topic Re: Two Dual Core 3 Logical Processors in Operating System - HP-UX

Two Dual Core 3 Logical Processors

Carlos A. Munoz Lopez — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:27:19 GMT

Hi guys, I'm having a confussion or a problem. We have an Integrity rx4640 running with two dual core processors. EFI reports the following information:

# of L3 L4 Family/
CPU Logical Cache Cache Model Processor
Module CPUs Speed Size Size (hex.) Rev State
------ ------- -------- ------ ------ ------- --- ------------
0 4 1.66 GHz 12 MB None 20/01 A1 Active
1 4 1.66 GHz 12 MB None 20/01 A1 Active

Once HP-UX 11.31 is up, machinfo onyl reports

CPU info:
2 Intel(R) Itanium 2 9000 series processors (1.6 GHz, 24 MB)
400 MT/s bus, CPU version C2
3 logical processors

Memory: 40930 MB (39.97 GB)

I even executed ioscan and stm and they report the same information 3 cores.

Why is it showing only 3 logical processors instead of 4??? Apparently, one core in the the Module 1 is deactivated. Is this possible?? I would like your help and opinion on this issue. Thanks.

Re: Two Dual Core 3 Logical Processors

Robert-Jan Goossens — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:10:38 GMT

Carlos,

Are you running 11.23 or 11.31? I would search for a machinfo patch for your version.

https://www13.itrc.hp.com/service/james/search.do?mode=text&searchString=machinfo&submit1=Search+%C2%BB&searchCrit=allwords&docType=Advisories&docType=Patch&dateSearchType=lastXdays&dateRange=all&startDateYear=1999&startDateMonth=0&startDateDay=1&endDateYear=2010&endDateMonth=5&endDateDay=9&resPerPage=20&sortCrit=rank

Regards,
Robert-Jan

Re: Two Dual Core 3 Logical Processors

Steven E. Protter — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 17:22:02 GMT

Shalom,

Looks like EFI is reporting physical processors.

I agree the 3 logical processors should be 4.

There is at boot time at console and interface you can go into to check this. It may be a bad or not configured core.

SEP

Re: Two Dual Core 3 Logical Processors

Carlos A. Munoz Lopez — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:43:21 GMT

The server is running HP-UX 11.31. Something interesting is that not only machinfo is reporting this information, stm and ioscan as well, even glance; so, I guess patches for machinfo are not required.

I removed the processor board and check how many processors were physically installed, and there's actually two. So, EFI information is correct (2 cpu modules, 4 logicals processors per CPU module, since hyperthreading is activated).

I've checked everywhere in EFI and it's the same information. Is it possible to disable one core in a dual core processor with an OS command?? I haven't heard such a thing before, but is it possible?? Is there a possibility something is wrong with this processor and need to be replaced? I can't come up with any other idea.

Re: Two Dual Core 3 Logical Processors

VK2COT — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 03:14:37 GMT

Hello,

Unusual status.

a) Do you use Process Resource Management?
What does the command show:

# psrset -i

b) What is the setting of kernel parameter
lcpu_attr (it dynamically enables or disables
LCPU attribute of the default processor set).

b) Do you use iCAP?

c) I thought that dual-core Itanium 2 CPUs
on this model should have 24 MB L3 cache (12MB per core). I think your report shows
half.

d) What is your version of Firmware:

Shell> info fw

You should have system firmware at
version 3.17 at least.

Cheers,

VK2COT

Re: Two Dual Core 3 Logical Processors

Carlos A. Munoz Lopez — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:24:59 GMT

Thank you guys for your opinions. I did some more research and found there's a problem with this processor. EMS detected a problem in cache and automatically deactivated one of the cores. I guess I should replace the processor as soon as possible. Now that I know what the problem is, it sounds logical having 3 logical processors running instead of 4. Thanks for your support.