Blade Workstation Video Subsystem; Figure 2-1 Video Subsystem Architecture And Operating Modes - HP ProLiant xw2x220c - Blade Workstation Administrator's Manual

2 Blade workstation video subsystem

This chapter describes the blade workstation video subsystem. Because the blade workstation contains two types
of video controllers, it is important to understand their functionality and operating modes. The two types of video
controllers are:
• ATI RN50 video controller ("ATI video controller")—The ATI Video controller is built-into the blade
workstation.
NVIDIA Quadro FX graphics adapter ("NVIDIA graphics adapter")—The xw460c blade workstation
•
supports a number of NVIDIA graphics adapters, either in single-card configurations or dual-card
configurations. See the document Hardware and Software Supported by HP ProLiant Blade Workstations
for a description of the NVIDIA graphics adapters supported by the xw460c blade workstation, as well as
whether they are supported in single-card or dual-card configurations.
The xw2x220c blade workstation supports only a single type of NVIDIA graphics adapter; again, see the
document Hardware and Software Supported by HP ProLiant Blade Workstations for a description of the
NVIDIA graphics adapter supported by the xw2x220c blade workstation
In September 2008, HP began offering the HP Graphics Expansion Blade ("expansion blade"), which attaches to
the xw460c blade workstation only. The expansion blade supports the installation of certain PCI-Express NVIDIA
Quadro FX graphics adapters. Again, see Hardware and Software Supported by HP ProLiant Blade Workstations
for a description of the PCI-Express NVIDIA graphics adapters that can be installed in the expansion blade (as
well as the NVIDIA graphics adapters that can be installed internal to the blade workstation). Note that the
expansion blade does not currently support dual graphics—that is, only one PCI-Express graphics adapter can be
installed in the expansion blade.
NVIDIA graphics adapters are installed internal to the xw460c blade workstation if an expansion
NOTE:
blade is not attached to the blade workstation. If an expansion blade is attached, graphics adapters can only
be installed in the expansion blade, not internal to the blade workstation. Unless otherwise noted, no
distinction is made in this chapter based on where the graphics adapter(s) are installed—internal to the
xw460c blade workstation or in the expansion blade—because their installation location is invisible to
Windows.
Figure 2-1 shows the blade workstation video subsystem architecture, and lists the three operating modes.
Figure 2-1 Video subsystem architecture and operating modes
video
USB x 2
serial
NVIDIA Quadro
One or two
FX graphics
NVIDIA Quadro
graphics
adapter
FX graphics
adapters
adapter
Admin Mode
User Mode
Setup Mode
ATI RN50
video controller
(1280 x 1024)
Windows desktop
in User Mode
Dual Broadcom
5708s Ethernet
controllers
iLO 2
management
processor
Boot console
Windows desktop
in Admin Mode
and Setup Mode
Blade workstation video subsystem 14
NIC 1
NIC 2
iLO 2