Load Sharing

Dynamic Reconfiguration and High Availability

The Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 hardware and associated software provides the capability to work effectively on Sun platforms supporting Dynamic Reconfiguration (DR) and hot-plugging. During a DR or hot-plug operation, the Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 software layer automatically detects the addition or removal of a board and adjusts the scheduling algorithms to accommodate the change in hardware resources.

For High Availability (HA) configurations, multiple Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 boards can be installed within a system or domain to insure that hardware acceleration is continuously available. In the unlikely event of a Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 hardware failure, the software layer detects the failure and removes the failed board from the list of available hardware cryptographic accelerators. Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 adjusts the scheduling algorithms to accommodate the reduction in hardware resources. Subsequent cryptographic requests are scheduled to the remaining boards.

Note that the Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 hardware provides a source for high- quality entropy for the generation of long-term keys. If all the Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 boards within a domain or system are removed, long-term keys are generated with lower-quality entropy.

The Sun Crypto Accelerator 4000 software distributes load across as many boards as are installed within the Solaris domain or system. Incoming cryptographic requests are distributed across the boards based on fixed-length work queues. Cryptographic requests are directed to the first board, and subsequent requests stay directed to the first board until it is running at full capacity. Once the first board is running at full capacity, further requests are queued to the first board available that can accept the request of this type. The queueing mechanism is designed to optimize throughput by facilitating request coalescing at the board.

Chapter 1 Product Overview 9

4000 specifications

Sun Microsystems, a pivotal player in the computing industry during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, was renowned for its innovative hardware and software solutions. Among its notable offerings were the Sun-6000, Sun-5000, and Sun-4000 series, powerful workstations and servers designed for a range of enterprise-level applications.

The Sun-6000 series, introduced in the early 1990s, marked a significant advancement in computing performance. These systems were built on the SPARC architecture, which facilitated high levels of processing power and multitasking capabilities. One of the main features of the 6000 series was its scalability, allowing organizations to increase their processing power by adding more modules. It also offered robust graphics performance, making it ideal for scientific visualization and complex data analysis.

Next in line was the Sun-5000 series. Launched shortly after the 6000 series, the 5000 line was celebrated for its reliability and ease of management. This series emphasized a balanced architecture, which combined processing capabilities with ample memory and storage options. Key characteristics included support for multiple processors, leading to improved performance for demanding applications. Additionally, the 5000 systems featured advanced input/output capabilities, ensuring fast data transfers—crucial for database applications and web servers.

Finally, the Sun-4000 series targeted businesses seeking affordable yet potent computing solutions. These servers boasted a modular design, allowing for easy upgrades and maintenance. The 4000 series was particularly notable for its support for various operating systems, including SunOS and Solaris. These systems were engineered to handle a range of workloads, from enterprise resource planning to web hosting, while still fitting into a value-driven budget.

Across all three series, Sun Microsystems prioritized compatibility and integration, ensuring that each system offered seamless connectivity with Sun's software solutions and third-party applications. Their commitment to open standards and interoperability set them apart in the competitive landscape of enterprise computing. Additionally, the use of high-quality components lent the systems durability, making them a wise investment for organizations looking to future-proof their IT infrastructure.

In summary, the Sun-6000, 5000, and 4000 series exemplified Sun Microsystems' ethos of innovation and reliability. These powerful systems catered to diverse business needs, setting benchmarks in performance and functionality that continue to influence modern computing.