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Chapter 1. Technical description 7
With physical partitioning, a single multinode server complex can
simultaneously run multiple instances of one operating system in separate
partitions, as well as multiple versions of an operating system or even
different types of operating systems. The components of the server (for
example memory, CPUs, and I/O) are physically divided, under the control of
the server’s firmware and IBM Director.
The server can have up to two nodes, each capable of running its own
operating system and applications, all running simultaneously. A partition can
also span nodes, even to the point of having all four nodes serving one
operating system. Each node can be managed independently by IBM
Director.
See 5.2, “System Partition Manager” on page 150 for details.
1.3 IBM XA-32 chipset
The IBM XA-32 chipset is the product name describing the chipset developed
under the code name “Summit” and implemented on the IA-32 platform. A
product of the IBM Microelectronics Division in Austin, Texas, the XA-32 chipset
is fabricated using the latest in copper technology and is composed of the
following components:
Memory controllers — one memory controller, code named “Cyclone”, per
four-way located within the SMP Expansion Module
Processor/cache controllers — one processor and cache controller, code
named “Twis t er”, per eight-way located within the SMP Expansion Module
PCI bridges — two PCI bridges, code named “Winnipeg”, per x440 located on
the centerplane and the I/O board that control both the PCI-X and Remote I/O
Figure 1-4 on page 8 shows the various IBM XA-32 components in a four-way
x440 configuration.