System p 520 Express – Split Backplane (POWER6)

520 CEC 3 USB 2 HMC

POWER PCI-X
4 Memory
P6
DIMMs FC 5912
POWER
ƒ Notes P6
4 Memory PCI-e
DVD DIMMs
 Processor / memory on system board PCI-e
Tape
FC 8345 PCI-e or GX
– 1-2 cores - 4 memory DIMMs SAS Expander

– 4 cores – 8 memory DIMMs RAID

SAS Mini GX Bus
CTL SAS
 Split Backplane Option Sys Ports (2)
SAS Expander SAS
– SAS Expander (FC 8345) Con IVI Ethernet

– FC 5912
 Other Options

– 2nd Power Supply

– RAID Controller (Requires FC 3845)

Optional
Feature

© 2008 IBM Corporation

1
 IBM developerWorks: Wikis - AIX - p520split

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p6 520 split backplane and internal SAS RAID
SOA and Web services
Web development On a p6 520, the DASD/Media Backplane without external SAS (feature code 8341) provides:
XML
● six hot-swappable 3.5-inch SAS disk bays, one hot-plug, slim-line media bay, and one 5.25 inch media bay and
Feedback ● one integrated SAS DASD controller with eight SAS ports which are connected to the six disk bays and to any media devices.

On servers with a feature code 8341 backplane, all six SAS disk bays and the media devices must be
Related links assigned to the same LPAR. And with this backplane, there is no support of hardware RAID by the
ISV resources integrated SAS DASD controller.
alphaWorks (emerging technologies)
IBM Academic Initiative
IBM Redbooks
IBM Press books
On a p6 520, the optional DASD/Media Backplane with external SAS port (feature code 8345)
Local sites
provides:
developerWorks ••
developerWorks Japan ● six hot-swappable 3.5-inch SAS disk bays, one hot-plug, slim-line media bay, and one 5.25 inch media bay and
developerWorks •• ● one integrated SAS DASD controller with eight SAS ports which are connected to the six disk bays and to any media devices.
developerWorks ••••••
On servers with a feature code 8345 backplane, there is the opportunity to order additional features which
provide additional functionality:

● Optional SAS Cable, DASD Backplane (Split) to Rear Bulkhead (feature code 3670), which allows three of the six SAS disk bays to be
accessed via an external SAS port on the back of the p6 520. Feature code 3670 requires that a SAS Cable (feature code 3679) and a PCI-X
SAS controller (feature code 5900 or 5912) also be configured. When the SAS Cable (FC 3679) is used to connect the PCI-X SAS controller to
the external SAS port provided by feature code 3670, then three disk bays (accessed via the PCI-X SAS controller) can be assigned to one
LPAR and three disk bays (accessed via the integrated SAS controller) can be assigned to another LPAR.

Any media devices continue to be accessed via the integrated SAS controller.

A PCI-X SAS controller (feature code 5900 or 5912, both of which are CCIN 572A) supports RAID 0, 5, 6, 10, but because the controller has no
write cache, RAID 5 or 6 arrays will exhibit very poor write performance. Since base AIX provides striping and/or mirroring (software RAID 0,
1, or 10), software RAID is perhaps a better choice than the hardware (SAS) RAID 0 & 10 arrays provided by CCIN 572A, simply because most
AIX sysadmins are typically more familiar with software RAID. To configure hardware RAID on CCIN 572A, use the IBM SAS Disk Array
Manager, as described in the Power Systems IBM SAS RAID Controller Reference Guide for AIX (SA76-0112-04, downloadable from the PDF
files for the 8203-E4A (IBM Power 520) web page ).

Feature code 5902 (CCIN 572B, PCI-X DDR Dual - x4 3Gb SAS RAID Adapter) is not a viable option for integrated disks with a split
backplane. Two such adapters are required to provide redundant write cache, both connected to the same set of disks. Integrated disks with a
split backplane can be connected to only one adapter.
● Optional SAS Cable, DASD Backplane to Rear Bulkhead (feature code 3674), which connects the integrated SAS DASD controller to an
external SAS port on the back of the p6 520. If an external EXP 12S expansion drawer (feature code 5886) is connected to the external SAS
port provided by feature code 3674, then the integrated SAS DASD controller can access the twelve SAS disk bays in the EXP 12S in addition
to the six SAS disk bays in the p6 520.

(For information about cabling a 5886 SAS drawer to a Power System server, please see Chapter 9, "Connecting the 5886 SAS disk-drive
enclosure" in the Expansion Units and Disk-Drive Enclosures manual (SA76-0151-02) and the Serial attached SCSI cable planning section of
Chapter 10, "Planning for cables" in the Site and Hardware Planning Guide, both of which are downloadable from the PDF files for the 8203-
E4A (IBM Power 520) web page .)

Feature code 3674 can not be configured in a 1-core p6 520 (feature code 5633).

● Optional SAS RAID Enablement (feature code 5679 and CCIN 57B8), which allows RAID 0, 5, 6, or 10 arrays to be configured on the
integrated SAS DASD controller. If feature code 3674 is selected and an external EXP 12S expansion drawer is connected, up to eighteen SAS
disk drives can be configured with hardware RAID. If feature code 3670 is selected, implying that at most three drives are accessible by the
integrated SAS DASD controller, then RAID options are limited to 1 and 5.

To configure hardware RAID on CCIN 57B8, use the IBM SAS Disk Array Manager, as described in the Power Systems IBM SAS RAID Controller
Reference Guide for AIX (SA76-0112-04, downloadable from the PDF files for the 8203-E4A (IBM Power 520) web page ).

The SAS RAID Enablement feature provides redundant write cache so there is no requirement that a second RAID adapter be connected
to the same set of disks.

As an alternative to hardware RAID, AIX striping and/or mirroring (software RAID 0, 1, or 10) can be
used with any hardware configuration which provides a sufficient number of hdisks to AIX, but AIX does

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/wikis/display/WikiPtype/p520split (1 of 2)10/9/2008 10:48:34 AM

IBM developerWorks: Wikis - AIX - p520split

not provide software RAID 5 or 6.

The Power Systems Managing PCI Adapters manual (SA76-0092-04, downloadable from the PDF files
for the 8203-E4A (IBM Power 520) web page ) defines the relationship between Custom Card
Identification Number (CCIN) and feature code.

The contents of this web page solely reflect the personal views of the authors and do not necessarily
represent the views, positions, strategies or opinions of IBM or IBM management. Please use the
Add Comment link at the bottom of the page to provide feedback. Note: Until you log in (using the link in the upper right corner of this web page), you
will not see the Add Comment link and you can not add a comment. If you do not already have an IBM ID, use the Register Now link on the sign in
page to obtain one. Registration is quick and easy.

The contents of this web page are loosely based on the 8203-E4A Power System LPAR Internal booting
and RAID capabilities Techdoc published by Carlos Inigo Ladron De Guevara, but he is not responsible for
this web page nor its contents.

About IBM Privacy Contact

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/wikis/display/WikiPtype/p520split (2 of 2)10/9/2008 10:48:34 AM

 System p 550 Express – Split Backplane (POWER6)
550 CEC 3 USB 2 HMC
8 Memory PCI-X
POWER P6
DIMMs
8 Memory
P6 FC 5912
DIMMs
POWER 8 Memory
ƒ Notes P6
P6
DIMMs
8 Memory PCI-e
DVD DIMMs
 1-4 Processor / Memory cards PCI-e or GX
Tape
PCI-e or GX
FC 8345
– 2 cores and 8 memory DIMMs per SAS Expander
card
SAS Mini
 Split Backplane Option 1 (6 Disks) RAID
CTL SAS
Sys Ports (2)
– SAS Expander (FC 8345) SAS Expander SAS
Con IVI Ethernet
– FC 5912
 Split Backplane Option 2 (8 Disks)
550 CEC 3 USB 2 HMC
8 Memory
– SAS Expander (FC 8346) POWER P6
DIMMs
8 Memory
PCI-X
P6 FC 5912
– FC 5912 POWER P6
DIMMs
8 Memory
DIMMs PCI-e
 Other Options P6
8 Memory
DVD DIMMs
PCI-e or GX
– 2nd Power Supply Tape
FC 8346
PCI-e or GX

– RAID Controller SAS Expander

(Requires FC 3845 or 8346) SAS Mini

RAID
CTL SAS
Sys Ports (2)
SAS Expander SAS
Optional Con IVI Ethernet
Feature

© 2008 IBM Corporation

2
System p 570 – Split Backplane (POWER6)
570 CEC POWER POWER

12 Memory 2 USB 2 HMC

P6
DIMMs
12 Memory IVE System Ports
P6
ƒ Notes DIMMs Ethernet 1 or 2
GX
 Without the split backplane, the internal DVD
PCI-e or GX Bus
disk and DVD are on the same PCI-X (5)
controller. SAS Expander
FC 5900
 Split Backplane Option 1 SAS
Con FC 3650
CTL

– Split ½ the disk and the DVD, and SAS Expander

PCI-e (2)

the other ½ disk PCI-e (1)

– Requires FC 5900 and FC 3650

 Split Backplane Option 2 570 CEC POWER POWER

12 Memory 2 USB 2 HMC

P6
– Put all of the disk on one controller DIMMs
12 Memory IVE System Ports
P6
and the DVD on the other. DIMMs Ethernet 1 or 2
GX
– Requires FC 5900 and FC 3651 DVD
PCI-e or GX Bus
 Note: These options will be sunset as
PCI-X (5)
FC 5900 is being discontinued SAS Expander
FC 5900
SAS
Con FC 3651
CTL
PCI-e (2)
SAS Expander
PCI-e (1)

© 2008 IBM Corporation

3
System p 570 – Split Backplane (POWER6)
570 CEC POWER POWER

12 Memory 2 USB 2 HMC

P6
DIMMs
12 Memory IVE System Ports
P6
DIMMs
ƒ Notes Ethernet 1 or 2
GX
 Split Backplane Option 3 DVD
PCI-e or GX Bus

PCI-X (5)
– Split ½ the disk and the DVD, and SAS Expander
FC 5912
the other ½ disk SAS
Con FC 3650
CTL
– Requires FC 5912 and FC 3650 PCI-e (2)
 Split Backplane Option 4 SAS Expander
PCI-e (1)

– Put all of the disk on one controller

570 CEC
and the DVD on the other. POWER POWER

12 Memory 2 USB 2 HMC

– Requires FC 5912 and FC 3651 P6
DIMMs
12 Memory IVE System Ports
P6
DIMMs Ethernet 1 or 2
GX
DVD
PCI-e or GX Bus

PCI-X (5)
SAS Expander
FC 5912
SAS
Con FC 3651
CTL
PCI-e (2)
SAS Expander
PCI-e (1)

© 2008 IBM Corporation

4
System p 570 – Split Backplane (POWER6)
570 CEC POWER POWER

12 Memory 2 USB 2 HMC

P6
DIMMs
12 Memory IVE System Ports
P6
DIMMs
ƒ Notes Ethernet 1 or 2
GX
 Split Backplane Option 5 DVD
PCI-e or GX Bus

PCI-X (5)
– Split ½ the disk and the DVD, and SAS Expander
PCI-X (4)
the other ½ disk SAS
Con FC 5909
CTL
– Requires FC 5909 PCI-e (2)
SAS Expander
PCI-e (1)

© 2008 IBM Corporation

5
 IBM Power Systems

Split DASD
Backplane
Support

20 © 2008 IBM Corporation

 IBM Power Systems

Power 550 and 520 Split Backplane Configuration

SAS
Port

PCI-X or
SAS Cable PCIe SAS
FC 3679 Adapter

Internal Disks (front view)

Integrated PCI-X or
SAS PCIe SAS
Controller Adapter

21 © 2008 IBM Corporation

 IBM Power Systems

Power 550 and 520 Split Backplane Support

‰ Base DASD backplane

ƒ FC 8341 (6x3.5” DASD slots)
ƒInternal SAS cable not included; Does not support an external SAS port

‰ Optional DASD backplanes

ƒ FC 8345 (High Function 6x3.5” DASD slots)
ƒ FC 8346 (12 SFF DASD slots) available in May 2008
ƒ Features will include an internal SAS cable which supports an external SAS
port
ƒ For Split DASD Mode support
‰ Must order an internal Split DASD Mode SAS cable:
• FC 3669 (550) or FC 3670 (520).
• New Split DASD Mode SAS cable replaces the internal SAS cable above.
‰ Split DASD Mode configuration is shown on next page.
‰ Base DASD FC 8341 can not support the Split DASD Mode.

22 © 2008 IBM Corporation

 IBM Power Systems

Splitting Power 570 Internal Disk Drives….

Current back plane supports splitting disk drives
™Configuration: Three drives and Three drives plus Media controller
Phase 1
™PCI-X SAS adapter Dedicated slot ( Slot 4 )
™Pass through cable Dedicated slot ( Slot 3 )
™Cable attaches into external connection

Phase 2
™PCIe SAS adapter Dedicated slot ( Slot 3 )
™Pass through cable Shared slot with PCIe adapter ( Slot 3 )
™Cable attaches into external connection

POWER6 570

S S
l l
o o
t t
3 4

23 © 2008 IBM Corporation

 IBM Power Systems

Power 570 PCIe Split Backplane support

Ext SAS
Cable Connects Into
DASD Bkpln
PCI-e SASCard

24 © 2008 IBM Corporation

Techdocs | Technote: 8204-E8A Power System LPAR Internal booting and RAID capabil... Page 1 of 1

8204-E8A Power System LPAR Internal booting and RAID

capabilities

Document Author: Carlos Inigo Ladron De Guevara Document ID: TD104556

Doc. Organization: Global Technical Support Document Revised: 05/13/2008
Product(s) covered: # 8xx

Abstract: Here you can find a summary of the LPAR internal booting and RAID
capabilities for 8204-E8A

8204-E8A (p6): 2LPAR internal boot capable

The on board SAS controller provides eight ports, two groups of four, to the SAS DASD
backplane and one port to the media device. The default backplane (FC#8341) do not support
splitting backplane neither RAID enablement daughter card. Only 1 LPAR internal boot capable
through this way.

Nevertheless, there is available an option for splitting the backplane to allow booting a second
LPAR internally and enabling RAID:

First of all, optional backplane (FC#8345) has to be chosen to allow both RAID and split backplane
functionalities.

Regarding RAID, the SAS RAID enablement feature (FC#5679) provides the internal SAS
enclosure with RAID 0, 1, 5, 6,and 10 functionality and additional cache via backplane pluggable
daughter cards. The daughter cards contains the Raid functionality and a 175 MB of write cache
with battery power pack.

For splitting backplane is necessary configure the cable Feature 3669. This SAS cable connects the
DASD Backplane with External SAS Port (#8345) to the rear bulkhead of the system providing
connection via cable (1m AI cable) #3679 to a slot adapter SAS controller. An internal cable
#3668 is chosen for you. This feature gives the user the ability to split the backplane, allocating a
SAS controller for each half of the internal disks. . This configuration gives you RAID 0,1,5,6 or 10
for both halfs of internal disks. Adapters 5900 and 5912 gives you RAID 0,1,5,6 and 10
functionality but has not write cache.

Classification: Hardware Category: Hardware/Software Maintenance

Platform(s): IBM Power Systems
: Keywords: 8204, E8A, boot, RAID

http://w3-03.ibm.com/support/techdocs/atsmastr.nsf/WebIndex/TD104556?Open&TPL=Pr... 6/16/2008