Future of PCI-X slots in ProLiant servers

ISS Technology Update

Volume 6, Number 9

Additional resources

For additional information on the topics discussed in this article, visit the following links:

ResourceURL

HP ProLiant xw460c Blade	http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12680_na/12680_na.PDF
Workstation QuickSpecs
	http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Home.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodCl
HP ProLiant xw460c Blade
Workstation - Business Support	assId=-1&prodTypeId=12454&prodSeriesId=3355016
Center

Future of PCI-X slots in ProLiant servers

PCI Express (PCIe) is now becoming the predominant I/O bus for new server platforms. HP will continue, however, to provide legacy support for the different levels of PCI, including PCI-X. HP has introduced PCIe technology into ProLiant servers to coexist with PCI-X 133, allowing ProLiant server customers to install new higher bandwidth cards (for example, dual 4-Gb Fibre Channel, x4 InfiniBand, and 10-Gb Ethernet) using PCIe technology. At the same time, the continued commitment from HP to PCI-X allows ProLiant server customers to connect to their existing I/O cards.

Current ProLiant ML servers have a mix of PCI-X and PCIe slots, while ProLiant DL servers have optional riser boards to provide different combinations of PCI-X and PCIe slots. Table 2-1 shows the current ProLiant server models and their support for PCI-X.

Next generation ProLiant servers will no longer feature PCI-X slots as standard offerings. However, PCI-X will continue to be supported on these servers through the use of the appropriate optional riser boards.

For the latest information, go to www.hp.com/go/proliant and check the QuickSpecs for a specific server.

Table 2-1. Number of PCI-X slots in ProLiant DL and ML servers

Server series	Server model	Standard	Optional	Total

ML 300	ML 310 G4	2	0	2
	ML 350 G5	3	2	5
	ML 370 G5	2	0	2

ML 500	ML 570 G4	4	0	4

DL 100	DL 140 G3	0	2	3
	DL 145 G3	0	1	1

DL 300	DL 320 G5	0	1	1
	DL 380 G5	0	2	2
	DL 385 G2	0	2	2

DL 500	DL 580 G5	0	3	3
	DL 580 G4	1	2	3
	DL 585 G2	2	0	2

Customers requiring peripheral bandwidth in excess of 1 GB/s will most likely find those peripherals implemented with PCIe technology. It is expected that most device manufacturers will use PCIe technology for higher bandwidth peripheral devices such as 10-Gb Ethernet. For peripherals that require bandwidth less than 1 GB/s, PCI and PCI-X remain viable technologies