|There are standard configurations of one to 128 processor nodes in |SP frames. Frames with only switches or SP Expansion I/O Units can be |numbered from 129 through 250 in order to allow the maximum of 128 frames with |nodes in a standard system.
You can have certain IBM servers for running PSSP 3.4. Each can be within an SP system, in which case it is called an SP-attached server, or it can be part of a system of clustered enterprise servers. These terms signify the system configuration in which a node participates when it runs the PSSP software.
|A clustered enterprise server system is independent of the SP
|system. It is comprised solely of a control workstation running the
|PSSP 3.4 software and connected to each of up to 32 IBM 
|pSeries or RS/6000 servers running the PSSP software. Such a system functions like an SP system with some limitations due
to hardware differences.
|Except where otherwise noted, discussions in this book apply to |a system with a clustered enterprise server configuration as well as to an SP |system. Except where otherwise noted, statements in this book about |function on SP nodes apply to all nodes that are running PSSP, regardless of |the physical system configuration in which they participate.
|Both the SP system and clustered enterprise server system |configurations are scalable over time to meet your changing computing |requirements.
The SP system provides a strong platform for parallel application development and execution. System management applications provided by the PSSP software, the SP switch network, and related IBM licensed programs, such as IBM Parallel Environment for AIX, enhance the parallel computing capabilities of the SP system.
Because the SP system is based on AIX and RS/6000 technology, thousands of existing RS/6000 applications can be run on the SP system, eliminating the need for costly reprogramming.
The scalability of the SP system ensures that hardware and software invested in now can continue to serve you over time.
The SP system accommodates a wide number and variety of I/O attachments and disk storage.
Enablers are provided that permit a number of commercial applications to exploit the parallel capabilities of the SP system.
The PSSP software allows you to run various combinations of serial, parallel, batch and interactive jobs concurrently.
|The control workstation serves as a single point of control for |installing, managing, and monitoring the SP system.
The PSSP software is NLS-enabled. This means that the software has been made translation-ready and can be translated to any language that is supported by AIX.