topic Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c in BladeSystem - General

Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

wurzul — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 10:51:00 GMT

For software licensing reasons I need to disable a number of CPUs on a BL870c.

Current BL870c CPU configuration taken from machinfo.

CPU info:
4 Intel(R) Itanium 2 9100 series processors (1.42 GHz, 12 MB)
532 MT/s bus, CPU version A1
8 logical processors (2 per socket)

I know this can be done from EFI using the cpuconfig command but what I cannot figure out is can cpuconfig disable individual cores or just whole CPUs.

I've asked HP support and they seem to think it can do individual cores but can anyone please confirm this? How is this done?

Many thanks

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

Torsten. — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:00:50 GMT

I'm only aware of disabling CPU modules (by cpuconfig), but not individual cores.

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

Torsten. — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:14:10 GMT

.. but working with virtual machines could be a way to go.

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

wurzul — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:25:24 GMT

thanks for your response

According to HP if threads are already enabled cpuconfig displays all CPUs including the cores.

I cant confirm this as I cant currently reboot the server and take a look in EFI.

Threads must enabled as an HPUX ioscan output shows 8 cores:

#ioscan -fnCprocessor
Class I H/W Path Driver S/W State H/W Type Description
=======================================================================
processor 0 120 processor CLAIMED PROCESSOR Processor
processor 1 122 processor CLAIMED PROCESSOR Processor
processor 2 124 processor CLAIMED PROCESSOR Processor
processor 3 126 processor CLAIMED PROCESSOR Processor
processor 4 128 processor CLAIMED PROCESSOR Processor
processor 5 130 processor CLAIMED PROCESSOR Processor
processor 6 132 processor CLAIMED PROCESSOR Processor
processor 7 134 processor CLAIMED PROCESSOR Processor

I'd like to understand if this is correct before I take downtime to complete the work.

Thanks

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

Torsten. — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:38:00 GMT

You have 8 physical cores:

CPU info:
4 Intel(R) Itanium 2 9100 series processors (1.42 GHz, 12 MB)
532 MT/s bus, CPU version A1
8 logical processors (2 per socket)

4 CPU modules, each is dual core.

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

wurzul — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:54:44 GMT

Yes I understand I have 4 CPUs that are dual cored and therefore I have 8 logical cores.

What I need to understand is can cpuconfig enable/disable individual cores rather than whole CPUs. HP think this is done by using the below commands but managed to get hold of a test BL870c since my last post and it doesnt seems to make sense.

**********
EFI>cpuconfig threads on

The dual core will be enabled.

EFI>cpuconfig

It should show all the CPUâ s including the cores.

EFI> cpuconfig 0 off ---- it will de-configure only core 0 and core 1 will be still ON.

Likewise EFI>cpuconfig 1 off --- it will de-configure core 1 but core 0 will be ON
**********

I dont think this is correct. Either with threads turned on or off cpuconfig only displays individual CPUs not cores therefore as you stated originally you can only disable CPUs (2 cores at a time)

Many Thanks for your help.

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

Torsten. — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:03:32 GMT

Hope this helps.

The EFI help about cpuconfig:

fs0:\diags\ODE> help cpuconfig
Deconfigure or reconfigure cpus

CPUCONFIG [module [on|off]]
CPUCONFIG [threads [on|off]]
CPUCONFIG [pstates [on|off]]

module : Specifies which cpu module to configure
threads : Use to display info or configure threads
pstates : Use to display info or configure Power/Performance States (P-states)
on : Specifies to reconfigure a cpu module, cpu threads, or enable
P-states
off : Specifies to deconfigure a cpu module, cpu threads, or disable
P-states

Note:
1. Cpu status will not change until next boot.
2. Specifying a cpu number without a state will display
configuration status.

Examples:
* To deconfigure CPU 0
fs0:\> cpuconfig 0 off
Cpu will be deconfigured on the next boot.

Press ENTER to continue, 'q' to exit:
* To display configuration status of cpus
fs0:\> cpuconfig
PROCESSOR MODULE INFORMATION

# of L3 L4 Family/
CPU Logical Cache Cache Model Processor
Module CPUs Speed Size Size (hex.) Rev State
------ ------- -------- ------ ------ ------- --- ------------
0 2 1.1 GHz 4MB 32MB 1F/01 B1 Active
1 2 1.1 GHz 4MB 32MB 1F/01 B1 Active

* To display cpu thread status
fs0:\> cpuconfig threads

cpuconfig: Threads are turned off.

* To enable cpu threads
fs0:\> cpuconfig threads on

cpuconfig: Threads will be on after a reset

* To disable cpu threads
fs0:\> cpuconfig threads off

Press ENTER to continue, 'q' to exit:
cpuconfig: Threads will be off after a reset

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

Torsten. — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:05:56 GMT

Not related to your problem, but to complete this.

cpuconfig disables a CPU module, not a single core.

help text for a cell based system:

Shell> help cpuconfig
CPUCONFIG [cell [module [on|off|busoff]]]
CPUCONFIG [threads [on|off]]
CPUCONFIG [pstates [on|off]]

cell : Specifies which cell to use
module : Specifies which cpu module to configure
threads : Use to display info or configure threads
pstates : Use to display info or configure Power/Performance states
(P-states)
on : Specifies to reconfigure a cpu module, cpu bus, cpu threads,
or enable P-states
off : Specifies to deconfigure a cpu module, cpu threads,
or disable P-states
busoff : Specifies to deconfigure the cpu bus where the cpu module is
installed. This will deconfigure all cpus on the bus.

Note:
1. CPU status will not change until next boot.
2. Threads are not supported on all CPUs.
3. The system must be in MFG mode to use 'busoff'.

Examples:
* To deconfigure CPU module 1 on Cell 0:
Shell> cpuconfig 0 1 off

* To display configuration status of CPUs on all Cells:
Shell> cpuconfig

* To display configuration status of CPUs on Cell 1:
Shell> cpuconfig 1

* To disable threads:
Shell> cpuconfig threads off

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

wurzul — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:12:02 GMT

Many, Many thanks for your help.

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

Torsten. — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 18:55:19 GMT

Besides the use of HPVM this could also a solution for you?

https://h20392.www2.hp.com/portal/swdepot/displayProductInfo.do?productNumber=HP-UX-SRP