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45nm Xeon blade runs Linux

Jan 26, 2009 — by Eric Brown — from the LinuxDevices Archive — 4 views

Adlink Technologies is shipping a 6U CompactPCI dual-Xeon processor blade that runs Linux and targets networking, telecom, and military equipment. The PICMG 2.0 compliant cPCI-6920 blade supports up to two Quad-Core or Dual-Core Intel Xeons built on 45nm process technology.

(Click for larger view of the dual-slot cPCI-6920D blade)

The cPCI-6920 blade uses Intel's 5100 “San Clemente” chipset, together with Intel's 5400 series (“Harpertown”) Xeon processor. The parts debuted earlier this year, and boast a seven-year lifecycle guarantee. Intel describes the Harpertown/San Clemente combo as “the first 45nm CPU platform” targeting computing blades with thermal constraints.

The cPCI-6920 series is available in 4HP(cPCI-6920) and 8HP (cPCI-6920D) CompactPCI form factor versions, says Adlink. The single-slot 4HP model (pictured below) offers a single CPU socket that can be equipped with a Quad-Core Intel Xeon (L5408) or a Dual-Core Intel Xeon (LV 5138) processor. It offers dual SO-RDIMM (small-outline, registered DIMM) sockets, for up to 8GB memory.

The dual slot 8HP (cPCI-6920D), meanwhile, supplies dual CPU sockets that can be equipped with two Quad-Core L5408 Xeons or two Dual-Core LV 5138 Xeons. It has four SO-RDIMM sockets provided for up to 16GB memory.


Single-slot, single-processor cPCI-6920, with heatsink

Both cPCI-6920 series models offer 1066MHz front side buses, says Adlink. The blades ship with 4GB of embedded USB NAND flash, and offer a CompactFlash slot for expansion. For I/O expansion, the cPCI-6920 includes a 64bit/66MHz PMC site (processor mezzanine card), or a x8 (“by-eight”) PCI-Express XMC site that supports options such as 10-gigabit Ethernet and high-end graphics boards.


Dual-slot, dual-processor cPCI-6920D, with RTM
(Click to enlarge)

A rear transition module (RTM) provides for RAID 0/1 enabled SATA/SCSI storage, and offers room for a 2.5-inch SATA hard drive directly mounted on the single-board computer (SBC) and RTM, says Adlink. Connectivity is said to include four RJ-45 gigabit Ethernet ports, eight USB 2.0 ports, two DB-9 serial ports, and a DB-15 analog graphics port.

Specifications listed for the 4HP cPCI-6920 and 8HP cPCI-6920D include:

  • Processor — Single Xeon in 4HP cPCI-6920; Dual Xeons in 8HP cPCI-6920D
  • Quad-Core option — FC-LGA771 Quad-Core Intel Xeon Processor 2.13GHz (L5408), 12MB L2 cache, 1066MHz FSB
  • Dual-Core option — FC-LGA771 Dual-Core Intel Xeon Processor LV 2.13GHz (5138), 4MB L2 cache, 1066MHz FSB
  • Chipset — Intel 5100 MCH and ICH9R I/O Controller Hub
  • Memory — Dual channel DDR2-667 registered memory with ECC, up to 16GB (8HP only); 2 x (4HP) or 4 x (8HP) 200-pin SO-RDIMM sockets
  • Flash — 4GB USB NAND flash onboard
  • CompactPCI Bus — 64bit/66MHz CompactPCI Bus, V(I/O) 3.3V only (master or standalone)
  • PICMG compatibility:
    • PICMG 2.0 CompactPCI R3.0
    • PICMG 2.1 Hot Swap R2.0
    • PICMG 2.9 System Management v.1.5 R1.0
    • PICMG 2.16 Packet Switch Backplane R1.0
  • PMC/XMC — PCI 64bit/66MHz PMC or PCI-Express x8 XMC site; 3.3V PCI signaling (8HP version only)
  • Graphics — AMD ATI ES1000 on PCI 32bit/33MHz bus with DDR2-533 64MB memory; analog RGB up to 32bit 1600×[email protected] refresh
  • Display interface — DB-15 VGA port on front and rear panels, mirror display
  • SBC storage — removable CompactFlash slot; optional SATA port on SBC for 2.5-inch HDD direct mounting
  • RTM storage:
    • 2 x 7-pin connectors for external SATA
    • SATA port for 2.5-inch onboard SATA HDD (8HP version only)
    • Optional CompactFlash slot onboard (8HP version only)
    • 1 x internal and 1 x external 68-pin SCSI connector by LSI53C1020 SCSI Ultra320 single-channel controller
  • Networking:
    • 2 x PCI-Express Intel 82571EB dual-port gigabit Ethernet controllers
    • 2 x 10/100/1000BASE-T front panel egress ports
    • 2 x 10/100/1000BAST-T PICMG 2.16 ports
  • USB — 8 x USB 2.0 ports; up to 4 x front-facing ports; up to 6 x ports routed to rear
  • Serial — DB-9 16C550 compatible RS-232 port on front panel (8HP version only); 2 x serial ports routed to rear
  • Other I/O — PS/2 keyboard/mouse combo port on front or rear panel (8HP version only)
  • Other features — Watchdog timer; hardware monitoring; coin-cell Lithium battery; status LEDs
  • Operating temperature — 32 to 131 deg. F (0 to 55 deg. C)
  • Power — 5V 13.9 A, 69.5 W; 3.3V 11.9 A, 39.3 W; total 109.8 W (for single Quad-Core L5408, 4 x 2GB SO-RDIMMs, 60GB SATA HDD onboard under Windows XP with 100 percent CPU loading)
  • Dimensions — 9.2 x 6.3 inches (233 x 160mm); 6U 4HP/ 8HP CompactPCI format
  • Operating system — Fedora Linux Core 8; Windows XP Professional; Windows Server 2003

Availability

The cPCI-6920 and cPCI-6920D blades are available now at an undisclosed price, according to Adlink. More information may be found here.


 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.



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