Optional Compute Expansion Rack

Oracle Private Cloud Appliance can be expanded by connecting the external compute expansion rack, which can contain 3, 6, 9, or 12 compute nodes.

The compute nodes are delivered in an expansion rack containing power distribution units (PDUs) and networking components to integrate the additional physical resources with the base rack. A compute expansion rack contains a minumum of 3 factory-installed compute nodes. More nodes can be installed after initial deployment, but must be added in sets of 3. Up to two expansion racks can be connected to a base rack, but you must activate expansion racks one at a time.

Installation Requirements

Site Preparation

If you have decided to expand your Oracle Private Cloud Appliance environment with a compute expansion rack, carefully plan ahead for the installation of the additional hardware. The compute expansion rack has the same external dimensions as the base rack, and contains the same type of hardware. Therefore, the base rack site requirements also apply for the expansion rack. They are described in detail in the chapter Site Requirements.

Rack Cabling

The cable connections between the base rack and the compute expansion rack must not exceed 25 meters. Allocate a space for the expansion rack near the base rack, ensuring that the inter-rack cabling is within the specified maximum length when routed through the floor or ceiling. The required cable length must be specified with the order. The default length of cables included in the shipment is 10 meters.

Connection to the Base Rack

When the compute expansion rack is in its allocated space, it must be connected to the base rack. The expansion rack leaf switches are cross-connected to the base rack spine switches to extend the data network into the expansion rack. Similarly, the expansion rack components are added to the internal management network through a cable connection between the management switches in the racks. The ports required for this setup have been reserved on all connected switches.

Note:

If you're installing a second expansion rack, manual intervention is required to configure the expansion rack switch hostnames and IP addresses. Contact Oracle Support for more information.
Connect the Management Switches

A compute expansion rack management switch must be connected to the base rack management switch using two cable links with 25Gbps SFP28 transceivers.

  • On the side of the expansion rack, use management switch ports 49 and 50.

  • Connect the cables from the expansion rack to base rack management switch ports 49 and 50.

Connect the Leaf Switches

Each expansion rack leaf switch has redundant cross-connections to the two spine switches of the base rack. There are 8 total cable links between a compute expansion rack and the base rack, using 100Gbps QSFP28 transceivers.

  • On the side of the expansion rack, use ports 33-36 in each leaf switch.

  • Connect the cables from the first expansion rack to the base rack spine switches using this pattern:

    • Leaf1 (RU18/pcaswlf03) ports 33 and 34 to Spine1 (RU29/pcaswsp01) ports 11 and 12

    • Leaf1 (RU18/pcaswlf03) ports 35 and 36 to Spine2 (RU30/pcaswsp02) ports 11 and 12

    • Leaf2 (RU19/pcaswlf04) ports 33 and 34 to Spine1 (RU29/pcaswsp01) ports 13 and 14

    • Leaf2 (RU19/pcaswlf04) ports 35 and 36 to Spine2 (RU30/pcaswsp02) ports 13 and 14

  • Connect the cables from the second expansion rack to the base rack spine switches using this pattern:

    • Leaf1 (RU18/pcaswlf05) ports 33 and 34 to Spine1 (RU29/pcaswsp01) ports 15 and 16

    • Leaf1 (RU18/pcaswlf05) ports 35 and 36 to Spine2 (RU30/pcaswsp02) ports 15 and 16

    • Leaf2 (RU19/pcaswlf06) ports 33 and 34 to Spine1 (RU29/pcaswsp01) ports 17 and 18

    • Leaf2 (RU19/pcaswlf06) ports 35 and 36 to Spine2 (RU30/pcaswsp02) ports 17 and 18

When the physical connections are in place, the compute expansion rack must be activated.

For more information, refer to Integrating a Compute Expansion Rack in the "Oracle Private Cloud Appliance Administrator Guide".