About This Manual; Audience; How To Use This Guide - HP Cluster Platform Introduction v2010 Introduction Manual

About This Manual

This manual provides an overview of the HP Cluster Platform hardware and describes how to
plan for the receipt and installation of cluster hardware in a dedicated computer facility.

Audience

This guide is intended for experienced hardware administrators of large-scale computer systems,
and for HP Global Deployment representatives. Readers of this book typically perform tasks
such as determining the site requirements for a cluster, modifying the cluster site as needed, and
preparing to receive and install the cluster. Customers can opt either to perform the planning
and preparation work or to purchase preparation and installation services from HP through its
Global Deployment organization.
This guide references skilled tasks and describes important safety considerations and is not
intended as a training aide for untrained personnel. The information in this manual assumes
that the reader has the following abilities:
• Understands the procedures for installing HP rack-mounted components and associated
rack hardware and is trained in safe work procedures.
• Understands networking concepts, network switch technology, and network cabling.
• Is qualified to perform installation planning tasks, such as power budgeting and calculating
floor loads.
• Is familiar with theory and implementation of high-speed system interconnects in modular
clustering technology.

How To Use This Guide

The HP Cluster Platform is available in many different configurations and it is not possible to
include all possible configurations in this guide. To perform site planning and preparation, use
the following procedure:
1. Determine the exact cluster configuration that will be delivered to the site. This information
is usually generated by the system configuration tools that are used by HP Sales. The sales
procedure results in a bill of materials (BOM) that specifies all the components to be delivered.
If you want to begin site planning before the cluster order is generated and a BOM is created,
you will at least need to know the size, model, and type of cluster. For example, you will
need to know if it is a 128-node, CP4000 cluster using Myrinet fiber-optic interconnect
technology.
2. Obtain the documentation for the cluster model. This guide contains specifications for the
cluster components, and other data required for planning. For example, the installation
guide enables you to determine the cluster's density (servers per rack) to calculate heat loads
and power requirements.
If you are performing advance planning and the installation guide is not yet available, use
the information provided for clusters that have similar characteristics, For example:
• The same server models, such as ProLiant DL145 and ProLiant DL585.
• The same interconnect technology, such as Quadrics® and QsNet
• Similar density (servers per rack, racks per cluster).
3. Use the data from the preceding resources to create a site plan by using the procedures and
worksheets described in this guide.
This guide can assist you in the following tasks, depending on your planning requirements.
• Performing a preinstallation site survey
• Preparing a delivery and installation schedule
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Audience 7