RU2402064C2 - Server - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: information technology.

SUBSTANCE: server has at least two central processing units connected to each other by unidirectional high-speed buses and connected to random access memory units, two system logic controllers having PCI Express x8 bus interface, the first of which is connected to the first central processing unit and the second to the second central processing unit, a system logic controller connected to the first central processing unit, having a PCI-X bus interface and connected through this interface to a dual-channel Gigabit Ethernet controller, as well as Gigabit Ethernet input-output ports and a service module having input/output interfaces Fast Ethernet, RS-232 and two USB ports. A hard-disk drive is connected to the communication line of the PCI-X bus of the first system logic controller. A USB controller which is connected to the USB socket is connected between the second system logic controller and the service module. An Ethernet switch, which is connected to the service module through the Fast Ethernet bus, is connected between the dual-channel Gigabit Ethernet controller and one Gigabit Ethernet port.

EFFECT: broader functional capabilities of the server.

8 cl, 3 dwg, 1 tbl

Description

The proposed technical solution relates to the field of computer technology and is intended for data processing, high-performance computing and computer modeling. Such devices can be successfully used in the national economy to process large amounts of information when processing seismic data, audio / video information in telecommunications, performing calculations in the field of nanotechnology, biotechnology, as well as when performing a wide variety of scientific and applied research.

The technical solution can find application in creating universal equipment for data processing in general with visualization of results, including for equipment characterized by a combination of two or more computers, each of which is at least equipped with a processor element, input / output devices, a constant and RAM, allowing multi-tasking data processing with impact on the content or arrangement of the processed data.

Known technical solution Sony "ZEGO" BCU-100 (http://pro.sony.com/bbsccms/ext/ZEGO/files/BCU-100_Whitepaper.pdf), in order to reduce the number of equipment contains a central processor, RAM, controller system logic, buffer memory block, Gigabit Ethernet bus controller, magnetic disk drive controller, USB controller, PCT Express x8 bus controller, graphics controller.

The disadvantage of this solution is the presence of a single processor and RAM unit, as well as the inability to use the most common models of peripheral cards using the PCI Express x16 bus interface.

The closest technical solution, which is selected as a prototype, is a Mercury 1U Dual Cell-Based System 2 server (http://www.mc.com/uploadedFiles/1U-DCBS2-ds.pdf), containing at least two central processors (2, 4) connected to RAM blocks (1, 3), two system logic controllers containing a PCI Express x8 bus interface, the first (5) of which is connected to the first central processor, and the second (12) to the second central processor, the system logic controller (5) connected to the first central processor having a PCI-X bus interface and connected via this interface to a two-channel Gigabit Ethernet controller (10), as well as input / output ports (18, 19, 22, 23, 24).

The RAM block used in this solution is rigidly placed on the board and does not imply any change in the amount of RAM.

This device has the following disadvantages:

- the inability to use the most common models of peripheral cards using the PCI Express x16 bus interface;

- the impossibility of changing / replacing RAM modules, which entails a decrease in performance on those applications that require a larger amount of RAM.

The problem to which the claimed technical solution is directed is to overcome these shortcomings.

The technical result achieved by using the proposed technical solution consists in expanding the functionality and flexibility of the server in terms of the used central processor with higher performance, a RAM block with the ability to change its volume, a hard disk drive controller (HDD), a USB controller, allowing increase the number of connected devices, both internal and external, of the system logic controller with PCI Express x16 interface.

The indicated technical result is achieved in that in a server containing at least two central processors interconnected by unidirectional high-speed buses and connected to the RAM blocks, two system logic controllers containing a PCI Express x8 bus interface, the first of which is connected to the first central processor, and the second to the second central processor, a system logic controller connected to the first central processor, having a PCI-X bus interface and connected to this interface to the dual-channel Gigabit Ethernet controller, as well as Gigabit Ethernet input-output ports and a service module having Fast Ethernet, RS-232 and two USB input-output interfaces, a PCI-X bus of the first system logic controller is connected to the PCI-X bus communication line, a drive controller is connected to hard magnetic disks, between the second system logic controller and the service module a USB controller is connected, which is connected to the USB connector, an Ethernet switch is installed between the two-channel Gigabit Ethernet controller and one of the Gigabit Ethernet ports, connected to the service module via Fast Ethernet us.

As well as the fact that IBM PowerXCell 8i processors are used as central processors.

And also by the fact that as a block of RAM, a block with connectors is used that provides the ability to change the amount of RAM.

And also because the second system logic controller has a PCI Express x16 bus interface.

And also the fact that the total throughput of unidirectional high-speed buses, which are connected to the central processors, is 20 GB / s.

And also by the fact that a special non-volatile memory is located in the service module, into which the system logic controllers record information about the failure of the tests.

As well as the fact that the service module is configured to boot and configure independently of the system logic controllers, which allows logging of malfunctions occurring in the system.

And also the fact that the service module is configured to perform its own internal testing and in the event of a malfunction, with the ability to record a message about this in a special non-volatile memory.

The invention is illustrated graphic materials.

Figure 1 presents a diagram of a server selected as a prototype (http://www.mc.com/uploadedFiles/1U-DCBS2-ds.pdf).

Figure 2 presents a block diagram of the proposed technical solution.

Figure 3 - image of the server Assembly in the case.

The technical solution, selected as a prototype (figure 1), contains a random access memory unit 1 connected to the first central processor 2 by a high-speed bus with a total bandwidth of 25.6 GB / s. The second block of RAM 3 is also connected by a high-speed bus with a total bandwidth of 25.6 GB / s to the second central processor 4.

Processors 2 and 4 are interconnected by two unidirectional high-speed buses with a total throughput of 20 GB / s in each direction.

The processor 2 is connected by two unidirectional buses with a total throughput of 5 GB / s in each direction with the system logic controller 5.

The system logic controller 5 is connected to the buffer memory 6. The controller also has a PCI Express x8 bus interface 7, to which it is possible to connect peripheral cards 8 of the PCI Express x1, x2, x4 and x8 standard. Controller 5 is connected to the PCI-X bus with the Gigabit Ethernet 10 dual-channel controller.

The system logic controller 12 is connected to the buffer memory 13. The controller also has a PCI Express x16 bus interface 14 to which it is possible to connect peripheral cards 15 of the PCI Express x1, x2, x4, x8, and x16 standard. The controller 12 comprises an RS-232 interface 16.

Two-channel controller 9 is connected to the input / output ports of Gigabit Ethernet 10 and 11.

Service module 21 is connected to the controller 5 and controller 12.

Service module 21 has I / O interfaces: Fast Ethernet 18, RS-232 19 and two USB 20.

The described scheme does not allow a change in the amount of RAM, which dramatically reduces the performance of the prototype server. There is no possibility of using the most common PCI Express x16 peripheral cards, which limits the functionality of the prototype server.

The proposed solution to overcome these disadvantages and presented in figure 2, contains a random access memory unit 1 connected to the central processor 2 by a high-speed bus with a total bandwidth of 25.6 GB / s. The second block of RAM 3 is also connected by a high-speed bus with a total bandwidth of 25.6 GB / s to the central processor 4.

Processors 2 and 4 are interconnected by two unidirectional high-speed buses with a total throughput of 20 GB / s in each direction.

The processor 2 is connected by two unidirectional buses with a total throughput of 5 GB / s in each direction with the system logic controller 5.

The system logic controller 5 is connected to the buffer memory 6. The controller also has an RS-2327 interface and a PCI Express x8 bus interface 8, to which it is possible to connect peripheral cards 9 of the PCI Express x1, x2, x4, and x8 standard. The controller 5 is connected to the Gigabit Ethernet 10 dual-channel controller and the hard disk drive controller (HDD) 11 by PC 1-X bus.

The system logic controller 12 is connected to the buffer memory 13. The controller also has a PCI Express x16 bus interface 14 to which it is possible to connect peripheral cards 15 of the PCI Express x1, x2, x4, x8, and x16 standard. The system logic controller 12 is connected to the USB controller 16 via a PCI bus.

The two-channel controller 10 is connected to the Ethernet switch 17. From the controller 10 and the switch 17 are Gigabit Ethernet interfaces 18 and 19.

From the USB 16 controller comes the USB 20 interface.

The service module 21 is connected to the controller 16 and the switch 17 via USB and Fast Ethernet buses, respectively.

Service module 21 has I / O interfaces Fast Ethernet 22, RS-232 23 and two USB 24.

As central processors can be used processors IBM PowerXCell 8i. As a block of RAM used block with connectors, providing the ability to change the amount of RAM. The second system logic controller has a PCI Express x16 bus interface.

The server operates as follows: after applying power, the system logic controllers 5 and 12 independently interrogate the devices connected to them and perform an initial system test. After successfully passing the tests, the controllers allow access to all interfaces to central processors and peripheral equipment. In case of unsuccessful passing of the tests, the system logic controllers record information about this in a special non-volatile memory located in the service module 21.

Each of the central processors 2 and 4 checks the presence of memory in the blocks of RAM 1 and 3, respectively, and determines its volume.

The HDD controller 11 through the PC1-X bus accesses the system logic controller 5 and requests configuration information, after which it is considered configured and ready to work.

The dual-channel Gigabit Ethernet 10 controller is also configured via the PCI-X bus.

The standard 9 PCI Express x8 peripheral card, if any, inserted into the 8 PCI Express x8 slot, is configured via the PCI Express bus from controller 5.

The serial I / O port 7, which has an RS-232 interface, is configured by the system logic controller and becomes ready for operation after a successful completion of the testing process by the system logic controller 5.

Each of the system logic controllers 5 and 12 checks for the presence of buffer memory 6 and 13, respectively, and determines its volume.

The USB 16 controller becomes ready for operation after successfully passing the testing process by the system logic controller 12. After that, the USB 20 port becomes available (ready for operation).

A standard 15 PCI Express x16 peripheral card, if any, inserted into the PCI Express x16 slot 14, is configured via the PCI Express bus from controller 12.

After configuring the dual-channel Gigabit Ethernet 10 controller, the switch 17 is configured. After performing these procedures, the Gigabit Ethernet ports 18 and 19 become available.

Service module 21 is loaded and configured independently of the system logic controllers, which allows logging of malfunctions occurring in the system. The service module performs its own internal testing. If as a result of this testing any malfunction is detected, then a message about this is recorded in a special non-volatile memory. If the test was successful, then the service module is ready for use and all its I / O ports 22, 23 and 24 become available.

After completing all the above procedures, the system is ready for operation.

The system begins with the central processor contacting the hard disk controller in order to obtain information about the latter. Moreover, the first processor in the server, whose number is hard-coded in the system logic controller, acts as the processor that accesses the hard disks and actually the leading processor. If hard drives are present, the HDD controller sends a notification about this to the processor. Next, the processor boots from the hard drive and server control is transferred to the operating system (OS).

If there are no hard drives, then the host processor tries to boot over the Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. If this did not happen, then it is possible to boot the OS via USB ports.

After loading the OS, it is possible to perform any computational actions, as well as actions to transfer information both within the server (from one logical unit to another) and between several servers and external devices, using the appropriate interfaces available from the outside.

The figure 3 presents an image of a constructive implementation of the proposed block diagram. Tests of the server created in accordance with the present invention, yielded the following results, presented below in the table.

Main characteristics Values Type of processors used IBM PowerXCell 8i Number of processors 2 CPU frequency 3.2 GHz Maximum RAM (in both blocks) 32 GB Interface Bandwidth 4 GB

PCI Express x8 PCI Express xl6 Bandwidth 8 GB Number of hard drives 2 Server performance on floating point calculations: - 32-bit operands 409.6 GFlops - 64-bit operands 204.8 GFlops Maximum power consumption 650 watts

A comparison of the results with the characteristics of the prototype shows the advantage of the proposed server, which indicates its industrial applicability.

Claims (8)

1. A server containing at least two central processors interconnected by unidirectional high-speed buses and connected to RAM blocks, two system logic controllers containing a PCI Express x8 bus interface, the first of which is connected to the first central processor, and the second - to the second central processor, a system logic controller connected to the first central processor, having a PCI-X bus interface and connected via this interface to a two-channel Gigabit Ethernet controller, and that the same Gigabit Ethernet I / O ports and a service module with Fast Ethernet, RS-232 and two USB I / O interfaces, a hard disk drive controller connected to the PCI-X bus of the first system logic controller, between the second system logic controller and a USB controller is connected to the service module, which is connected to the USB connector, an Ethernet switch is installed between the two-channel Gigabit Ethernet controller and one of the Gigabit Ethernet ports, which is connected to the service module via the Fast Ethernet bus. 2. The server according to claim 1, characterized in that the IBM PowerXCell 8i processors are used as central processors. 3. The server according to claim 1, characterized in that as the block of RAM used block with connectors that provide the ability to change the amount of RAM. 4. The server according to claim 1, characterized in that the second system logic controller has a PCI Express x16 bus interface. 5. The server according to claim 1, characterized in that the total throughput of unidirectional high-speed buses, which are connected to the central processors, is 20 GB / s. 6. The server according to claim 1, characterized in that the service module has a special non-volatile memory in which the system logic controllers record information about the failure of the tests. 7. The server according to claim 1, characterized in that the service module is configured to boot and configure independently of the system logic controllers, which allows logging of malfunctions occurring in the system. 8. The server according to claim 1, characterized in that the service module is configured to perform its own internal testing and in the event of a malfunction, with the ability to record a message about this in a special non-volatile memory.

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