must remain empty. All GX+ cards are hot-pluggable. The RIO-2 ports are used for I/O expansion to external I/O drawers. The supported I/O drawers are the 7311 Model D10, 7311 Model D11, and 7311 Model D20.

The Remote I/O expansion card must be installed starting with the first p5-570 building block.

2.4.2 SP bus

In addition to the processor drawer interconnect cable (described in 2.2.1, “Processor drawer interconnect cables” on page 24), the interconnection of multiple p5-570 building blocks requires the proper SP Flex cable to ensure the vital data communications between the building blocks. (See Figure 2-9 on page 28.) The SP Flex cable contains the system interconnect signals such as JTAG, I2C, clocks, and others.

FC 1857

FC 1858

FC 1859

8-way

12-way

16-way

2-, 4-way

 

 

Figure 2-9 FSP Flex cables

2.5 Internal I/O subsystem

The internal I/O subsystem resides on the system planar, and the SP is packaged on a separate service processor card. Each card is a separate FRU. An internal RIO-2 bus is imbedded in the system planar. The system planar contains both the Enterprise RIO-2 hub and the PCI-X Host bridge chip to connect to the integrated I/O that is packaged on the system planar. Two RIO-2 ports of the Enterprise hub chip are used for the integrated I/O and the remaining two ports are routed to external connectors.

2.5.1 PCI-X slots and adapters

PCI-X, where the X stands for extended, is an enhanced PCI bus that delivers a bandwidth of up to 1 GBps, running a 64-bit bus at 133 MHz. PCI-X is backward-compatible, so the p5-570 can support existing 3.3 V PCI adapters.

The system planar provides six PCI-X slots and several integrated PCI devices that interface the three PCI-X to PCI-X bridges to the primary PCI-X buses on the PCI-X Host bridge chip.

PCI-X slot 6 can accept a short PCI-X or PCI card, and its space is shared with the Remote I/O expansion card, therefore if the Remote I/O expansion card is installed, this slot must remain empty. The remaining PCI-X slots are full-length cards. The dual 1 Gb Ethernet adapter is integrated on the system planar.

28p5-570 Technical Overview and Introduction

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IBM P5 570 manual Internal I/O subsystem, SP bus, PCI-X slots and adapters

P5 570 specifications

The IBM P5 570 is a high-performance server that was designed for enterprise-scale computing, offering a blend of advanced technologies and a flexible architecture. Launched as part of IBM's Power5 server line, the P5 570 stands out for its robust processing capabilities and extensive scalability, making it a preferred choice for businesses requiring reliable and efficient computing solutions.

At the heart of the P5 570 is the IBM Power5 processor, which employs simultaneous multi-threading (SMT) technology. This allows the processor to handle two threads per core, effectively doubling the throughput for workloads ideally suited to multi-threading. The server typically features a configuration of up to 32 Power5 processors, providing an impressive compute power that supports demanding applications, ranging from databases to complex enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

The P5 570 architecture supports a wide range of memory configurations, with a maximum memory capacity of up to 512 GB. Utilizing IBM’s proprietary Chip Memory technology, it can deliver high bandwidth and low latency, significantly enhancing performance for memory-intensive applications. Furthermore, the integrated memory controller architecture optimizes memory access, ensuring that critical workloads run smoothly.

Scalability is a key characteristic of the P5 570, with the ability to expand processing power and memory capacity as an organization’s needs grow. The server supports various operating systems, including AIX, Linux, and IBM i, which provides flexibility for diverse IT environments. This versatility ensures that companies can run their preferred applications without the need for substantial system overhauls.

In terms of storage, the P5 570 utilizes advanced RAID technology and supports a variety of disk configurations, ensuring that data integrity and availability are maintained. Coupled with built-in security features, such as the IBM Trusted Foundation, which establishes a secure boot environment, the P5 570 offers a reliable platform for mission-critical workloads.

Finally, the IBM P5 570 is designed for high availability and redundancy. Features like hot-swappable components and advanced error detection and recovery mechanisms minimize downtime, making it a dependable choice for businesses that operate around the clock. Combined with its powerful hardware and versatile software support, the IBM P5 570 remains a formidable player in the high-performance server arena.