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Onyx2 Deskside/Orign200 NUMAlink Connectivity? - Printable Version

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Onyx2 Deskside/Orign200 NUMAlink Connectivity? - kaigan - 11-22-2019

Hey, everyone,

With my Onyx2 Deskside up and running, I was curious to try connecting it up to an Origin200 via NUMAlink from an Onyx2 Standard Router to see if the devices would talk to each other. It seems that they do, although I'm receiving messages about PROM revisions being out of date. Apparently that's fairly common. That said, even if I get the PROM flashed and resolve that issue, would that setup even be a valid topology? Or am I out of luck in trying to get the two functioning together?

I appreciate any advice folks can provide! Thanks in advance!

RE: Onyx2 Deskside/Orign200 NUMAlink Connectivity? - Irinikus - 11-22-2019

It's quite interesting that the Onyx2 only has space for one standard router. I wonder if it cant be used to link the machine to a G-Brick?
I'm thinking of installing a standard router in my machine too.
Here's the rear panel of a G-Brick:

[Image: 61tCio5.gif]

RE: Onyx2 Deskside/Orign200 NUMAlink Connectivity? - jan-jaap - 11-23-2019

(11-22-2019, 10:15 PM)kaigan Wrote:  That said, even if I get the PROM flashed and resolve that issue, would that setup even be a valid topology?
No.

(11-22-2019, 10:15 PM)kaigan Wrote:  Or am I out of luck in trying to get the two functioning together?
Yes.

In short:
* An O2K deskside has *two* routers, and if you numalink it to another, you need both routers to create a valid topology.
* An Onyx2 rack is an O2K with a graphics module attached using one or two XTown XIO card(s). Both router slots are available.
* In an Onyx2 deskside the graphics attach to what would have been a router slot, not an XTown. The remaining slot is useless and filled with a dummy router.

If you want the longer version, look up valid hypercube toplogies in the "Hardware Quick Reference - Origin and Onyx2" (the one with the purple cover).

You're not the first one to experiment with this. There used to be a 10-page thread on Nekochan about it, and it doesn't work.

NB: I guess you can attach a G-brick to a deskside, you just need one or two XTown cards. Never seen it done though, there may be other pitfalls.

RE: Onyx2 Deskside/Orign200 NUMAlink Connectivity? - kaigan - 11-23-2019

(11-23-2019, 01:56 PM)jan-jaap Wrote:  In short:
* An O2K deskside has *two* routers, and if you numalink it to another, you need both routers to create a valid topology.
* An Onyx2 rack is an O2K with a graphics module attached using one or two XTown XIO card(s). Both router slots are available.
* In an Onyx2 deskside the graphics attach to what would have been a router slot, not an XTown. The remaining slot is useless and filled with a dummy router.

Thanks for the info! I really appreciate it!

RE: Onyx2 Deskside/Orign200 NUMAlink Connectivity? - kaigan - 11-23-2019

One other question for Onyx2 owners while I'm at it - has anyone had issues with the systems overheating while the plastics were on? This machine works fine with the plastics removed, but it seems like airflow is pretty heavily restricted with the plastics in place. After a couple of minutes into the boot process, the MSC will give the message "FAN FAIL" and the over-temperature light will be on as the system powers itself off. I've done a rudimentary cleaning of the plastics to get dust out, but perhaps I need to do a full clean of the entire machine.

Has anyone experienced anything similar with their systems?

RE: Onyx2 Deskside/Orign200 NUMAlink Connectivity? - Raion - 11-23-2019

I have not, when I power mine up. It could be a fan in the fan tray that's failing.

RE: Onyx2 Deskside/Orign200 NUMAlink Connectivity? - kaigan - 11-24-2019

(11-23-2019, 11:16 PM)Raion Wrote:  I have not, when I power mine up. It could be a fan in the fan tray that's failing.

Given the error, that would make sense. Biggrin It seems to be intermittent as the system was working fine with the plastics on this last power-up. I'll keep an eye on it and see if anything needs replacement.