Sun Microsystems 240 User Manual

A Technical White Paper
January 2004

Netra™ 240 Server Architecture

White Paper Netra 240 Server Architecture

On the Web sun.com/netra240

© 2004 Sun Microsystems, Inc., 4150 Network Circle, Santa Clara, CA 95054 USA

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Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Target Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Network Equipment Providers (NEPs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Wireless Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Wireline Service Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Cable/Broadband . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Service Providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Netra 240 Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Key Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Expandability and Management Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Target Applications for the Netra 240 Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Netra 240 Server Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Front Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Motherboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

UltraSPARC IIIi Processor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Memory Subsystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

J-Bus Interconnect and JIO Hostbridge ASICs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

South Bridge ASIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Internal Mass Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Networking and I/O Expansion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Sun Crypto Accelerator 500 Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

System Configuration Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Power-On Self-Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

SunVTS Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Rackmount Enclosure and Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Environmental and Safety Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Software for Deploying Highly-Available Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Solaris Operating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Solaris JumpStart Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Sun Microsystems, Inc. Table of Contents Pi

Solaris Flash Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Solaris Live Upgrade Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Remote Management Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Advanced Lights Out Management (ALOM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Resource Management Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Solaris Resource Manager Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Solaris Bandwidth Manager Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Storage Management Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Web Services Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Netra High Availability (HA) Suite Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Service Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Professional Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Workforce Development Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Proactive System Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Sun Remote Services Event Monitoring Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

SunTone Certification and Branding Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Sun Microsystems, Inc.Pii Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Introduction

Over the past few years, deregulation and privatization have created intense competition in the worldwide
telecommunications market. The marketplace has continued to evolve as voice and data solutions become more
integrated and next-generation wireless, video, and messaging technologies emerge. The growing demand for
scalable and available services, coupled with modern economic realities, is re-shaping the design of the telecom­munications infrastructure. Now more than ever, availability of key services—with stringent service-level agree­ments increasingly common—dictates success or failure. At the same time, today’s challenging economic climate
means that successful organizations must continue to consider total cost of ownership (TCO).

Sun understands that Telecom companies have critical performance, reliability, stability, security, scalability,
and manageability requirements. To meet these needs, Sun offers the Netra™ 240 server. NEBS Level 3-certified
(DC version) and ETSI-compliant, Netra 240 servers are designed to be affordable, yet retain high-performance
functionality. Netra 240 servers run the proven Solaris™ Operating System and are compatible with the rest of
Sun’s high-performance UltraSPARC® server family—providing the performance, scalability, and expandability
necessary to help organizations respond to rapidly changing requirements. With dual processor support in a com­pact, rackmount enclosure, the Netra 240 server also addresses increasing demands for increased network band­width, more secure network transactions, and easier manageability.

Ultimately, high availability is the key consideration for many Telecom companies. The Netra 240 server incor­porates a comprehensive approach that considers people, processes, and technology. This white paper describes
the Netra 240 server’s system architecture, along with key software components for enabling high availability
through remote management and resource management, and key services that further enhance Telecom applica­tion availability.

Target Audience

The Sun Netra product line, which includes the Netra 240 server, is ideal for a wide range of applications and users
in the telecommunications industry as shown in Figure 1-1 on the following page. In addition to the telecommuni­cations industry, Netra 240 servers (both AC and DC versions) are ideal for industries including defense/military,
manufacturing, utilities, financial services, and service providers.

Network Equipment Providers (NEPs)

NEPs look for simple, reliable, rack-efficient systems based on open standards that allow them to take advantage
of Java technology, which eases new application development. Rugged NEBS Level 3-certified Netra products (DC

Sun Microsystems, Inc. Introduction P1

versions) offer features that make them ideal for use in rack-intensive deployments in less-than-ideal environ­ments. With consistent, small-footprints, Netra servers allow for easy deployment in industry-standard racks.

Wireless Operators

Communication Service Providers (CSPs) are converting their cellular infrastructures from analog to digital in
developed areas, and are beginning to build digital cellular infrastructures to reach remote, developing areas.
Third-generation wireless services offer enhancements to current applications, including greater data speeds,
increased capacity for voice and data and the advent of packet data networks (versus today’s switched networks).
Vast markets for data and voice services continue to open in Europe and the United States, while Eastern Europe,
Latin America, China, and India offer completely new opportunities. Sun offers CSPs the tools they need to succeed
in the competitive wireless marketplace. Sun plays a leading role in open computing and open networks, the basic
requirements for entrance into global seamless wireless connectivity.

Wireline Service Providers

CSPs are also expanding their offerings to include long distance, DSL, data services, and e-business and Internet
services. Sun and iForce™ partners are pioneering products, technologies, and services that take advantage of the
convergence of voice and data to increase functionality, improve efficiency, and lower costs. For example,
Enhanced Business Services (EBS) works in conjunction with telephony systems to deliver an extensive set of IP­enhanced business productivity applications via a Web-based graphical user interface (GUI). To help companies
retain and attract customers and seize new business opportunities, Sun has developed offerings designed for easy
integration into their existing infrastructure.

Sun Microsystems, Inc.P2 Introduction

Figure 1-1: The Netra 240 server is ideal for a wide range of applications and users.

Cable/Broadband

Government agencies are deregulating bandwidth, making hundreds of megahertz of bandwidth available for the
emerging technologies and systems providing broadband wireless access. A wide variety of technologies and
system implementations are being put into place to provide many different service offerings—cable, satellite,
and DSL, for instance. Flexible, reliable, available, scalable Sun products can help increase the return on invest­ment, and decrease the risk, of providing these services.

Service Providers (SPs)

Offering reliability, security, and flexibility, Sun is one of the leading vendors in the service provider industry, with
innovative programs and services targeted specifically at helping SPs drive their services into the enterprise com­munity. Sun provides solutions that can help SPs reduce operating costs, streamline business processes, differentiate
their services in the marketplace, and increase demand. Sun has strong partnerships with many of the leading
companies in the SP industry. In addition, SunTone and iForce programs are examples of how Sun works with key
partners to solve business issues for the industry.

Netra 240 Server

The Netra 240 server is designed for high-performance, high-density environments and provides significant
expandability. Occupying only two rack units (2 RU) of vertical space, the Netra 240 server is configured with high­performance, 64-bit, SPARC® Version 9-compliant UltraSPARC IIIi processors.

Like other Sun servers, Netra 240 servers run the Solaris Operating System, Sun’s benchmark implementation
of System V Release 4 (SVR4) of the UNIX® operating system. Netra 240 servers enjoy full binary compatibility
with other SPARC-based systems—including the 106-processor Sun Fire 15K server. With scalability and carefully­balanced performance, a full complement of remote management features, and data center design, these SPARC
systems allow organizations to leverage their expertise with Sun’s proven SPARC architecture and Solaris
Operating System into the telecommunications environment.

Sun designed the Netra 240 server from the ground up to meet NEBS and ETSI equipment standards. Certified
to meet NEBS Level 3 requirements (DC version), it is an ideal candidate for applications that need to operate in
harsh environments and require verified ruggedness, such as those found in telecommunication central offices,
government, and industrial applications.

Sun Microsystems, Inc. Introduction P3

Figure 1-2: The Netra 240 server is designed for high-performance, high-density environments.

The Netra 240 server includes integrated high-bandwidth networking, supported by the Solaris Operating
System. A wide range of middleware applications is also available to reduce implementation and deployment
time. Standard advanced manageability features allow for efficient, remote system administration, and high
reliability to enable ease of integration with centralized management services.

The Netra 240 server also includes features for maximized uptime as well as high performance due to its large
memory capacity and excellent expandability. All of these features are delivered in a high-performance, multi­processor server at a competitive price.

Key Features

The Netra 240 server provides additional features that improve serviceability and ultimately availability for deliv­ering applications and services:

• Advanced Lights Out Management (ALOM): A standard on-board System Management Controller module pro-

vides remote monitoring and management. System alarms, including Critical, Major, Minor, and User indica­tors and dry contacts, contribute to centralized system state monitoring through standard central office
management systems.

• Automatic server restart: Netra 240 servers can be configured to automatically reboot in the event that the

operating system becomes unresponsive—simplifying serviceability and reducing downtime.

• System Configuration Card: A removable system configuration card contains system-specific information—

accelerating system upgrades or replacement.

• Accelerated encryption: An optional Sun™ Crypto Accelerator 500 daughter card that frees PCI slots and works

with popular Web server software to provide hardware and software acceleration for authentication and
encryption of secure Web transactions.

• Front-accessible, hot-pluggable UltraSCSI disks: Front-accessible disk drives provide convenient access for service

via a bezel—easing maintenance and reducing downtime.

• Dual-redundant power supplies: Two hot-swappable power supplies on the Netra 240 server enhance availability

and reliability.

• Rack-centric design: Compact (2U) packaging and front-to-back cooling allow very dense configurations with

environmental characteristics that are certified to central office standards.

Table 1-1: Netra 240 server specifications.

Features Description

Height 2 RU

PCI expansion 1 x 64-bit 33/66-MHz 3.3V full-length PCI slot

2 x 64-bit 33/66-MHz 5V half-length PCI slots

Hard disk drive bays 2 Ultra160 SCSI

Power supply units Dual redundant AC/DC

Rotary switch Accessible behind front bezel

Expandability and Management Interfaces

The Netra 240 server also allows a wide range of peripheral expansion. Standard expansion ports include:

• Gigabit Ethernet: Four auto-negotiating 10/100/1000BaseT (Gigabit Ethernet) ports provide high-speed, high-

bandwidth networking and enhanced availability.

• Ethernet Management: A separate 10BaseT Ethernet port provides a network interface for out-of-band

management.

• Serial: A DB9 serial port allows connection to terminal servers or other devices.

Sun Microsystems, Inc.P4 Introduction