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6
Selecting the Host Connector
•
"Installing HCA Host Drivers" on page 15
The following types of connectors are supported:
•
"Selecting PCI-X Connector(s)" on page 6
•
"Selecting PCI-Express Connector(s)" on page 7
Selecting PCI-X Connector(s)
The HCA requires that specific PCI-X slots be used.
When determining which PCI-X slot to use, inspect the server chassis and keep the following in mind:
Consider the Speed of the Slot
Locate the 133MHz PCI-X (64-bit, 3.3V) or 100MHz PCI-X (64-bit, 3.3V) slots.
A conventional PCI 64-bit connector is not recommended as the first option, but is supported.
Systems with 66 MHz PCI-X connectors are supported.
Consider Other Devices on the Bus
It is recommended that you select a connector that is the only one on that particular PCI-X bus. This is
most often the case for the 133MHz connectors.
Use the mother board (server) documentation in order to get a block diagram of all the available
PCI-X/PCI buses. This will help you determine which connectors belong to which bus. If this is not
obvious from the documentation you may need to contact the server vendor technical support.
If there are two connectors (or more) on the same PCI-X bus, make sure to remove all other devices
from this bus. It is highly undesirable to have another device on the same PCI-X bus, as performance
will most likely be affected. However, if performance is not a concern and the frequency of the PCI-X
bus is 100MHz, it is permissible to have two devices (for example, an IB HCA and GE NIC) on the
same bus.
If the bus is 133MHz, it is mandatory that you remove any other devices so that the InfiniBand HCA is
the only device on that bus.
Consider Cooling
Most HCAs have totally passive cooling, which means there are no extra fans installed on the board.
It is mandatory that you arrange for suitable airflow to go around the HCA head sink. This may mean
choosing PCI-X slots that do not place the HCA too close to another card.
In addition, some server chassis vendors provide extra fan assemblies, and you should make sure to
have them installed.
Consider the Physical Stability of the Installation
When selecting the PCI-X slot, consider whether the HCA(s) can be installed in such a way that they are
absolutely secure. It is possible to stress the HCA connectors while arranging the cables. A poorly
secured HCA could also damage the PCI-X connector mechanically.
Consider the PCI-X Frequency Configuration
It is important that you verify the PCI-X frequency configuration.
Some motherboards have jumper configurations for the PCI-X frequency. Check the mother board
documentation and verify that the frequencies are set to 133MHz or 100MHz.
Some mother boards are PCI-X frequency-configurable via the CMOS BIOS setup, and some provide
jumpers and CMOS configuration.
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