[rescue] Sun E4K CPU Upgrade

[Mike Spooner]

Hi Richard,

There are four critical parts: (1) the backplane, (2) the clock board, and
(3) the CPU/memory boards, and (4) the I/O boards.

The *very* early 8-slot backplanes were officially rated for
backplane-clock-frequency range 71.5-93 MHz.
The later 8-slot backplanes were officially rated for up to 100MHz.

Some Ex00 clock-boards provide CPU-multiplier ratios of 2:1, 3:1 and 4:1.
Some (later) Ex00 clock-boards provide additional an CPU-multiplier ratio
of 5:1.

Early CPU/memory boards have a maximum bus-clock frequency of 84MHz, later
ones 100MHz.

Some I/O board models/versions may not be suitable for a 100MHz backplane
frequency.
I would also check the model number of any disk-boards you have, just in
case.

You *will* need to catalog the whole set of boards you have, to see what
you can do, and whether the CPUs will
run at 400MHz or be down-clocked. Any such down-clocking could be caused by
an I/O board, CPU/memory-board,
or (perhaps) disk-board that won't run at 100MHz, in the presence of a
clock-board that does not support 5:1 ratio.

On Solaris 2.6/7/8/9 (not sure about S10), the prtdiag command can be used
to get a list of boards present, with their FRU part numbers and versions.

Regards,
-- Mike

On 27 June 2018 at 00:56, Richard <ejb at trick-1.net> wrote:

> Hi Folks
>
> Looking for experience/guidance on CPU upgrade for my E4K.
>
> My E4K currently has
> - 3xCPU boards with a total of 6x 336Mhz CPU's on board.
> - I have 2x new CPU boards coming and they have 400Mhz CPU already on
> board.
> - I also have an additional 4x 400Mhz CPU's on the shelf.
>
> I am therefore thinking/ looking to purchase 2 more 400Mhz CPU's so I can
> upgrade all CPU's to the 400Mhz versions.
>
> when I look at the parts list for the E4K http://shrubbery.net/~heas/
> sun-feh-2_1/Systems/4u-Server/E4000.html
>
> I see there are a number of options
>
> 400MHz UltraSPARC II Module
>  501-4995
>  501-5425
>  501-5585
>  501-5235
>  501-5661
>  501-5762
>
> when I go to eBay I have found some different numbers for the CPU Module
> i.e. 501-6009 or 501-5838 .
>
> I further note that the compatibility statements exist for each CPU such
> as this for 501-5235
>
> Clock 501-2975 is not supported.
> The E6000 and E6500 require Clock 501-5365 for a 5:1 clock ratio.
> The E3x00, E4x00, and E5x00 require Clock 501-5365 for a 5:1 clock ratio
> if 84MHz system boards are installed.
> Clock 501-4286 or 501-4946 is supported in the E3x00, E4x00, and E5x00 if
> the centerplane and all system boards are 100MHz.
> Clock 501-5365 is supported if 84MHz or 100MHz system boards are installed
> in the E3x00, E4x00, and E5x00.
>
> Is it just a mater of inventorying my machine and working out which
> modules are compatible with what is in there already or is there an easier
> way?
>
> Appreciate thoughts/insights.
>
> Regards
>
> Richard
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