Dynamic Reconfiguration User's Guide 2.5.1

1.1 Feature Overview

DR allows the user to physically remove, insert or repartition system boards while the operating system is still running. The user can modify the configuration of the system without shutting down the operating system. The typical applications of DR are:

• Removal of system boards with faulty I/O device/controllers, bad memory or CPU's.
• Detaching the system board temporarily to add or remove I/O device.
• Addition of new system boards to expand the CPU, memory and I/O capacity of the system.
• Partition reconfiguration - system boards can be grouped into logically independent partitions. The user can reconfigure system partitions dynamically based on demand.

It depends on the hardware model if you can remove a kernel memory board or not.

[ PRIMEPOWER 900/1500/2500 ]

• The removal of a kernel memory board is supported.

[ GP7000F model 1000/2000 and PRIMEPOWER 800/1000/2000 ]

• The removal of a kernel memory board is not supported.

Note that the system has to suspend in order to copy kernel data to another board when removing kernel memory. During the suspension, since all activities of processes and devices are stopped, all accesses to the system are temporarily disabled. For instance, the system can't response to any network requests during the suspension.

DR can be used with hardware that offers Extended Partitioning (XPAR). Refer to "Partition Operation Guide" or "Dynamic Reconfiguration Architecture Guide".

The following models offer XPAR.

• PRIMEPOWER900/1500/2500