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Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

 
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wurzul
Frequent Advisor

Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

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
9 REPLIES 9
Torsten.
Acclaimed Contributor
Solution

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

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

Hope this helps!
Regards
Torsten.

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Torsten.
Acclaimed Contributor

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

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

Hope this helps!
Regards
Torsten.

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wurzul
Frequent Advisor

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

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
Torsten.
Acclaimed Contributor

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

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.

Hope this helps!
Regards
Torsten.

__________________________________________________
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those who understand binary, and those who don't.

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wurzul
Frequent Advisor

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

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 CPU├в 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.
Torsten.
Acclaimed Contributor

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

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



Hope this helps!
Regards
Torsten.

__________________________________________________
There are only 10 types of people in the world -
those who understand binary, and those who don't.

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Torsten.
Acclaimed Contributor

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

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



Hope this helps!
Regards
Torsten.

__________________________________________________
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those who understand binary, and those who don't.

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wurzul
Frequent Advisor

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

Many, Many thanks for your help.
Torsten.
Acclaimed Contributor

Re: Deconfigure CPU on BL870c

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

Hope this helps!
Regards
Torsten.

__________________________________________________
There are only 10 types of people in the world -
those who understand binary, and those who don't.

__________________________________________________
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