Compaq DL590 - HP ProLiant - 1 GB RAM Technology Brief page 18

TC020702TB
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ECHNOLOGY RIEF
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Integrated Management Display
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The IMD is a backlit liquid crystal display that allows administrators to enter server and contact
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information. Just as importantly, the IMD presents critical information, warning messages, and
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error messages in an easy-to-understand format.
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A 5-volt auxiliary power line supplies power to the IMD whenever the server power line is
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. . plugged in. Even if the server power goes down, the auxiliary line continues to power the IMD so
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that critical information, such as the last error message and the administrator's name, can be
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obtained.
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The IMD unit contains its own static memory. This memory contains the software code to control
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the IMD and the text messages shown on the display. All software enhancements added in the
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future will be available through a flashable ROMPaq. During POST, all event logs, system
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information, and administrator information are uploaded from the system nonvolatile RAM.
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During runtime, new events are stored in the nonvolatile RAM and the IMD static RAM (SRAM).
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If the IMD unit is removed and replaced, all key event and system information is still available.
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O M M I T M E N T T O
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To take advantage of the full performance capabilities of the Itanium processor, customers will
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need to run 64-bit OSs. Compaq will support the use of 64-bit versions of Windows Advanced
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Server, Limited Edition (Windows Enterprise Server in the .NET production version), Red Hat
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. . Linux 7.2, and SuSE Linux Enterprise Edition.
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To realize the full performance benefits of the Itanium processor, customers will also need to use
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64-bit applications. Since this is an entirely new processor, solution stacks that include the IA-64
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OSs, applications, and backup software will be limited at first. As time goes on, however, more
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solution stacks will be available for the Itanium processor family. Compaq is working with major
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software vendors to ensure that applications are available for those customers who will initially
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benefit most from the ProLiant DL590/64 server.
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. . Initially, customers using applications that can take advantage of the ProLiant DL590/64 server's
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large memory footprint will benefit most. As mentioned earlier, the ProLiant DL590/64 server
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will support up to 64 GB of main memory. That's four times more than most servers available
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today and will benefit applications that move large amounts of data in and out of memory. In
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. . some cases, entire databases may be able to fit in memory so that the server never needs to access
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data from the disk. The ProLiant DL590/64 server will offer significant performance
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improvements in this type of environment.
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Customers who use Terminal Services can also expect improved performance with the ProLiant
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DL590/64 server. Terminal Server is very dependent on the amount of kernel space that the OS
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makes available. The 64-bit Windows Advanced Server, Limited Edition OS allows much more
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kernel memory space and will enable customers to greatly increase the number of users.
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Compaq is partnering with leading application vendors such as Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, JD
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Edwards, SAS, Veritas, Legato, and BMC to ensure 64-bit applications will be available. Compaq
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has also invested in developing 64-bit versions of standard ProLiant system management tools.
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These tools include a new 64-bit version of next-generation SmartStart that assists users with
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installing OSs and other software and a new support CD that includes several diagnostic tools and
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system utilities.
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Compaq has developed new 64-bit Insight Manager agents to support Insight Manager XE. In
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addition, Compaq has developed 64-bit versions of the Power Supply Viewer, IML Viewer, IMD
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Configuration Utility, and the enhanced idle screen utility as a part of a new web-based
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management suite.
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