iCOD Compatibility with Virtual Partitions




	NOTE: This information on virtual partitions pertains to iCOD versions B.06.x on only HP-UX 11i v1.

Overview

The iCOD versions B.06.x software co-exists with virtual partitions (vPars) version A.02.03 or greater.

To co-exist with vPars, the iCOD software modifies processor capacity using the vparmodify command. Assigning a processor to a virtual partition is equivalent to activation and removing a processor from a virtual partition is equivalent to deactivation. Only unbound processors can be added or removed from a virtual partition. Processors not assigned to a virtual partition are considered inactive.

The iCOD software must be installed on all virtual partitions in an iCOD system.




	WARNING! The icod_modify command should not be used in a virtual partition to deactivate processors if processor sets (Psets) are being used. The icod_modify command utilizes the vparmodify command which does not recognize Psets. Using the icod_modify command to deactivate a processor may cause an unintended processor to be removed from a Pset.

See the Installing and Managing HP-UX Virtual Partitions manual for details of virtual partitions. This manual can be found on the HP web site: http://docs.hp.com

iCOD Software Compatibility with vPars — Supported Hardware Platforms

Table A-2 iCOD Compatibility with vPars — Supported Hardware Platforms

Software and Version	Operating System Version	Supported Hardware Platforms	Requirements
iCOD B.06.02 (`B9073BA`)	HP-UX 11i v1	hp 9000 servers: Superdome rp8400 rp7410	vPar software version A.02.03 or greater is required

Activation and Deactivation of Processors in Virtual Partitions

The iCOD software uses the vparmodify command to instantly activate and deactivate processors. The activations and deactivations are accomplished by adding and removing unbound processors to/from a virtual partition.




	NOTE: Deferred activations and deactivations are not supported in a vPar environment.

When you execute the icod_modify command to deactivate a processor, it determines how many processors in the local virtual partition are unbound. If enough unbound processors exist to satisfy the request, the appropriate vparmodify command is executed, and the proper number of unbound processors are removed from the local virtual partition.




	WARNING! The icod_modify command should not be used in a virtual partition to deactivate processors if processor sets (Psets) are being used. The icod_modify command utilizes the vparmodify command which does not recognize Psets. Using the icod_modify command to deactivate a processor may cause an unintended processor to be removed from a Pset.

When you execute the icod_modify command to activate a processor, it determines how many processors are available for activation. If enough processors are available to meet the request, the appropriate vparmodify command is executed, and the proper number of unbound processors are added to the local virtual partition.

Whether you are activating or deactivating processors, the (appropriate) vparmodify command adjusts only the number of unbound processors, and it does not explicitly specify certain processors, or affect the number of bound processors. Any error messages that are output by the vparmodify command are displayed by the icod_modify command.

icod_stat Output Differences in Virtual Partitions

The following table outlines the differences between a vPar environment and a non-vPar environment for the icod_stat command’s output:

Table A-3 icod_stat Output Differences in Virtual Partitions

icod_stat Option	Meaning in a non-vPar Environment	Meaning in a vPar Environment
`-I, -i`	Displays the total number of inactive processors. This number includes any deconfigured processors and inactive processors that cannot be instantly activated. This is basically the reported number of iCOD processors.	Displays the total number of inactive processors in the hard partition. This number includes any deconfigured processors and inactive processors that cannot be instantly activated. This is basically the reported number of iCOD processors for the hard partition.
`-a`	Displays the total number of active processors on the system.	Displays the total number of active processors in the local virtual partition.
`-t`	Displays the total number of processors assigned to (physically present on) the system.	Displays the total number of processors assigned to the local virtual partition.




	NOTE: In a vPar environment, the usage log information displayed by the `icod_stat -u` command reflects the status of the entire hard partition, rather than the status of the local virtual partition. Also, the `Requested active processors` is the total number of processors assigned to all virtual partitions.

Example Output of icod_stat on a Partitionable System Containing vPars

/usr/sbin/icod_stat

Version:                   B.06.02
System ID:                 zoo6
Serial number:             USR4020003
Product number:            A5201A
Unique ID:                 Z3e0ec8e078cd3c7b
System contact e-mail:     mjones@corp.com
From e-mail:               Set to the default ('adm')
Asset reporting:           off
Exception status:          Negative temporary capacity balance
 
Processor Information for Local Virtual Partition
-------------------------------------------------
Assigned processors:                             1
Active assigned processors:                      1
Inactive assigned processors:                    0
Licensed processors that can be assigned:        1
Processors that can be assigned if licensed:     0
Processors that cannot immediately be assigned:  0
 
Local Hard Partition Information
--------------------------------
Total processors:                                4
Intended Active processors:                      3
Active processors:                               3
 
Global iCOD Information
-----------------------
iCOD cells:                                      0
Actual inactive cells:                           3
iCOD processors:                                 2
Actual inactive processors:                      18*
iCOD Memory:                                     0.0 GB
Actual inactive Memory:                          12.0 GB
Temporary capacity available:         (negative) 0 days, 3 hours, 0 minutes
Processors using temporary capacity:             0
Projected temporary capacity expiration:         N/A
 
 
Allocation of iCOD Resources Among Partitions -------------------------------------------------------------
nPar  Inactive  Inactive     Inactive
ID    Cells     Memory       CPUs      nPar Name
====  ========  ===========  ========  ======================
  0       0         0.0 GB      0*     zoo0
  1       0         0.0 GB       0     zoo1
  2       1         8.0 GB      4*     zoo2
  3       0         0.0 GB      0*     zoo3a
  4       0         0.0 GB       0     zoo5
  5       0         0.0 GB       2     zoo7
  6       0         0.0 GB       1     zoo6 (local)
  8       0         0.0 GB       3     zoo8
  9       0         0.0 GB      0*     zoo9
 10       0         0.0 GB      0*     zoo10
 11       0         0.0 GB      0*     zoo11
 12       0         0.0 GB      0*     zoo12
 13       0         0.0 GB      0*     zoo13
N/A       2         4.0 GB       8     Unassigned Cells
 
iCOD Partition Configuration Information
-----------------------------------------------------------------
      Intended  Actual         Compatible
nPar  Active    Active  Total  Software
ID    CPUs      CPUs    CPUs   Installed   nPar Name
====  ========  ======  =====  ==========  ======================
  0       4        4*      4       No      zoo0
  1       4         4      4       Yes     zoo1
  2       4        4*      8       Yes     zoo2
  3       0        4*      4       No      zoo3a
  4       0         4      4       Yes     zoo5
  5       2         2      4       Yes     zoo7
  6       3         3      4       Yes     zoo6 (local)
  8       0         1      4       Yes     zoo8
  9       0        4*      4       No      zoo9
 10       0        4*      4       No      zoo10
 11       0        4*      4       No      zoo11
 12       0        4*      4       Yes     zoo12
 13       0        4*      4       No      zoo13
 
* Value is based on incomplete information.
Refer to Appendix A in the iCOD User's Guide
(/usr/share/doc/icodUserGuide.pdf) for more details.

Static Virtual Partitions

If a virtual partition is static (that is, the resources cannot be migrated, added, deleted, or modified) and you attempt to activate or deactivate processors, the iCOD software displays a message indicating that the configuration of the processor resources cannot be modified.




	NOTE: The icod_stat command’s output indicates that the number of `unassigned processors that can be assigned` (to the local virtual partition) is zero if the static resource attribute for the local virtual partition is set.

LPMC Deactivations in Virtual Partitions

In a vPar environment, if the Low Priority Machine Check (LPMC) monitor deactivates a processor, it automatically replaces the failing processor with an iCOD processor from the free pool, assuming there is one available.

The failing processor remains in the virtual partition until:

If a bound processor in the virtual partition fails, it is removed after the virtual partition monitor is rebooted.
If an unbound processor in the virtual partition fails, it is removed after the virtual partition is rebooted.




	NOTE: vPars version A.03.01 (or later) is required for automatic replacement of a failed processor by the LPMC monitor.