Planning Volume 2, Control Workstation and Software Environment

Scenario 3: Expanding the sample SP Switch system by adding a switch

Before going through the scenario, review the list of topics to consider when planning to add a switch. See The physical makeup of a switch board to understand how a switch works.

1. Switch type

   What type of switch will you be adding? The table below describes the types available. You cannot add an SP Switch to expand an SP system that already has an SP Switch-8. You must convert the SP Switch-8 to an SP Switch.

   If you are adding any of the switches in the table, an IBM Customer Engineer installs the switch hardware on your system.

2. Frame support

   Prior to adding the switch, you need to consider which frames the switch will support and record your information on the Switch Configuration Worksheet.

The switch scenario

The Sample SP Switch System has 3 frames, but only 2 switches. Frame 2 has no switch since it is a non-switched expansion frame using Frame 1's switch. Suppose you choose to give Frame 2 its own switch - apparently a preliminary step to further changes. So, Frame 2 will no longer be a non-switched expansion frame. To synchronize the switches, do the following:

1. Quiesce switch traffic.
2. Install the new switch in Frame 2.
3. Re-cable the nodes of Frame 2 to the new switch.
4. Cable the new switch (now Switch 2) in Frame 2 to the switches in Frames 1 and 4, and re-cable the switch in Frame 4 (now Switch 3) to the switch in Frame 1.
5. Choose a new switch configuration which matches the expanded system.
6. Use Eclock to synchronize the switches.
7. Set the nodes of Frame 2 to the "customize" boot status. Then reboot the Frame 2 nodes, or run pssp_script, to get the these nodes recustomized for their new switch.
8. Use the Estart command, once for each system partition, to bring up the new switch fabric.
9. Perform install tests to assure the new hardware and connections perform correctly.