blade server technology

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© Copyright IBM Corporation 2009

Blade server technology


Unit objectives

After completing this unit, you should be able to:

• Identify and describe the components implemented on a blade server

• List the methods used for blade server communications through the chassis

• Identify the procedures used to access the blade server console

• Select and describe the features enabling blade server scalability

• List the hard drive options available in the blade server models

• Select the appropriate high speed expansion card options by chassis model


• A blade server contains the core components of a server• Each blade server has:

– Processor(s)– Memory– Internal storage (optional)– Network Interface Cards (NIC)– Optional plug-in components

• The blade server plugs into the midplane of a chassis that provides common functions:– Management console access (KVM)– Power supplies– Cooling fans– Network connectivity (LAN, SAN, NAS, and HPC)– Shared media devices (CD-ROM and diskette drives)– Optional modules to support additional functionalities

What is a blade server?


IBM Blade Server

• IBM Blade Server overview

• Common components

• Expansion cards

• Enhanced features

• Specialized function

• Model comparison

• Expansion blades


IBM Blade Server overview: Front panel

• Controls and Indicators– Power on/off– KVM and media– Reset

• Hard drives (selected models) Light PathDiagnostic Panel

HS22 Front ViewHS21 XM Front View


IBM Blade Server overview: Interior components (1 of 2)

HS22 Blade Server Internal View (externally accessible hard drives)


IBM Blade Server overview: Interior components (2 of 2)

KVM connector

Light PathDiagnostics Panel

DIMM socket 7

DIMM socket 5

DIMM socket 3

DIMM socket 1

DIMM socket 8

DIMM socket 6

DIMM socket 4

DIMM socket 2

3V lithium battery Modular flash drive connector

Microprocessor 1

Microprocessor 2

SAS hard disk drive and connector

I/O Expansion option connectors

HS21 XM Blade Server Internal View


IBM Blade Server overview: Power and signal paths

Signaling (redundant)Power input (redundant)

Blade ServerMidplane


IBM Blade Server: Common components



• Expansion cards






Common components: Processor

• Processor architectures:– x86-64– IBM POWER– IBM PowerXCell 8i processor

• Single to four socket implementations

• Single to quad-core processors


Common components: Memory

• System board mounted DIMMs

• Speed and capacity– Up to PC2-6400 memory

speed– System board capacity to 128

GB

• Error correction and redundancy– ECC detection and correction– Chipkill technology


Common components: Storage

• Hard drives– SAS– SATA– SCSI

• Hot swap

• Internal and front panel accessible

• RAID (0,1)

• Solid state disk (SSD)

• Modular flash drive

Solid State Disk (SSD)

Hard DiskModular Flash Drive


Common components: Storage configurations

Modular flash drive

Two internal hard drives, non-hot swapTwo internal hard drives, front-mounted hot swap


Common components: Communications

• Blade servers implement two NICs– Broadcom 1 Gb chipset– First NIC attached to Ethernet I/O Module 1– Second NIC attached to Ethernet I/O Module 2

• Optional expansion card– Provides two additional NICs

NIC 1 on Blade

NIC 2 on Blade

Optional Expansion Card


Common components: Blade server access

• AMM KVM functions– Access to blade server onboard graphics (remote control)– Connects blade servers to keyboard, mouse, and media tray

DVD drive and USB ports

• BladeCenter media tray– Provides DVD drive and USB ports

• Serial over LAN (SOL)• Concurrent KVM (cKVM) option card

KVM and Media TrayOwnership Control

Concurrent KVM (cKVM) card Power On/Off

Reset


IBM Blade Server: Expansion cards



• Expansion cards






Expansion cards: Form factor

Standard Form Factor (StFF) Small Form Factor (SFF) Combination Form Factor vertical (CFFv)

Combination Form Factor horizontal (CFFh) High Speed Form Factor (HSFF)

Combination I/O vertical (CIOv)


Expansion cards: Connections

I/O connector

I/O Expansion card (PCI-X )

Blade Server PCI-X ConnectorBlade Server PCI-E Connector

Midplane PCI-E connectors

Midplane PCI-X connectors

BC-H Midplane with PCI-X and PCI-E Connectors


BladeCenter E chassis: I/O topology

IBM BladeCenter E I/O Topology


BladeCenter E chassis: Expansion card routing

1. IBM BladeCenter HS22 or other supported Blade server2. Ethernet controller on the system board3. Compatible CFFv or CIOv expansion card4. BladeCenter chassis5. BNT Ethernet switch module(s)6. BNT Ethernet switch module(s) routing signals from the system board integrated controller


BladeCenter H chassis: I/O topology

IBM BladeCenter H I/O Topology


BladeCenter H chassis: Expansion card routing

1. IBM BladeCenter HS22 or other supported Blade server2. Ethernet controller on the system board3. Compatible CFFv or CIOv expansion card4. 2/4 port Ethernet expansion card (CFFh)5. BladeCenter H chassis6. BNT Ethernet switch modules routing signals from the system board integrated controller7. BNT Ethernet switch modules routing signals from the CFFv or CIOv card8. BNT Ethernet switch modules routing signals from the CFFh card9. Multi-switch Interconnect module


IBM Blade Server: Enhanced features



• Expansion cards






Enhanced features: Scalability

• IBM LS42 Blade Server– Quad-core AMD Opteron

processor (8000 series)– Optional Multiprocessor

Expansion (MPE) unit– Scalable to 8-way processing– 128 GB memory capacity

Blade Interconnection

LS42 Base Blade

LS42 MPE


Enhanced features: Embedded hypervisor (1 of 2)

• Hypervisor– A virtualization platform that allows multiple operating systems to run

on the same physical hardware at the same time.


Enhanced features: Embedded hypervisor (2 of 2)

• HS21 XM supports Modular Flash Hypervisor storage• LS22 and LS42 support USB Hypervisor storage

Hypervisor USB Flash Device

LS42 with Hypervisor

HS21 XM with Hypervisor4 GB Modular Flash Drive


Enhanced features: Advanced management

• HS22 advanced features:– Integrated Management Module (IMM)

• Functions of BMC• RSA II• Remote presence/cKVM

– Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)• Event logs• Adapter configuration• Out-of-band ASU


IBM Blade Server: Specialized function



• Expansion cards






Specialized blade servers: Specialized function

• QS22 blade server – High performance computing

applications• Image and signal processing• Scientific research• Financial algorithms

– IBM PowerXCell 8i processor

• PN41 Deep Packet Inspection Blade– Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) and

real-time analysis of network traffic– Network security solution– Optimization of DNS processing– Specialized operating system– Intel IXP2805 network processor

QS22 CellBE Blade

PN41 Deep Packet Inspection (DPI Blade


IBM Blade Server: Model comparison



• Expansion cards






IBM Blade Server: Model comparison


IBM Blade Server: Expansion blades



• Expansion cards






HS21 Blade

Memory and I/O Expansion Blade

Two additional Gigabit Ethernet TOE controllers (total of four)

Four additional DIMM sockets(total of eight and up to 32GB with online spare and memory mirroring)

One additional I/O expansion slot(total of two)

IBM expansion blades: Memory and I/O (MIO)

Note: The MIO Expansion Blade is supported on the HS21 (8853) only


Three SAS hot-swap hard drive bays

Blade expansion connector

IBM expansion blades: Storage and I/O

IBM Blade (HS21, LS21, or LS41)

Storage and I/O Expansion Blade

Storage and I/O Expansion Blade Assembly

RAID 5 (optional battery cache)

I/O Expansion slot I/O Expansion slot


IBM expansion blades: PCI express and PCI-X I/O

• PCI-E and PCI-X models• Provides PCI-X and PCI-E attachment and access

PCI-E Expansion Blade

PCI-E Card Connectors PCI-E Card External Access


Key words

• AMD • Intel• Cell Broadband Engine• Dual-Core• High Performance Computing (HPC)• Local Area Network (LAN)• Memory and I/O Expansion Unit (MIO)• Modular Flash Drive

Network Interface Cards (NIC)• PCI Expansion Unit • Power6• Quad-core • Redundant Connection• Serial Over LAN (SOL)• Single-core• Storage and I/O Expansion Unit (SIO) • Uni-processor


Checkpoint (1 of 2)

1. Select the correct statement regarding the components implemented on a blade server.a. Each Blade server contains processor, memory, power supply and graphics componentsb. A Blade server contains processor, memory, storage and communications componentsc. All Blade servers contain a minimum of two processorsd. In order to implement Ethernet, each Blade server must have an expansion card installed

2. Access to the blade server console is accomplished by which of the following?a. An externally attached KVMb. Through a shared KVM facility through the Advanced Management Module or through SOLc. Only through an Ethernet connection from a switch module d. Only after an operating system has been loaded on a blade

3. A blade server communicates through the BladeCenter chassis through which of the following?a. High density cabling within the BladeCenter chassisb. Blade server to blade server over external busc. Through the BladeCenter midplaned. A blade server expansion card is required

4. Select the correct statement regarding blade server scalability.a. Blade server scaling to 4 processors is done by adding processors 3 and 4 to the system boardb. Blade servers are limited to implementing 2 processors maximumc. Scaling a blade server requires the addition of scalability cablesd. The LS42 blade server can be scaled to 4 processors by adding the MPE expansion blade


Checkpoint solutions (1 of 2)1. Select the correct statement regarding the components implemented on a blade server.

a. Each Blade server contains processor, memory, power supply and graphics componentsb. A Blade server contains processor, memory, storage and communications componentsc. All Blade servers contain a minimum of two processorsd. In order to implement Ethernet, each blade server must have an expansion card installed

Answer: b

2. Access to the blade server console is accomplished by which of the following?a. An externally attached KVMb. Through a shared KVM facility through the Advanced Management Module or through SOLc. Only through an Ethernet connection from a switch module d. Only after an operating system has been loaded on a blade

Answer: b

3. A blade server communicates through the BladeCenter chassis through which of the following?a. High density cabling within the BladeCenter chassisb. Blade server to blade server over external busc. Through the BladeCenter midplaned. A blade server expansion card is required

Answer: c

4. Select the correct statement regarding blade server scalability.a. Blade server scaling to 4 processors is done by adding processors 3 and 4 to the system boardb. Blade servers are limited to implementing 2 processors maximumc. Scaling a blade server requires the addition of scalability cablesd. The LS42 blade server can be scaled to 4 processors by adding the MPE expansion blade

Answer: d


Checkpoint (2 of 2)

5. True/False: In order to implement hot swap hard drive capability and expansion blade must be added to the HS22 blade server.

6. True/False: The CFFh form factor Ethernet PCI-E Expansion card will function on a blade server in the BladeCenter H, HT, and S chassis.

7. Select the correct statement regarding the memory and I/O expansion (MMIO) blade.a. The MMIO expansion blade supports 2 internal hard disk drivesb. An MMIO expansion blade cannot be attached to any another expansion bladec. The MMIO can be attached to any model blade serverd. The MMIO contains four DIMM sockets and two 1 Gb Ethernet connections

8. Which statement is correct regarding the QS22 blade server?a. The QS22 is used primarily for applications requiring large disk storage capacityb. The QS22 is optimized for applications requiring parallel processing and streaming

capabilitiesc. Processing in the QS22 is accomplished with one POWER6 processor and one numeric co-

processord. Implementation of the QS22 requires the attachment of an MMIO expansion blade


Checkpoint solutions (2 of 2)5. True/False: In order to implement hot swap hard drive capability and expansion blade must be

added to the HS22 blade server. Answer: False

6. True/False: The CFFh form factor Ethernet PCI-E expansion card will function on a blade server in the BladeCenter H, HT, and S chassis.

Answer: True

7. Select the correct statement regarding the memory and I/O expansion (MMIO) blade.a. The MMIO expansion blade supports 2 internal hard disk drivesb. An MMIO expansion blade cannot be attached to any another expansion bladec. The MMIO can be attached to any model blade serverd. The MMIO contains four DIMM sockets and two 1 Gb Ethernet connections

Answer: d

8. Which statement is correct regarding the QS22 blade server?a. The QS22 is used primarily for applications requiring large disk storage capacityb. The QS22 is optimized for applications requiring parallel processing and streaming

capabilitiesc. Processing in the QS22 is accomplished with one POWER6 processor and one numeric

co-processord. Implementation of the QS22 requires the attachment of an MMIO expansion blade

Answer: b


Unit summary

Having completed this unit, you should be able to:

• Identify and describe the components implemented on a blade server

• List the methods used for blade server communications through the chassis

• Identify the procedures used to access the blade server console

• Select and describe the features enabling blade server scalability

• List the hard drive options available in the blade server models

• Select the appropriate high speed expansion card options by chassis model

blade server technology

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blade server modelsselect

blade server scalabilitylist

blade server communications

blade server technology

blade server plugs

blade server consoleselect

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blade serverlist