Solaris

Hi all,

I understand SP is a separate processor use for management purposes.
I understand XSCF is the management facility (similar to IDRAC, ILOM etc).

I understand that we can create multiple domains in a SPARC machine (something like VM) and we can install OS in it.

I am able to use XSCF to managed (e.g. poweron and poweroff) domain etc.
I have also configure an IP on XSCF interface in other to access it via HTTP or SSH.
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What i don't understand is DSCP ? It is said that it is required for the SP to communicate with the DOMAIN.

Is it part of XSCF ? ( I did not setup any DSCP ip and i can still communicate (poweron/off/connect to domain console) using XSCF

It also seems to me that XSCF have 2 interface ( 1 for ssh/http access) and another that is use for DSCP ?

Can some gurus shed some light on what DSCP is and what can it do ?


Regards,
Noob

The DSCP network is a hardwired connection between the XSCF and the Solaris domain. If you do an ifconfig -a in Solaris you should be able to see the interface named sppp0.

Read here for some more informations:
https://blogs.oracle.com/olympus/entry/dscp

The two XCSF network interface are for external connections to two different subnets for management. With one XSCF there is no automatic failover between network interfaces. The larger systems have two XSCF with combined 4 interfaces in two different subnets, which can automaticly failover if one XSCF fails.

So:
- M3000, M4000 and M5000 -> One XSCF
- M8000 and M9000 -> Two XSCF

and all the newer M10-1, M10-4 and M10-4S only have one XSCF (build in) again with two network interfaces and an internal DSCP network.

Hi DukeNuke2,

Thanks for the insight.
Can i confirm

Between XSCF to the external network, the interfaces are the actual "physical" interfaces that we can see on the physical box itself, whereas

Between XSCF to the domains, the interface are internally wired and is not "visible" to the naked eye.

Right?
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However, i am not so sure about the benefits of configuring DSCP (it seems like in the blog, the only purpose is to access the SP from domain as well as ntp, archiving purposes).

Without DSCP, i can still connect to XSCF from external network and i can still use it to poweron/off the domains (without the "internal network" ).

Having said that, it seems like XSCF can still access the domain (power on/off), even without DSCP.

So what are the real benefits of having a domain being able to reach a SP ? (beside NTP) ?

Maybe i am not seeing the full picture here..
Hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Noob

I don't know what kind of benefits you are expecting. The blog gives an insight about the benefits and I can't think of anything more to add to that list...

Hi DukeNuke2,

Yeap. Thanks for the link.. Actually before all these, i thought by having DSCP, i am able to have better monitor of the domains (e.g. resources etc) through the XSCF web interface.

Regards,
Noob