OpenPA.net

HP N4000 (rp7405/rp7410)

Overview

Project names

Introduced: 1999-2000

The rp7405/rp7410 N4000 servers are up to 8-way multiprocessing servers and the smallest HP systems which can be partitioned into (two) logical servers (nPartitions). Based upon the same 10U rack-mountable chassis as their rp7400/N4000 brethren, the newer rp7405 and rp7410 are build around a completely overhauled system and I/O architecture. The Core Electronic Complex is a modified version of the Superdome’s cell-based system architecture, limited to two cells, which each contain (up to) four processors, sixteen memory slots and the central chipset — the cell controller (CC). These newer N4000s feature an very large amount of system and I/O bandwidth: 16GB/s CPU, 8GB/s memory, 8GB/s cell-to-cell and 8.5GB/s I/O bandwidth (all maximum aggregate values).

The rp7405 was apparently an entry-level version of the rp7410 — based on the same hardware and with the same capabilities but shipped in smaller configurations. Upgrades to a full rp7410 were later possible, probably including a modified firmware for unlocking the full functionality.

Internals

CPU

There are several classes of possible processors, both shipped with the systems or later upgraded. Support for individual processors depends on the specific system with corresponding firmware revisions, operating system support and, lastly, the system’s support/auxiliary hardware (power supplies, voltage changers, etc.).

The rp7405 and rp7410 are based on different system boards with different model numbers — based on the same basic architecture but with differences relating to the type and number of processors.

Processor types are indicated with the following suffixes:

There are two CPU/memory cell boards, with each four processor sockets.

Chipset

The cell-based system architecture is centered around three main components:

  1. Cell controller (CC): the central chipset and crossbar of these systems. One sits at the centre of each cell board for a maximum of two in the complete system. The CCs provide links for:
    • Four Processors (8.0GB/s)
    • Two Memory banks (4.0GB/s peak)
    • I/O via SBA (cell to I/O communication is 2.0GB/s peak)
    • PDH (processor dependent hardware) and firmware/flash etc.
    • Second cell via XBC (cell-to-cell communication is 8.0GB/s peak)
  2. Master I/O controller (SBA): the central I/O part of the main chipset, two SBAs are implemented in a rp7405/rp7410, located on the (I/O) backplane. Each SBA is linked to one cell so with one cell board only one SBA can be used.
    • Each SBA provides sixteen 12-bit links (ropes) — the combined 32 (2×16) links/ropes from both SBAs connect to 18 slave I/O controllers (LBAs) which in turn connect the PCI I/O slots and Core I/O subsystems
    • 28 ropes link to 14 Twin-Turbo slots (via 14 LBAs)
    • Two ropes link to two Turbo (that is, normal) PCI slots (via two LBAs), from which one is reserved for the PCI Core I/O LAN/SCSI card
    • Two links/ropes (one from each SBA) are connected via two LBAs to the Core I/O MP/SCSI card(s)
  3. Core I/O card set: provides the standard I/O functions for the system. One of these sets is the required minimum in any N4000, up to two Core I/O card sets are possible. Each Core I/O card set contains two distinct cards: MP/SCSI card, installed in a separate slot, and LAN/SCSI, installed in PCI slot (specially designated, I/O chassis 1, slot 8).
    • Two dual-channel Symbios Logic 53C1010 Ultra160 SCSI controllers (on MP/SCSI and LAN/SCSI)
    • Dual-channel Symbios Logic 53C896 Ultra2-Wide SCSI-3 controller (MP/SCSI)
    • Gigabit Ethernet networking (LAN/SCSI)
    • Diva Serial [GSP] Multiport UART for console (MP/SCSI), serial and management controllers (MP/SCSI)
    • Fast-Ethernet (DEC 21142/43) Management LAN (MP/SCSI)
    • The optional second Core I/O card set can be used either for redundancy or partitioning purpuses (I/O for the second partition)

Other parts of the chipset:

» View a system-level illustration (ASCII) of the N4000’s system/bus architecture.

Buses

Memory

Expansion

There are in all 16 PCI 64-bit/66MHz slots in the I/O cage, which can be fully accessed when using a system with two cells — with one cell board only seven slots are available. One PCI slot is dedicated to the Core I/O card set (see above) so only 15 of the 16 PCI slots are available for expansion options.

Drives

The two pairs of SCSI drives are each connected to a separate channel on one of the SCSI controllers of the Core I/O sets — for both pair of drives to work two Core I/O card sets are needed.

External Connectors

ROM update

There is an firmware update available which contains the latest version (SEU Firmware Version 6.5 ).

References

Operating Systems

Benchmarks

Model SPEC2000, int SPEC2000, fp SPEC2000rate, int SPEC2000rate, fp
N4000-7X
rp7410
2-CPU:
4-CPU: 25.3
8-CPU:49.9
2-CPU:
4-CPU: 18.9
8-CPU:36.8

Compare these with other results on the Benchmarks page.

Physical dimensions

← back to computers

↑ up