faster than any one single port) on the ProCurve switches
ports in parallel to increase link speed faster than any one single port) on the ProCurve switches
3.1 Cabinets
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