About ExpressModules (EMs)

Up to 20 PCI Express (PCIe) ExpressModules (EMs) are supported in the Sun Blade 8000 Modular System. Each EM supports an industry-standard hot-plug capability. All EMs connect to a chassis midplane that provides an interconnect between the chassis blades and the EMs installed in the chassis. The midplane connections between the chassis blade and the EM are logically defined by the midplane as shown in the following table. Viewed from the back of the chassis, the following table lists the blade-to-EM assignments.

Blade

BL9

BL8

BL7

BL6

BL5

BL4

BL3

BL2

BL1

BL0

EM slots

EM 9.0 / EM 9.1

EM 8.1 / EM 8.0

EM 7.0 / EM 7.1

EM 6.1 / EM 6.0

EM 5.0 / EM 5.1

EM 4.1 / EM 4.0

EM 3.0 / EM 3.1

EM 2.1 / EM 2.0

EM 1.0 / EM 1.1

EM 0.1 / EM 0.0

As shown in the previous table, a pair of EMs are assigned to each blade in the Sun Blade 8000 Modular Chassis.

EMs provide flexible I/O configuration options including, but not limited to, the following:

Initially, for example, the Fibre Channel (FC) EM will provide a dual 1/2/4-Gbps connection to chassis blades.

The following figure and associated table provide more information on the FC EM.

Number

Item

Description

1

EM ejector lever

Open this ejector lever to replace an EM.

2

EM network port

Port types will vary depending on the type of EM installed.

3

Power Indicator

The Power indicator provides the following indication:

  • Steady On – Lights steadily when the EM is operating normally or when the EM is not safe for removal.

  • Slow Blink – Blinks slowly when the EM is transitioning from one state to the next.

  • Standby Blink – Blinks more slowly when the EM is operational, but is not yet activated.

  • Off – The EM has no power and it is safe to remove the module.

4

Attention Button

This button provides the following function:

Quick press – Enables you to activate (if inserting) or prepare to remove (if removing) an EM during a hot-plug operation.

5

Attention Indicator

This LED provides the following indications:

  • Steady On – Lights when there is a fault with the EM.

  • Off – The EM is operating normally.

For specific information about each EM, see the following topics:

About Sun PCIe Dual-Port FC EM

About Sun StorageTek 4Gb FC Dual-Port EM HBA

About Sun Dual-Port 4x IB HCA PCIe EM

About Sun PCIe Dual-Port GbE UTP EM

About Sun PCIe Dual-Port GbE MMF EM

About the Sun Dual 10GbE XFP PCIe EM