rx8640 cell addition

[pcoviello]

hi

we have a rx8640 that I have added 2 cell boards to from another rx8640 that we replaced with a BL890c-4 running VMS

I know when I updated the now retired rx8640 I was able to issue an npartition command to add in the cell boards to core 0.

with this one I can not do it

I'm at a loss at trying to add in the 2 cell boards

thanks

pc

U:\>parmodify -g xxxxxxxxx-h 10.129.xx.xxx -p 0 -a 3:base:y:ri:100% -a 2:base:y:ri:100%
Note: The -g option may require up to 2 minutes to complete. Please wait...
Warning: Unable to determine if the target partition supports cell local memory.
Note: It may take a longer time for the partition to boot if
any cell is performing power-on selftest.

Error: Unable to update the Stable Complex Configuration Data.

Allocation of Instant Capacity Resources among the nPartitions
--------------------------------------------------------------
Intended Actual
nPar Total Active Active =======Inactive======= Runs
ID Cores Cores Cores Cores Memory Cells iCAP nPar Name
==== ===== ======== ====== ====================== ==== ======================
0 14 4 4 10 0.0 GB 0 Yes Partition 0 (local)
N/A 16 N/A N/A N/A 112.0 GB 2 N/A Unassigned Cells

[shiva_jr]

Hi pcoviello,
    Link1 and Link2 may help you. Please check the LEDs status of Cell board as well by referring this link.

Regards,
Shiva_JR
Please give Kudos and mark as 'Accepted solution' if my post worked.

[pcoviello]

thanks 

the first link is dead  and the 2nd is to create a new partition,  I only have the 1 and want to add the 2 remaining cells to it

pc

[pcoviello]

Let me clarify link1 is not dead I don't have permission to see it. 

Thanks

pc

[pcoviello]

@shiva_jr let me ask this before I go down this road, would hooking up a VT terminal give me any more options then SSH?  

there's got to be a way to do this still?

thanks

Paul

[pcoviello]

evidently I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get this to see the additional cell boards,  what would be left in the chassis to identify it only have the 2 cell boards active?  since i have the other chassis which had all 4 cells active before migrating to the BL890c.  I could swap that particular piece of hardware.  and worse case though I would rather not the whole chassis.

thanks

pc

[Hawkeye]

Hi PC,

It sounds like your rx8640 may be iCAP enabled.
iCAP (Instant Capacity) only allows you to activate the number of active CPU/cores (RTU's) that you have purchased.
For example, you may have 4 cells with 16CPU's and 32cores, but you may only have iCAP rights (RTU's0 to active 8CPU's/16cores.

If you run the icapstatus command then you will see the iCAP status of your rx8640 Complex.

Both Complex and cell record the iCAP status and hence you cannot simply add/remove/swap cells between Complexes.

[pcoviello]

well I was running it. but VSI doesn't support it and I had shut it down. I was able to install it again on 8.4-1H1 but it really doesn't work.

here are the details

$ icap show status
Software version: B.V8.4.09.02.00.00
System ID: facs2.ccsusa.com
Serial number: **Confidential info erased**
Product number: AB297A
Unique ID: 
System contact e-mail: 
From e-mail: Set to the default ('system')
Asset reporting: off
Temporary capacity warning period: 15 days
Exception status: No exception

Local nPartition Status (12/19/23 12:01:34)
-------------------------------------------
Total number of configured cores: 14
Number of Intended Active cores: 4
Number of active cores: 4
Number of inactive cores: 10
Additional cores that can be activated with current usage rights: 10
Number of cores that could be activated with additional usage rights: 0
Number of cores that can be activated with temporary capacity: 0
Number of cores that are deconfigured or attached to inactive cells: 0

Instant Capacity Resource Summary
---------------------------------
Number of cells without usage rights: 0
Number of inactive cells: 2
Amount of memory without usage rights: 0.0 GB
Amount of inactive memory: 112.0 GB
Number of cores without usage rights: 8
Number of inactive cores: 26
Number of cores using temporary capacity: 0
Temporary capacity available: 70 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes
Projected temporary capacity expiration: N/A

Allocation of Instant Capacity Resources among the nPartitions
--------------------------------------------------------------
Intended Actual
nPar Total Active Active =======Inactive======= Runs
ID Cores Cores Cores Cores Memory Cells iCAP nPar Name
==== ===== ======== ====== ====================== ==== ======================
0 14 4 4 10 0.0 GB 0 Yes Partition 0 (local)
N/A 16 N/A N/A N/A 112.0 GB 2 N/A Unassigned Cells

[Hawkeye]

Hi,

Yes, I can see that you have 8cores/4CPU without usage rights, so you will not be able to activate all 4 cells.

Number of cores without usage rights: 8

[pcoviello]

@Hawkeye 

ok but if I don't have ICAP running and the OS doesnt support it,  why wouldn't I be able to activate the cells?

what about if i purchased an additional 20 licenses I should be able to activate the cells shouldn't I ?

after further thought let me ask this, is there a way I could load UX on the SAN and boot off of that and then run my NPAR commands?

thanks

Paul

[Hawkeye]

Hi Paul,

The rx8640 Complex enforces the core activation rules even with no OS running.

It knows how many iCAP (inactive) cores it should have and will try to maintain this.

You would need to purchase CPU RTU's (Right-to-Use) to activate all cores and hence all cells.

The RTU's would allow you to apply a codeword to the Complex and then activate all cells/CPU/cores.

Unfortunately, the CPU RTU's for rx8640 have been obsolete since 31Dec22 and hence are no longer available.

So, your best bet would be to utilise your rx8640 Complex that already has 4 active cells.

[pcoviello]

would you happen to know what in particular in the complex holds that info?  I would rather swap that our vs the whole unit!  those things are not light!!

if not I'll swap it at some point over the holidays

thank you 

[Hawkeye]

Hi Paul,

The iCAP inventory is securely held in the server hardware to prevent unauthorised activation of iCAP components.

You should not try to circumvent these measures and I cannot advise you on how to do this.