This example uses logical domains implemented using Oracle VM Server for SPARC to partition and virtualize the system, in contrast to the Bare Metal Plus Zones example just completed.
A non-primary root domain (NPRD) configuration also resembles the traditional server model of having one large instance of the OS running on the server. However, in this configuration, the NPRD is isolated from the primary domain. This configuration has these features:
There is zero overhead, similar to the bare-metal configuration. You assign physical I/O devices to the domain, and use traditional methods, such as MPxIO and IPMP, for I/O redundancy.
Only the virtual console service is dependent on the control domain.
The number of root domains is typically limited by the number of PCIe root complexes available within the server.
Live migration is not supported.
This figure shows the basic layout of the single NPRD configuration. You can create additional NPRDs on these servers. The total number of possible NPRDs depends on the number of available root complexes and CPU cores, the amount of available memory, and especially, the requirements of the workload in each domain.