Chapter 4 Domain Configuration 57
■ SPARC64 VI Compatible Mode (for midrange and high-end servers only) – All
processors in the domain – which can be SPARC64 VI processors, SPARC64 VII
processors, or any combination of them – behave like and are treated by the OS as
SPARC64 VI processors. The extended capabilities of SPARC64 VII processors are
not available in this mode. Domains 1 and 2 in
FIGURE 4-7 correspond to this
mode.
■ SPARC64 VII Enhanced Mode (for entry-level, midrange, and high-end servers) –
All boards in the domain must contain only SPARC64 VII processors. In this
mode, the server utilizes the new features of these processors. Domain 0 in
FIGURE 4-7 corresponds to this mode.
To check the CPU operational mode, execute the prtdiag (1M) command on the
Solaris OS. If the domain is in SPARC64 VII Enhanced Mode, the output will display
SPARC64-VII on the System Processor Mode line. If the domain is in SPARC64 VI
Compatible Mode, nothing is displayed on that line.
By default, the Solaris OS automatically sets a domain’s CPU operational mode each
time the domain is booted based on the types of processors it contains. It does this
when the cpumode variable – which can be viewed or changed by using the
setdomainmode(8) command – is set to auto.
You can override the above process by using the setdomainmode(8) command to
change the cpumode from auto to compatible, which forces the Solaris OS to set
the CPU operational mode to SPARC64 VI Compatible Mode on reboot. To do so,
power off the domain, execute the setdomainmode(8) command to change the
cpumode setting from auto to compatible, then reboot the domain.
DR operations work normally on midrange and high-end server domains running in
SPARC64 VI Compatible Mode. You can use DR to add, delete or move boards with
either or both processor types, which are all treated as if they are SPARC64 VI
processors. Entry-level servers do not support DR operations.
DR also operates normally on domains running in SPARC64 VII Enhanced Mode,
with one exception: You cannot use DR to add or move into the domain a system
board that contains any SPARC64 VI processors. To add a SPARC64 VI processor you
must power off the domain, change it to SPARC64 VI Compatible Mode, then reboot
the domain.
In an exception to the above rule, you can use the DR addboard(8) command with
its -c reserve or -c assign option to reserve or register a board with one or
more SPARC64 VI processors in a domain running in SPARC64 VII Enhanced Mode.
The next time the domain is powered off then rebooted, it comes up running in
SPARC64 VI Compatible Mode and can accept the reserved or registered board.
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