[Info-vax] Some hardware questions on the field test

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2021-10-11 17:13:01 +0000, Mark Berryman said:

> I have the following hardware related questions on the V9.1 field test.
> 
> 1. What is the CPU model that best supports the features used by VMS 
> that would work in a DL380 gen 9 system?

There's reportedly a "buyer's guide" being prepared, and I'd expect a 
published hardware support matrix and eventually a hardware support 
database.

For what might or will work with the current V9.1-A beta, there's a 
Python hardware qualification tool: 
https://vmssoftware.com/about/openvmsv9-1/

> For example, my current CPUs appear to be from the HASWELL family, 
> which have the TSX instructions permanently disabled in microcode.  I'd 
> like to know if there is a better choice to use and kind of impact it 
> would have on VMS.

TSX has been less than entirely successful for Intel: 
https://www.theregister.com/2021/06/29/intel_tsx_disabled/

AFAIK, VSI has no dependencies on TSX.

VSI was looking at a PCID prerequisite for performance reasons, though 
details around requirements there have been less than entirely clear.

> 2. Attempting to configure SAN-based tape drives crashes the system. 
> Are SAN-based tapes supported yet?  (This happened while running a bare 
> metal configuration).

Best report that to VSI.  Fetch the VSI$SUPPORT.COM script from VSI, if 
you don't already have a copy of that.

> 3. The roadmap lists Intel and Broadcom Ethernet adapters.  My DL380 
> has HP Ethernet adapters, specifically the HP 331i 1G and HP 533FLR-T 
> 10G adapters.  Are there any near term plans to support HP adapters or 
> should I try to find an add-in card using the Intel or Broadcom chips?

Oracle indicates that the HP Ethernet 1Gb 4-port 331i-SPI Adapter uses 
the Broadcom BCM5719, so maybe it works.

If that's not the "331i" NIC that you're using, poke at it and see what 
chipset is reported.

> 4. Does anyone have the field test running as an ESXi virtual host that 
> is able to cluster with, and share SAN storage with, other VMS hosts? 
> If so, could you send me a sample config because so far, I am not 
> having any luck.

Not around here.

And entirely FWIW and for those that have not already encountered the 
VSI Service Platform (VSP), start here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whdx2o7IK6E


-- 
Pure Personal Opinion | HoffmanLabs LLC