If I can and how to convert a vpar to a npar server?

[Hanry Zhou]

I have a vpar( 2 cpu's and 2 Gb memory), and it is one of two vpar's in the Npar server. This npar server is one of 8 ones withing SD-1600 superdome.
console is shared by these two vpar in the same npar.

Now, I want to chop up the vpar into two smaller vpar(1 cpu and 1gb memory each for such 2 smaller vpar's), and then configure it (currently is a vpar) as a Npar server. Can I do that , and how are steps to create such environment from the scratch?
Thanks,

[Ravi_8]

Hi,

npar is basically physical partition,
vpar are created inside npar.

if you removed all the vpars existing inside a npar,then that npar will act as single machine.

Now, chopping the 2way 2GB vpar into 2 vpars is based on how you created that vpar(number of processor you have assigned, memory allocated and I/O)If you have 1 floating processor and 1GB mem as floating for each vpar, then you can take away remaining 1cpu and 1GB (use vparmgr GUI to do this)to create another vpar.

otherwise remove the existing vpar (vparremove -p and recreate the 2 vpars needed by assigning 1 cpu and 1GB for each vpar.

[melvyn burnard]

no you cannot do this.
You can only subdivide an nPar into vPars, not the other way round.
vPars are software based, nPars are hardware based.
You can certainly divide your vPar up into two smaller vPars if that is what you wish to have.
You will have to shutdown the vPar, then modfy it's conf using vparmodify to take out the cpu/memory/hardwre paths you do not wish to be in the vpar, and then reboot it.
Then use vparcreate to create the second vPar using the cpu/memory that you have just removed from the first vPar, not forgetting to add in the hardwar epaths for your boot disk etc, and then insgtall the OS.

[Hanry Zhou]

Thanks for the response.

But, can you please let me know the detail reason why I can form a npar from currently configure vpar? I know npar is hardware based server, but can't I just use those existing components to form a npar?

[melvyn burnard]

An nPar MUST have a core I/O card assigned to it, and also has a console port(accessible via the GSP in a Superdome). A vPar uses virtual consoles "attached" to this physical console.
Also, an nPar has to have a minimum of one cell in a superdome, with anI/O chassis attached.
As you have already split up your nPar into vPars, you cannot create a nPar from a portion of a cell.

[Dave Hutton]

I've never really used vpars.

But assuming you were to have a free core cell that wasn't assigned or being used.
Can you ignite a vpar? Create an npar and lay down the ignite on the npar?

[Geoff Wild]

As Dave mentioned - if you really want this vpar in a stand alone npar, then back it up, and restore it to your npar.

Rgds...Geoff