About This Guide
Prev |  | Next

## About This Guide

This guide provides an overview of the Altix 330 system components, and it describes how to set up and operate this system.

The Altix 330 system is either a standalone base compute module, or a base compute module that is rackmounted and connected to one or more of the following optional modules:

- A CPU expansion compute module provides one or two additional 64-bit Intel processors and up to 16 GB of memory. One PCI and two hard disk options are available in this module.

- A 2U high PCI expansion module that provides additional PCI/PCI-X expansion slots for the Altix 330 server system. For detailed information about this module see the SGI Altix PA Expansion Module User's Guide, (007-4712-00x).

- Systems using three to eight modules (with a single operating system) must be interconnected using an optional 2U high router module. The router module or “R-brick” is an eight-port 2U high module that functions as a high-speed switch to route network packets between Altix 330 units and any option modules within a system.

- Systems requiring optional RAID mass storage can use Silicon Graphics InfiniteStorage S330 products. For detailed information on this mass storage solution, see the SGI InfiniteStorage S330 RAID User's Guide, (007-4798-00x).

- The SGI TP900 storage module provides additional non-RAID storage to the system. A short overview of this storage module is provided in “ Storage Options” in Chapter 2. For detailed information about this module, see the SGI Total Performance 900 Storage System User's Guide (007-4428-00x).

This guide is written for owners, system administrators, and users of the Altix 330 system. It is written with the assumption that the reader has a good general knowledge of computers and computer operations.

## Important Information

Your SGI system support engineer (SSE) should perform the addition or replacement of parts, cabling, and service of your Altix 330 system, with the exception of the following tasks that you may perform yourself:

- Installing your system in a rack.

- Cabling the system modules to each other.

- Connecting a system console to your server system.

- Using your system console to enter commands and perform system functions such as powering on and powering off.

- Using the On/Off switches on the front panel of your system.

- Installing and removing PCI and PCI–X cards.

- Installing and removing disk drives and the DVD-ROM drive.

- Installing and removing memory DIMMs.

## Chapter Descriptions

The following topics are covered in this guide:

- Chapter 1, “Quick Start and Installation” provides instructions for rack mounting, cabling, and operating the Altix 330 system.

- Chapter 2, “System Overview” provides a general overview of the Altix 330 system and its topology. This chapter also includes a quick description of the various components and modules that can be part of an Altix 330 system.

- Chapter 3, “Base Compute Module”describes the Altix base compute module and provides details about its internal and external components.

- Chapter 4, “PCI and PCI-X Option Module” describes the PCI/PCI-X expansion module and provides information about its internal and external components.

- Chapter 5, “Optional Router” provides a description of the optional router module used with larger systems (up to 16 processors). The chapter provides information on all connectors and front and rear external components.

- Chapter 6, “Installing and Removing Customer-replaceable Units” describes how to install and remove the following customer-replaceable units (CRUs):

  - PCI and PCI–X cards

  - Disk drives

  - DVD-ROM drive

  - Memory (DIMMs)

- Chapter 7, “Troubleshooting” describes how to troubleshoot your system by using the L1 controller and your system LEDs.

- Appendix A contains environmental and physical specifications for the Altix 330 system, as well as pin assignments for non-proprietary connectors on the Altix 330 system.

- Appendix B, “Regulatory Specifications and Safety Information” contains regulatory specifications and safety information related to the Altix 330 system.

An index completes this guide.

## Related Publications

This section lists various information sources and explains how to access them. The following SGI publications relate to the Altix 330 system:

- SGI Altix 330 User's Guide (this manual) (hard copy shipped with the system and available online) (007-4790-00x). Use this guide to become acquainted with your system and to learn how to operate and monitor the system. In addition, this guide contains information on installing the system in a 19-inch rack, cabling the system, and replacing PCI and PCI–X cards, disk drives, memory DIMMs, and the L1 display.

  | Warning: To ensure your safety and protect your system, do not add or replace any components that this guide does not designate as customer replaceable. Contact your SGI system support engineer (SSE) to install any hardware components that are not designated as customer replaceable in this guide.

- SGI Altix PA Expansion Module User's Guide (007-4712-00x) (optional). This document provides information on the features and functionality of the PCI/PCI-X optional module that can be used with Altix 330 servers.

- SGI L1 and L2 Controller Software User's Guide (007-3938-00x) (available online). This guide describes the L1 and L2 controller functions, commands, and error messages that you may need to operate and maintain your system.

- SGI Total Performance 900 Storage System User's Guide (007-4428-00x) (optional). This guide describes the SGI TP900 storage module, which provides optional additional storage for the Altix 330 system.

- SGI InfiniteStorage S330 RAID User's Guide (007-4798-001) (optional). This user's guide describes SGI's price competitive RAID solution that supports high availability mass storage for Altix 330 and other SGI server products.

- SGIconsole Hardware Connectivity Guide (007–4340-00x) (optional). This guide describes how to connect an SGIconsole to SGI server systems. You can use an optional SGIconsole to manage and monitor your system.

You can obtain SGI documentation, release notes, or man pages in the following ways:

- See the SGI Technical Publications Library at http://docs.sgi.com . Various formats are available. This library contains the most recent and most comprehensive set of online books, release notes, man pages, and other information.

- SGI ProPack for Linux documentation, and all other documentation included in the RPMs on the distribution CDs can be found on the CD titled "SGI ProPack vX.X for Linux - Documentation CD." To access the information on the documentation CD, open the index.html file with a web browser. Because this online file can be updated later in the release cycle than this document, you should check it for the latest information.

- The release notes, which contain the latest information about software and documentation in this release, are on the SGI ProPack for Linux Documentation CD in the root directory, in a file named`README.TXT`.

  | Note: There are no command line `grelnotes` or `relnotes` available on an SGI Linux system. The InfoSearch tool is not available with Linux.

## Conventions

The following conventions are used throughout this document:

Convention | Meaning
`Command` | This fixed-space font denotes literal items such as commands, files, routines, path names, signals, messages, and programming language structures.
variable | The italic typeface denotes variable entries and words or concepts being defined. Italic typeface is also used for book titles.
`user input` | This fixed-space font denotes literal items that the user enters in interactive sessions. Output is shown in nonbold, fixed-space font.
[ ] | Brackets enclose optional portions of a command or directive line.
... | Ellipses indicate that a preceding element can be repeated.
`man page`(x) | Man page section identifiers appear in parentheses after man page names.
GUI element | This font denotes the names of graphical user interface (GUI) elements such as windows, screens, dialog boxes, menus, toolbars, icons, buttons, boxes, fields, and lists.

## Product Support

SGI provides a comprehensive product support and maintenance program for its products, as follows:

- If you are in North America, contact the Technical Assistance Center at
  1 (800) 800 4SGI or contact your authorized service provider.

- If you are outside North America, contact the SGI subsidiary or authorized distributor in your country.

## Reader Comments

If you have comments about the technical accuracy, content, or organization of this document, contact SGI. Be sure to include the title and document number of the manual with your comments. (Online, the document number is located in the front matter of the manual. In printed manuals, the document number is located at the bottom of each page.)

You can contact SGI in any of the following ways:

- Send e-mail to the following address:

  techpubs@sgi.com

- Use the Feedback option on the Technical Publications Library website:

  http://docs.sgi.com

- Contact your customer service representative and ask that an incident be filed in the SGI incident tracking system.

- Send mail to the following address:

  Technical Publications
  SGI
  1500 Crittenden Lane, M/S 535
  Mountain View, California 94043

SGI values your comments and will respond to them promptly.

Prev | Table of Contents | Next
SGI Altix™ 330 System User's Guide |  | Chapter 1. Quick Start and Installation