CPU: Concepts and Functionality




	NOTE: Processor Terminology Processing resources under vPars, both as input arguments and command outputs, are described as “CPUs.” For multi-core processors such as the PA-8800 and dual-core Intel Itanium processors, the term “CPU” is synonymous with “core.” The term “processor” refers to the hardware component that plugs into a processor socket. Therefore a single processor can have more than one core, and vPars commands will refer to the separate cores as distinct “CPUs,” each with its own hardware path. Two vPars terms pre-date multi-core processors, so they are exceptions to this terminology: “Boot processor,” which refers to the CPU (that is, core) on which the OS kernel of the virtual partition was booted. “Cell local processor (CLP),” which refers to a CPU on a specified cell. For more information on dual-core processors, see “CPU: Dual-Core Processors”.

CPUs: Definitions for CPUs

Beginning with vPars A.04.01, the concept and restrictions of bound and unbound CPUs have been removed. Now, there are two types of CPUs: boot processors and dynamic CPUs.

Boot Processor: This is the CPU on which the OS kernel of the virtual partition was booted. There is one boot processor per virtual partition. On booting of a virtual partition, the vPars Monitor determines which CPU becomes the boot processor. Note that the specific CPU chosen as the boot processor may differ across virtual partition reboots.
Dynamic CPUs: These are all the other CPUs, because all CPUs, except the boot processor of each virtual partition, can be dynamically migrated. You can find which CPU is the boot processor by using the vparstatus command; see “Commands: Displaying vPars Monitor and Resource Information (vparstatus)”.

You can manage CPUs in multiple ways:

by min and max limits:: See “CPU: Specifying Min and Max Limits”
by total: See “CPU: Adding and Deleting by Total”
by cell local processor: See “CPU: Adding or Deleting by CLP (Cell Local Processor)”
by hardware path: See “CPU: Adding or Deleting by Hardware Path”

CPU: Concepts and Functionality

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CPUs: Definitions for CPUs