Partitioning With Multi-Adapter Configurations; Handling Static-Sensitive Devices; Multi-Initiator And High Availability; Ha Two-System/Ha Single System Configuration - IBM Power System Series Manual

Partitioning with multi-adapter configurations

Find information about partitioning considerations with dual-slot and multi-adapter configurations.
Logical partitions can own physical I/O resources. Physical I/O resources are assigned to logical partitions
at the slot level. Assigning a slot to a logical partition enables the operating system that runs in the logical
partition to control the functions of the I/O resource and power for that slot. When the operating system
powers a slot on or off, the physical I/O resource is powered on or off.
Adapter pairs are used to create multi-initiator and high availability configurations.

Multi-initiator and high availability

The terms multi-initiator and high availability (HA) refer to connecting multiple adapters (typically two
adapters) to a common set of disk expansion drawers for increasing availability. This configuration is also
referred to as Dual Storage IOA configuration. This type of connection is commonly done in either of the
following configurations.
HA two-system configuration
An HA two-system configuration provides a high-availability environment for system storage by enabling
two systems or partitions to have access to the same set of disks and disk arrays. This feature is typically
used with the IBM PowerHA
commercial computing environment that ensures that mission-critical applications can recover quickly
from hardware and software failures. The support for this configuration is operating system dependent.
HA single system configuration
An HA single system configuration provides for redundant adapters from a single system to the same set
of disks and disk arrays. This feature is typically referred to as Multi-Path I/O (MPIO). MPIO support is
part of the operating system support and can be used to provide a redundant IBM SAS RAID controller
configuration with RAID protected disks.
For more information about the PCIe3 SAS RAID controllers, see the following topics:
• SAS RAID controllers for AIX
• SAS RAID controllers for IBM i
• SAS RAID controllers for Linux
• SAS subsystem for the 9040-MR9

Handling static-sensitive devices

Find information about precautions you must take to prevent damage to electronic components from
static electricity discharge.
Electronic boards, adapters, media drives, and disk drives are sensitive to static electricity discharge.
These devices are wrapped in antistatic bags to prevent this damage. Take the following precautions to
prevent damage to these devices from static electricity discharge.
• Attach a wrist strap to an unpainted metal surface of your hardware to prevent electrostatic discharge
from damaging your hardware.
• When you are using a wrist strap, follow all electrical safety procedures. A wrist strap is for static
control. It does not increase or decrease your risk of receiving electric shock when you are using or
working on electrical equipment.
• If you do not have a wrist strap, before you remove the product from ESD packaging and installing or
replacing hardware, touch an unpainted metal surface of the system for a minimum of 5 seconds.
• Do not remove the device from the antistatic bag until you are ready to install the device in the system.
• With the device still in its antistatic bag, touch it to the metal frame of the system.
• Grasp cards and boards by the edges. Avoid touching the components and gold connectors on the
adapter.
2 Power Systems: Managing PCIe adapters
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