C H A P T E R  4

Creating and Starting Multiple Domains

This chapter explains how to create additional domains and how to start domains. This chapter assumes that domain A, which was set up for you by Sun, is now bootable.



Note - The system is shipped from the factory configured with one domain,
domain A. All system boards are assigned to domain A.




Creating and Starting Domains

This section contains the following procedures:

Using UltraSPARC IV+ System Boards in Domains

You can mix system boards in your Sun Fire E6900 or 6800 system configurations. The combinations of system boards affect the domain configurations that you can create. However, if a partition includes any UltraSPARC IV+ system boards, only one domain can be active within that partition.

Domain configuration options are illustrated in TABLE 4-1


TABLE 4-1 Sun Fire E6900 or 6800 System Domain System Board Combinations

Configuration

Domain A

Domain B

Domain C

Domain D

setupplatform

usiv+ Variable

US IV+ in two domains

US III+

US IV

US IV+

 

Off

US III+

US IV

US IV+

Off

a, c = true

US IV+ in one domain

US III+

US IV

US IV+

 

Off

US III+

US IV

US III+

US IV

a = true

US IV+ in one domain

US III+

US IV

US III+

US IV

US III+

US IV

US IV+

 

Off

c = true

US IV+ in no domains

US III+

US IV

US III+

US IV

US III+

US IV

US III+

US IV

a, c = false


Similar considerations apply when configuring domains in Sun Fire E4900 or 4800 systems. See TABLE 4-2


TABLE 4-2 Sun Fire E4900 or 4800 System Domain System Board Combinations

Configuration

Domain A

Domain C

setupplatform usiv+ Variable

US IV+ in two domains

US III+

US IV

US IV+

US III+

US IV

US IV+

a, c = true

US IV+ in one domain

US III+

US IV

US IV+

US III+

US IV

a = true

US IV+ in one domain

US III+

US IV

US III+

US IV

US IV+

c = true

US IV+ in no domains

US III+

US IV

US III+

US IV

a, c = false



procedure icon  To Enable UltraSPARC IV+ Domain Support

single-step bulletUse the setupplatform command to change usiv+ support for Domains A or C

For example,


schostname:A> setuppl -p usiv+
 
UltraSPARC IV+ Configuration
----------------------------
Is UltraSPARC IV+ going to be deployed in domain A? [false]: true
Is UltraSPARC IV+ going to be deployed in domain C? [false]: 

For further information about the setupplatform command, see the Sun Fire Midrange System Controller Command Reference Manual.



Note - The usiv+ option can be changed only while all domains in the affected partitions are off. For information about using the setkeyswitch command to power domains on and off, see the Sun Fire Midrange System Controller Command Reference Manual.




procedure icon  To Display the Status of UltraSPARC IV+ Domain Support

single-step bulletUse the showplatform -p usiv+ command

For example,


schostname:A> showplatform -p usiv+
 
UltraSPARC IV+ is supported in domain A
UltraSPARC IV+ is not supported in domain C


procedure icon  To Create Multiple Domains

1. Determine how many domains you can have in your system and how many partitions you need.

Read Domains and Segments. If you have a Sun Fire E6900 or 6800 system and you are planning to set up three or four domains, you will need to set up dual-partition mode (two partitions). It might be helpful to maintain at least one unused domain for testing hardware before dynamically reconfiguring it into the system.



Note - For all systems, it is strongly suggested that you use dual partition mode to support two domains. Using two partitions to support two domains provides better isolation between domains.



2. Determine the number of boards and assemblies that will be in each domain.

A domain must contain a minimum of one CPU/Memory board and one I/O assembly. However, it is suggested that you have at least two CPU/Memory boards and I/O assemblies for high-availability configurations.

If you have a Sun Fire E6900 or 6800 system, it is strongly suggested that you set up boards in a domain to be in the same power grid to isolate the domain from a power failure.

Sun Fire E6900 and 6800 systems have two power grids, grid 0 and grid 1. For information on how boards are divided between grid 0 and grid 1, see Power.

3. If you need to configure two partitions, turn off all domains. Otherwise, skip to Step 4.

a. If the Solaris operating environment is running, enter the domain console you want to power off.

See To Navigate Between The Platform Shell And a Domain.

b. If the Solaris operating environment is running, log in as superuser and halt the operating environment:


root# init 0
ok

You will see the OpenBoot PROM ok prompt when the Solaris operating environment is shut down.

c. From the ok prompt, obtain the domain shell prompt.

i. Press and hold the CTRL key while pressing the ] key to get to the telnet> prompt.

ii. At the telnet> prompt, type send break:


ok CTRL ]
telnet> send break
schostname:A>

The domain shell prompt is displayed.

d. Turn the domain keyswitch to the off position with the setkeyswitch off command:


schostname:A> setkeyswitch off

e. Disconnect from the session by typing the disconnect command:


schostname:A> disconnect

f. Configure the partition mode to dual.

Refer to the setupplatform command in the Sun Fire Midrange System Controller Command Reference Manual.

4. If the board that you plan to assign to a new domain is currently used by domain A, shut down domain A or use DR to unconfigure and disconnect the board out of the domain.


procedure icon  To Create a Second Domain



Note - It is strongly suggested that domain C, with two partitions (dual-partition mode), be used as your second domain. It provides better fault isolation (complete isolation of Repeater boards). With one partition, use domain B for the second domain.





Note - The steps to create a second domain should be performed by the platform administrator.



1. Complete all steps in To Create Multiple Domains.

2. If you have boards that are assigned, type the following from the platform shell to unassign the boards that will be moved from one domain to another domain:


schostname:SC> deleteboard sbx ibx 

where:

sbx is sb0 through sb5 (CPU/Memory boards)

ibx is ib6 through ib9 (I/O assemblies)

3. Assign the boards to the new domain with the addboard command.

4. From the platform shell, access the proper domain shell.

See System Controller Navigation.

5. Set the date and time for the second domain.

Set the date and time for the second domain in exactly the same way you set the date and time for domain A. For an example of the setdate command, refer to the setdate command in the Sun Fire Midrange System Controller Command Reference Manual.

6. Set a password for the second domain.

Set the password for the second domain in exactly the same way you set the password for domain A. For an example of the password command, refer to the password command in the Sun Fire Midrange System Controller Command Reference Manual.

7. Configure domain-specific parameters for the new domain by using the setupdomain command.

You configure domain-specific parameters for each domain separately.



Note - Is is recommended that you set up a loghost server and then assign the loghost for the domain shell. Use the setupdomain command to assign a loghost for the domain shell. See To Configure Domain-Specific Parameters.



For more details, tables, and code examples, refer to the setupdomain command in the Sun Fire Midrange System Controller Command Reference Manual.

8. After creating all domains, have the platform administrator save the state of the configuration with the dumpconfig command.

For details on using dumpconfig, see the procedure Saving the Current Configuration to a Server.

9. Start each domain after all domains have been created.

Go to To Start a Domain.


procedure icon  To Create a Third Domain on a Sun Fire E6900 or 6800 System

You create three domains in exactly the same way that you create two domains.

1. If the platform is configured as a single partition, complete Step 3a through 3e in To Create Multiple Domains to halt the Solaris operating environment for all active domains before changing partition mode.

2. Configure partition mode to dual by using the setupplatform command.

3. Decide which domain needs higher performance. Plan to assign the third domain to the partition that requires the lowest performance.

TABLE 4-3 provides some best-practice guidelines to follow.


TABLE 4-3 Guidelines for Creating Three Domains on Sun Fire E6900 or 6800 System

Description

Domain IDs

Use these domain IDs if domain A requires higher performance and more hardware isolation.

A, C, D

Use these domain IDs if domain C requires higher performance and more hardware isolation.

A, B, C

On Sun Fire E4900/4810/4800/3800 systems, when you set the partition mode to dual, this moves the MAC address and the host ID from domain B to domain C. Use the showplatform -p mac command to view the settings.


4. Perform all steps in the procedure To Create a Second Domain to create the third domain.


procedure icon  To Start a Domain

1. Connect to the domain shell for the domain you want to start.

See System Controller Navigation.

2. Turn the keyswitch on.


schostname:C> setkeyswitch on

The OpenBoot PROM prompt is displayed.

3. Install and boot the Solaris operating environment in the domain.

Refer to the Solaris Installation Guide included with your operating environment release.