SSP Features

SSP 3.5 software can be loaded only on Sun workstations or Sun servers running the Solaris 7 or 8 operating environment with the Common Desktop Environment (CDE). SSP 3.5 software is compatible with Sun Enterprise 10000 domains that are running the Solaris 2.5.1, 2.6, 7, or 8 operating environments. The commands and GUI programs that are provided with the SSP software can be used remotely.

The SSP enables the system administrator to perform the following tasks:

• Perform an emergency shutdown in an orderly fashion. For example, the SSP software automatically shuts down a domain if the temperature of a processor within that domain rises above a preset level.

• Create domains by logically grouping system boards together. Domains are able to run their own operating system and handle their own workload. See Chapter 3, Domain Administration.

• Boot domains.

• Dynamically reconfigure a domain so that currently installed system boards can be logically attached to or detached from the operating system while the domain continues running in multiuser mode.

  This feature is known as Sun Enterprise 10000 dynamic reconfiguration (DR). You can also perform an automated dynamic reconfiguration (ADR) of domains. (A system board can easily be physically swapped in and out when it is not attached to a domain, even while the system continues running in multiuser mode.)

  SSP 3.5 supports two different models for dynamic reconfiguration:

  • DR model 2.0 -- Uses the dr_daemon(1M) to control DR operations on domains. You can use Hostview, dr(1M) shell, or ADR commands on the SSP to perform DR operations.

  • DR model 3.0 -- Uses the domain configuration server, dcs(1M), to control DR operations on domains. You use the ADR commands on the SSP to perform DR operations.

    DR model 3.0 domains also interface with the Reconfiguration Coordination Manager (RCM), which enables you to coordinate DR operations with other applications, such as database, clustering, and volume management software running on a Sun Enterprise 10000 domain. For details on RCM, refer to the Solaris 8 System Administration Supplement in the Solaris 8 4/01 Update Collection.

  For details on the DR models and operations, refer to the Sun Enterprise 10000 Dynamic Reconfiguration User Guide.

• Assign paths to different controllers for I/O devices, which enables the system to continue running in the event of certain types of failures.

  This functionality is referred to as alternate pathing or multipathing.

  • For alternate pathing functionality compatible with DR model 2.0, use the Alternate Pathing software as described in the Sun Enterprise Server Alternate Pathing User Guide.

  • For multipathing functionality compatible with DR model 3.0, use the IP multipathing (IPMP) software included with the Solaris operating environment and the I/O multipathing (MPxIO) software. For details, refer to the IP Network Multipathing Administration Guide and the MPxIO Installation and Configuration Guide.

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    Note -

    If you require automatic switching, you must use the Alternate Pathing software. For further information, refer to the Sun Enterprise 10000 SSP 3.5 Installation and Guide and Release Notes.

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• Monitor and display the temperatures, currents, and voltage levels of one or more system boards or domains.

• Monitor and control power to the components within a platform.

• Execute diagnostic programs such as power-on self-test (POST).

In addition, the SSP environment:

• Warns you of impending problems, such as high temperatures or malfunctioning power supplies.

• Monitors a dual SSP configuration for single points of failure and performs an automatic failover from the main SSP to the spare or from the primary control board to the spare control board, depending on the failure condition detected.

• Notifies you when a software error or failure has occurred.

• Automatically reboots a domain after a system software failure (such as a panic).

• Keeps logs of interactions between the SSP environment and the domains.

• Provides support for InterDomain Networks (IDN)

• Provides support for the Sun Enterprise 10000 dual grid power option.