Sun Updates Midframe Servers With Dynamic System Domain, Reconfiguration

Sun Microsystems

Dynamic reconfiguration allows CPUs, memory and I/O interfaces to be allocated to multiple partitions within a server on-the-fly. This enables a server to be divided into dynamic system domains, which are fault-isolated and security-isolated domains that can be resized as needed, said Chris Kruell, group marketing manager for the company's enterprise systems products.

The 6800 can be configured into up to four domains, while the other Midframe servers can be configured in one or two domains, said Kruell.

The main benefit to dynamic reconfiguration is continuous uptime, Kruell said. If there is a hardware or software fault in one domain, it is isolated from the other domains, he said. The servers can be upgraded while the system is running. Also, he said, it helps with server consolidation by enabling more than one isolated domain to be run on a single server.

As an example, Kruell said corporations typically run separate servers for production, testing and training use. However, these three functions could be run on a single 6800 Midframe server. "The production work can be mission-critical," he said. "But the test environment, since it is typically used to try new operating systems or applications, can crash all you want and it won't affect the production environment."

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In another example, dynamic reconfiguration will allow CPUs, memory and I/O to be temporarily deallocated from testing and reallocated to financial applications at the end of every month, said Kruell.

The new capabilities are unlike anything IBM is currently offering, Kruell said. IBM's pSeries allows static partitioning, which requires the system to be rebooted to change partition size, while the Midframe partitions can be reconfigured on-the-fly, he said. In addition, the pSeries uses software domain reconfiguration so if a piece of hardware fails, it takes down all the partitions, he said.

The upgrade to Solaris to allow dynamic system domain and dynamic reconfiguration capabilities can be downloaded free of-charge and will work with all currently installed Midframe servers, said Kruell.