1. Oracle Server X8-8 Service Manual
  2. Configuring the System Socket Modes
  3. System Socket Mode Configurations

System Socket Mode Configurations

This section provides information about Oracle Server X8-8 single 4-socket systems, dual 4-socket systems, and single 8-socket systems.

Oracle Server X8-8 is divided into two sides, System A and System B, that you can configure into two 4-socket servers, or one 8-socket server. The two sides can operate together as one 8-socket server, or can be configured as independent systems to operate as two 4-socket servers (System A and System B). In both server configurations, Oracle Server X8-8 includes four power supplies PS0-3, eight fan modules (FM0-7), and eight dual PCIe card carriers (DPCCs).

Fan modules and DPCCs receive power from the CPU Modules (CMODs), so in a four-CMOD configuration, only fan modules FM0-3 and DPCCs 0-3 are active. Fan modules FM4-FM7 and DPCCs 4-7 are not powered and are not active. For server component information, see Product Description.

The Oracle Server X8-8 supports four-CMOD and eight-CMOD configurations. Server upgrades from single 4-socket server to dual 4-socket servers require four CPU module upgrade kits with processor modules to upgrade from four CMODS to eight CMODS. Use the additional four CMODs to configure Oracle Server X8-8 with increased processing capabilities. See Oracle X8-8 CPU Packages.

Customers can configure single 8-socket (1x8) servers for dual 4-socket (2x4) mode or dual 4-socket (2x4) servers for single 8-socket (1x8) mode, as required. Service engineers can configure single 4-socket (1x4) servers for dual 4-socket (2x4) mode or single 8-socket (1x8) mode operation, as required. The configuration changes are categorized as customer-replaceable units (CRU) or field-replaceable units (FRU) as follows:

  • Configure a single 4-socket server to a dual 4-socket server (FRU)

  • Configure a dual 4-socket server to a single 8-socket server (CRU)

  • Configure a single 8-socket server to a dual 4-socket server (CRU)

  • Configure a single 4-socket server to a single 8-socket server (FRU)

Note:

During server reconfiguration, administrators must manually clear all existing faults before a 4-socket mode to 8-socket mode change.

Oracle Server X8-8 systems that were ordered as single 4-socket (1x4) servers can be upgraded to dual 4-socket (2x4) or single 8-socket (1x8) servers by service engineers. Since identity information for B-side is preprogrammed as Midplane FRUPROM#1 and SMOD1, when the System B side is booted for the first time after the hardware upgrade (adding CMOD4-7), Oracle ILOM will automatically program the top-level indicator (TLI) information to CMOD4 (Backup Container 2). No manual intervention is required.

The single 4-socket Oracle Server X8-8 system is factory-configured as (2x4) mode, with all System B components installed, except for the CMODs, which service engineers need to install in the empty CMOD bays 4-7. The System B System Module (SMOD1), power supplies, fans, dual PCIe card carriers, and midplane are all pre-tested in the factory when Oracle Server X8-8 system is shipped. Storage drives are included.

For information about server modes, refer to Server Components in Oracle Server X8-8 Installation Guide.