About this book

This book covers the SP Switch2 only. Refer to RS/6000 SP: SP Switch Service Guide, GA22-7443 for information related to the SP Switch.

This book is to help you, as a customer engineer diagnose and repair an RS/6000® SPSP Switch2 by performing the following tasks:

vIdentify field replaceable unit (FRU) locations

vIsolate RS/6000 SP failures using Maintenance Analysis Procedures (MAPs)

vPerform diagnostic service procedures

vPerform removal and replacement procedures

vIdentify FRUs and their corresponding part numbers

Who should use this book

This book is intended for RS/6000 SP product-trained service personnel.

Related information

The following books make up the complete RS/6000 SP hardware service library:

vRS/6000 SP: Safety Information, GA22-7467. Safety notices, in English and translated into other national languages, which are compiled from all the books in the library.

vRS/6000 SP: Installation and Relocation, GA22-7441. Installation and relocation procedures, maintenance agreement and qualification procedures, SP system verification.

vRS/6000 SP: System Service Guide, GA22-7442. General SP system service procedures, the system Start MAP, and MAPs and parts catalog for the frames and power subsystems. Use this book to begin a diagnostic procedure to isolate a problem to a specific major component of the SP system.

vRS/6000 SP: SP Switch Service Guide, GA22-7443. Service procedures, MAPs, and parts catalog information specific to the SP Switch.

vRS/6000 SP: SP Switch2 Service Guide, GA22-7444. Service procedures, MAPs, and parts catalog information specific to the SP Switch2 (this book).

vRS/6000 SP: Uniprocessor Thin and Wide Node Service Guide, GA22-7445. Service procedures, MAPs, and parts catalog information specific to all uniprocessor-type nodes.

vRS/6000 SP: 604 and 604e SMP High Node Service Guide, GA22-7446. Service procedures, MAPs, and parts catalog information specific to these nodes.

vRS/6000 SP: SMP Thin and Wide Node Service Guide, GA22-7447. Service procedures, MAPs, and parts catalog information specific to these nodes.

vRS/6000 SP: POWER3 SMP High Node Service Guide, GA22-7448. Service procedures, MAPs, and parts catalog information specific to this node.

This book and other RS/6000 SP hardware and software documentation are available both online and, for some books, in printed form from the following sources:

vThe Web site at http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/pseries/library/sp_books/index.html

vThe Resource Center on the PSSP product media

vPrinted and CD-ROM versions (which can be ordered from IBM)

For more information on these sources and an extensive listing of RS/6000 SP related publications, see the bibliography in RS/6000 SP: Installation and Relocation.

© Copyright IBM Corp. 2000, 2002

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IBM RS/6000 SP manual About this book, Who should use this book, Related information

RS/6000 SP specifications

The IBM RS/6000 SP (Scalable Power) is a high-performance computing system that was developed in the early 1990s and has since become a significant player in the realm of supercomputing and enterprise solutions. Designed primarily for scientific, engineering, and complex data analysis tasks, the RS/6000 SP provides powerful processing capabilities, enhanced scalability, and features to support demanding applications.

One of the key characteristics of the RS/6000 SP is its modular architecture, which allows for the addition of multiple nodes. Each node is based on IBM's Power architecture, leveraging the RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) design to achieve high throughput and efficiency. The system can support configurations ranging from a few nodes to hundreds, enabling organizations to scale their computational power as needed based on workload requirements.

The RS/6000 SP employs advanced interconnect technologies, most notably the SP Switch, which ensures high-speed communication between nodes. This interconnect allows for seamless data transfer, ensuring that the system can handle large datasets and complex computations without bottlenecks. The SP's ability to deliver concurrent processing capabilities makes it ideal for parallel computing tasks, including simulations, modeling, and large-scale computations.

In terms of software, the RS/6000 SP was equipped with AIX, IBM's version of the UNIX operating system, which provides a stable and secure environment for enterprise applications. Furthermore, the system supports a vast array of programming languages and tools, including Fortran, C, and C++, along with libraries and frameworks designed for high-performance computing. This compatibility allows developers to optimize their applications to fully utilize the underlying hardware.

Another notable feature of the RS/6000 SP is its extensive support for various workloads, including database management, multi-user applications, and graphical processing. The system was equipped with high-performance graphics capabilities, making it suitable for tasks that require intensive visualization, such as computer-aided design (CAD) and scientific visualization.

Overall, the IBM RS/6000 SP has solidified its role in the high-performance computing landscape, combining advanced technologies, robust scalability, and flexibility to meet the unique demands of research and enterprise environments. Its legacy continues to influence modern computing architectures, embodying IBM’s commitment to innovation and performance in the pursuit of complex problem-solving capabilities.