C H A P T E R  1

Overview

This chapter provides an overview of the Sun IB-Host Channel Adapter PCI-ExpressModule. It includes the following sections:


Product Features

Sun IB-Host Channel Adapter PCI-ExpressModule card features include:


Hardware Overview

The Sun IB-Host Channel Adapter PCI-ExpressModule is an InfiniBand (IB) host channel adapter (HCA) ExpressModule (EM) and is referred to as the IB-EM in this manual. This IB-EM is a high performance, highly integrated dual 4x InfiniBand adapter. The adapter supports a single x8 PCI-Express connection, which provides full duplex data transfers of up to 16 Gbps. FIGURE 1-1 shows the IB-EM card

The board characteristics are:

The standard PCI-Express interface is used for data traffic, management traffic, and to generate and receive inbound configuration packets


FIGURE 1-1 Sun Dual Port 4x IB Host Channel Adapter PCI-ExpressModule

 


I/O Interfaces

The IB-EM includes the following interfaces:

InfiniBand Interface

The IB-EM provides two 4x InfiniBand v1.1 connector (or ports) for external copper cables and is IBTA specification 1.1-compliant.

PCI-Express Interface

The PCI-Express bus is a PCI-Express x8 version 1.0a-compliant interface. The adapter can be either a master initiating the PCI bus operations or a slave responding to PCI bus operations. The PCI-Express bus can connect to a host CPU in an HCA application.

LED Displays

Two InfiniBand ports connectors are located on the front panel of the adapter. Each port has two LEDs, as shown in FIGURE 1-2. An explanation of the LEDs is given in TABLE 1-1.


TABLE 1-1 IB-EM LEDs

Color

Meaning

Green

Physical Link - The physical link LED illuminates once the Tavor driver is successfully attached to the port.

Amber

Logical Link - The logical link LED illuminates once the InfiniBand port is in the Up state. This LED also blinks when there is traffic on the port.



FIGURE 1-2 LED Layout

Figure showing the adapter faceplate with 2 ports and 4 LEDs, 2 per port.



Hardware, Software, and Cable Requirements

The hardware, software, and cable requirements for the Sun IB-Host Channel Adapter PCI-ExpressModule card are listed in TABLE 1-2.


TABLE 1-2 Hardware , Software , and Cable Requirements

Operating System

Servers

Solaris 10 1/06 Operating system and future compatible releases

RedHat Enterprise Linux 4.0 Update 3

Suntrademark Fire X8000

InfiniBand Switches

X3152A

Suntrademark InfiniBand Switch P9, interoperable with most leading IB switch vendors

Diagnostics Version

 

SunVTS Version 6.0 Patch Set 1 and subsequent compatible releases

Supported Cables

X9280A

X9281A

 

Sun 4x-to-12x InfiniBand cable, 2 meter length

Sun 4x-to-12x InfiniBand cable, 5 meter length

 




Note - Use only supported cables to ensure reliable InfiniBand interface connections. These cables can be ordered from Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Connecting to other IB switch vendor ports may require 4x-4x IB cables. Refer to the documentation for the IB switch you use.