System Configurations and PCI Slot Availability

Express5800/320Ma systems contain two CPU- I ⁄ O enclosures, each of which contains a CPU element and an I/O element. The duplication of enclosures provides redundancy in components such as processors, hard drives, PCI slots, and certain I/O ports. PCI slots are logically associated with the I/O elements.

Express5800/320Ma 3.2 GHz systems contain one low-profile PCI slot in each enclosure, for a total of two PCI slots in the system. Optionally, you can install an AK533 attachment kit to add two full-height PCI slots to each enclosure Express5800/320Ma 3.2 GHz, for a total of six PCI slots in the system.

Express5800/320Ma 3.6 GHz and Dual-Core systems contain one low-profile PCI slot and two full-height PCI slots in each enclosure, for a total of six PCI slots in the system.

The CPU- I ⁄ O enclosures are removable and hot-pluggable. When you remove one CPU- I ⁄ O enclosure to install a PCI adapter, the other enclosure in the system continues to operate, providing uninterrupted use of the system.

You can use ftServer System Management Console (ftSMC) to view and manage the components, including PCI adapters, in each I/O element. However, note that all I/O elements display as I/O enclosure - n in ftSMC. Similarly, this manual and other ftServer manuals may use the term enclosure in place of the term element.

For more information about working with elements and enclosures, see the operation and maintenance guide for your system, as listed in Table 1-2. For more information about ftSMC, see the Express5800/320Ma: System Administrator’s Guide and the online Help.

PCI Slot Numbering, Reservations, and Performance

Each CPU- I ⁄ O enclosure in Express5800/320Ma 3.6 GHz and Dual-Core systems contains one low-profile PCI slot that is physically labeled 1 and two additional full-height PCI slots that are physically labeled 2 and 3 (see Figure 1-1). ftSMC displays these slots as PCI Slot Info - 9, 10, and 11.

Similarly, each CPU- I ⁄ O enclosure in Express5800/320Ma 3.2 GHz systems contains one low-profile PCI slot that is physically labeled 1. ftSMC displays this slot as PCI Slot Info - 9. In Express5800/320Ma 3.2 GHz systems, you can optionally install an AK533 attachment kit to add two full-height slots, providing the same configuration as Express5800/320Ma 3.6 GHz and Dual-Core systems.

Each slot in a Express5800/320Ma 3.2 GHz or 3.6 GHz system runs at a maximum of 100 megahertz (MHz). Slots 2 and 3, if present, are on one dedicated PCIX 100-MHz bus, with no other traffic. Slot 1 is on a 100-MHz bus, but shares this bus with the embedded Ethernet adapters and with a PCI bridge that carries the VGA, USB, SATA disk, CD-ROM, and VTM traffic.

Overview of PCI Adapters 1-3