Figure 13: The ProLiant DL590/64 server includes an integrated Smart Array controller.
RAID implementation enhances data integrity and recovery through data striping and parity
generation for the data rebuild process. The integrated array controller improves host process
utilization by performing all RAID functions, thus freeing the host processor for other tasks. The
controller is fully integrated and embedded on the motherboard of the ProLiant DL590/64 server,
which improves I/O efficiency and frees a PCI slot for another controller. The integrated
controller can also queue tasks and data, thereby increasing performance.
The integrated controller consists of a processor, memory controller and hardware exclusive-OR
(XOR) engine, SCSI chip, PCI bridge, and an internal bus structure embedded on a single
substrate. The controller has fewer parts than typical array controllers, since all of the components
and connections are combined into one integrated circuit. With fewer parts, reliability is improved
and mean time between failures is increased.
The integrated array controller includes a 16-MB read-only memory, with an 8-MB read-ahead
cache. This memory configuration is optimal for OS and boot support. Since the memory is read
only, data loss is not an issue and battery backup is not required.
Configuration Utilities
The Option ROM Configuration for Arrays Utility is firmware that comes with the integrated
controller in the ProLiant DL590/64 server. This firmware allows users to set up a simple
configuration during the power-on self-test (POST). The support includes the ability to create up
to four logical drives, delete existing logical drives, view the current configuration, and assign an
online spare as part of the logical drive creation process.
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The Array Configuration Utility is provided for more advanced configuration support. The Array
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Configuration Utility is an easy-to-use graphical configuration utility to help users set up and
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change the drive array configurations. It can be used to configure the standard internal drive
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controller as well as any optional controller boards that are installed.
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RAID Support
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The integrated array controller supports RAID levels 0, 1, 0+1, and 5 to ensure data integrity and
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availability. When configured for RAID 5, the controller proactively generates parity data so that
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it can keep all data available and the server running during replacement of a failed drive. The
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integrated array controller also supports online spare disk drives. These spares are powered up but
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not active; they are held in reserve in case one or more of the active drives should fail.
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The controller supports logical drive expansion, which consists of three different types of
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operations: capacity expansion, RAID migration, and distribution factor changing. Capacity
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expansion can occur by either adding additional physical drives or using existing free space on the
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current physical drives. RAID migration refers to changing the RAID level of an existing logical
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drive. Distribution factor is the amount of data stored on each physical drive for a RAID stripe.
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All of these change operations can be performed without disturbing the data on the drives.
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The integrated array controller in the ProLiant DL590/64 server can be bypassed using the
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Integrated Array Bypass Kit and an optional controller such as the Smart Array 5300 controller.
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The bypass kit is shipped standard with all ProLiant DL590/64 servers.
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APID DEPLOYMENT AND MAINTENANCE
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Design excellence in serviceability and manageability enables rapid setup and deployment and
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easy management of multiple servers in growing data centers.
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Modularity and Serviceability
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The ProLiant DL590/64 server builds upon the trend towards modularity and tool-free
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serviceability. The modular design reduces the demand on technical staff time, making the
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information technology organization more productive.
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The easy-to-remove processor/memory drawer (Figure 14) enables easy access to the memory
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board. A technician can insert DIMMs without removing the board and minimize downtime by
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simply removing the memory board, replacing it with a spare, and debugging the board offline.
hardware or software error. ASR can reset the server to the OS or to the System Partition
Utilities. The ASR reset function is based on a hardware timer working in conjunction with
the server health drivers. If the server health drivers can no longer reset the hardware timer
after some user-specified amount of time, the server is automatically reset. ASR can also be
configured to page the administrator when an ASR event occurs.
maintenance, and provides powerful monitoring and control of adaptive infrastructures.
Insight Manager 7 delivers pre-failure alerting for ProLiant servers ensuring that potential
server failures are detected before they result in unplanned system downtime. Through
integration with the Version Control Repository Manager and Version Control Agent, Insight
Manager 7 enables version control and remote update of BIOS, drivers, and agents across
groups of servers. This enhances system stability, reduces troubleshooting complexity, and
reduces the cost associated with maintaining system software configurations. Insight Manger
7 integrates with Windows security for streamlined user administration and strong
authentication, and it encrypts management communications using industry-standard Secure
Sockets Layer (SSL). Insight Manager 7 is also an effective tool for managing desktops and
notebooks as well as other devices instrumented to SNMP or DMI. For more information, go
to www.compaq.com/products/servers/management/cim7-description.html
The ProLiant DL590/64 server ships standard with additional management technologies that
reduce downtime and increase productivity even more. Remote Flash Redundant ROM allows
administrators to update the read-only memory (ROM) remotely, and the ROM-based Setup
(RBSU) saves time during initial server configuration. The Integrated Management Display
(IMD) provides essential information at a glance.
ROM-Based Setup
RBSU is a set of installation tools that use embedded ROM-based configuration tools to save time
during initial deployment and enable virtual presence anywhere on the network. These tools use
SmartStart technology to build the reliable and consistent server configurations that ProLiant
customers rely on. SmartStart will not be supported on the ProLiant DL590/64 server.
With RBSU, initial configuration is fast and easy and the server is always available. RBSU
includes a look and feel familiar to ProLiant customers. Additionally, RBSU is compatible with
SmartStart Scripting Toolkit and automatic system configuration ROM code.
Remote Flash Redundant ROM
The ProLiant DL590/64 server is equipped with a Remote Flash Redundant ROM that improves
manageability. Using the Remote ROM Flash Utility, administrators can flash the system ROMs
for a wide range of ProLiant servers, locally or across the network. The Remote ROM Flash
Utility is a combination of components that allows administrators to upgrade the system ROMs on
servers from a single point of execution. The ROM upgrades can either be flashed individually or
batched together to perform multiple ROM upgrades in a single step.
Remote Flash Redundant ROM provides a unique redundancy feature that helps ensure system
availability and avoid system downtime due to a failure in the ROM flash process. This
redundancy feature uses two ROM images and gives the system the ability to recover the last
known good system ROM in the event that the current system ROM is corrupted.
When a ProLiant DL590/64 server leaves the factory, both ROM images are identical. Through
subsequent boots of the server, if integrity errors are detected by the boot block, the system will
automatically launch the redundant image and continue the POST process. If the redundant ROM
is launched, the user will see an error message identifying the faulty system ROM.
For more information, refer to the technology brief Compaq Remote-Flash Redundant ROM Technology.
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Integrated Management Display
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The IMD is a backlit liquid crystal display that allows administrators to enter server and contact
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information. Just as importantly, the IMD presents critical information, warning messages, and
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error messages in an easy-to-understand format.
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A 5-volt auxiliary power line supplies power to the IMD whenever the server power line is
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plugged in. Even if the server power goes down, the auxiliary line continues to power the IMD so
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that critical information, such as the last error message and the administrator’s name, can be
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obtained.
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The IMD unit contains its own static memory. This memory contains the software code to control
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the IMD and the text messages shown on the display. All software enhancements added in the
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future will be available through a flashable ROMPaq. During POST, all event logs, system
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information, and administrator information are uploaded from the system nonvolatile RAM.
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During runtime, new events are stored in the nonvolatile RAM and the IMD static RAM (SRAM).
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If the IMD unit is removed and replaced, all key event and system information is still available.
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OMMITMENT TO INDUSTRY-STANDARD
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To take advantage of the full performance capabilities of the Itanium processor, customers will
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need to run 64-bit OSs. Compaq will support the use of 64-bit versions of Windows Advanced
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Server, Limited Edition (Windows Enterprise Server in the .NET production version), Red Hat
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Linux 7.2, and SuSE Linux Enterprise Edition.
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To realize the full performance benefits of the Itanium processor, customers will also need to use
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64-bit applications. Since this is an entirely new processor, solution stacks that include the IA-64
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OSs, applications, and backup software will be limited at first. As time goes on, however, more
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solution stacks will be available for the Itanium processor family. Compaq is working with major
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software vendors to ensure that applications are available for those customers who will initially
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benefit most from the ProLiant DL590/64 server.
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Initially, customers using applications that can take advantage of the ProLiant DL590/64 server’s
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large memory footprint will benefit most. As mentioned earlier, the ProLiant DL590/64 server
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will support up to 64 GB of main memory. That’s four times more than most servers available
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today and will benefit applications that move large amounts of data in and out of memory. In
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some cases, entire databases may be able to fit in memory so that the server never needs to access
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data from the disk. The ProLiant DL590/64 server will offer significant performance
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improvements in this type of environment.
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Customers who use Terminal Services can also expect improved performance with the ProLiant
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DL590/64 server. Terminal Server is very dependent on the amount of kernel space that the OS
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makes available. The 64-bit Windows Advanced Server, Limited Edition OS allows much more
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kernel memory space and will enable customers to greatly increase the number of users.
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Compaq is partnering with leading application vendors such as Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, JD
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Edwards, SAS, Veritas, Legato, and BMC to ensure 64-bit applications will be available. Compaq
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has also invested in developing 64-bit versions of standard ProLiant system management tools.
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These tools include a new 64-bit version of next-generation SmartStart that assists users with
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installing OSs and other software and a new support CD that includes several diagnostic tools and
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system utilities.
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Compaq has developed new 64-bit Insight Manager agents to support Insight Manager XE. In
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addition, Compaq has developed 64-bit versions of the Power Supply Viewer, IML Viewer, IMD
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Configuration Utility, and the enhanced idle screen utility as a part of a new web-based
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management suite.
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64-B
IT COMPUTING
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Additionally, Compaq will provide 64-bit drivers for the latest versions of Compaq’s popular PCI
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options cards, including the Smart Array 5300, Intelligent Fibre Channel host bus adapter, and the
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NC3134 Dual 10/100 gigabit upgradeable NIC.
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ONCLUSION
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The ProLiant DL590/64 server offers customers a high-performance entry into the 64-bit
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technology arena. The server provides all the high-availability features customers have come to
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expect from ProLiant servers plus integrated management technologies and revolutionary
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serviceability features that further reduce downtime and improve manageability.
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For customers needing the greater performance of a 64-bit architecture combined with availability,
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manageability, and serviceability, the ProLiant DL590/64 server is an excellent choice.
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Development of this server demonstrates Compaq’s commitment to provide industry-standard
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servers that exceed customer expectations. As business requirements become more demanding,
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Compaq will continue to deliver servers that meet those requirements and can be expanded to meet