Download QuickSpecs

HP 9000 Superdome Servers (PA-8600, PA-8700, PA8800 and PA-8900)
QuickSpecs
Configuration
Cells (Processors and
Memory)
A cell, or cell board, is the basic building block of a Superdome system. It is a symmetric multi-processor
(SMP), containing:
Four processor sockets that can hold PA 8600, PA 8700, PA 8800 or PA-8900 processors (only
one type is allowed per cell)
Memory (up to 16-GB RAM with 512-MB DIMMs, 32-GB RAM with 1-GB DIMMs and 64-GB
with 2-GB DIMMs.
NOTE: Only 1 GB and 2 GB DIMMs are supported with Superdome PA 8800 and PA 8900).
One cell controller (CC)
Power converters
Data buses
Optional link to I/O card cage
Please note the following:
PA-8600 and PA-8700 processors can be mixed within a Superdome system, but must reside on
different cells and in different partitions (nPars). PA-8800 and PA-8900 processors cannot be
mixed within a Superdome system with PA-8600 or PA-8700 processors.
A Superdome PA-8800 and PA-8900 system can support up to 1 TB of memory with 2 GB
DIMMs. However, due to the limitation of HP-UX 11i, the maximum amount of memory supported
in a partition is 512 GB.
For PA-8600 and PA-8700 processors: The minimum configuration includes one active processor
and 2 GB memory per cell board. The maximum configuration includes four active processor and
16 GB memory per cell board. Each cell board ships with four PA-8600 or PA-8700 processors.
However, based on the number of active processors ordered, from one through four processors
are activated prior to shipment.
For PA-8800 and PA-8900 processors: The minimum configuration includes one active processor
and 2 GB of memory per cell board. The maximum configuration includes eight active processors
and 64 GB of memory per cell board using 2 GB DIMMs. The minimum number of active
processors on each cell board is one. Additional processors on the cell board can be activated
individually (not in pairs).
512 MB, 1 GB and 2 GB DIMMs can be mixed on a cell board in Superdome PA 8800 and PA
8900 systems only.
Crossbar Backplane
Each Crossbar backplane contains two sets of two crossbar chips that provide a non blocking
connection between eight cells and the other backplane. Each backplane cabinet can support up to
eight resulting in a Superdome PA-8600 or Superdome PA-8700 32 processor or Superdome PA-8800
or PA-8900 64 processor system. A backplane supporting four cells would result in a Superdome PA
8600 or Superdome PA-8700 16 processor and a Superdome PA-8800 or PA-8900 32 processor
system. Two backplanes can be linked together with flex cables to produce a cabinet that can support up
to 16 cells resulting in a Superdome PA-8600 or Superdome PA-8700 64 processor core or Superdome
PA-8800 or PA-8900 128 processor core system.
DA - 11721
Worldwide — Version 28 — October 23, 2009
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