Introduction
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Welcome to the HP Instant Capacity User’s Guide for versions 8.x. Hewlett-Packard’s Instant Capacity software product provides the ability to instantly increase or decrease computing capacity on specified HP enterprise servers.
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 | NOTE: The name of the product has changed from Instant Capacity on Demand (or iCOD) to HP Instant Capacity for HP 9000 and HP Integrity Servers, also known as Instant Capacity or iCAP. In addition, Temporary Capacity on Demand (TiCOD) is now called Temporary Instant Capacity, or TiCAP. In this version, many of the commands, warning messages and error messages have been changed to refer to the software as iCAP. However, some internal files may still be named or refer to iCOD.For simplicity and commonality, this book uses the HP-UX commands in all examples. Refer to Appendix B for details on OpenVMS command equivalents. |
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With Instant Capacity, you initially purchase an HP enterprise server with a specified amount of active processing capacity, and a specified amount of inactive processing capacity.
Processing capacity consists of the system components:
Processors containing cores
Cell boards
Memory
For each type of component, the number that can be active is equal to the number of usage rights applied to the complex for that type of component. Components purchased with a part number identifying them as “Instant Capacity” and without the label “Right to Use” come without usage rights. Components which are not labeled as Instant Capacity implicitly include usage rights that can be applied to any component of that type installed on the complex.
Prior to activation of an inactive component, additional usage rights must be obtained. The fundamental method is to purchase usage rights by purchasing the appropriate Instant Capacity products that include the label “Right to Use (RTU)”. HP then supplies a Right to Use (RTU) codeword. When the codeword is applied to the HP Enterprise server, the inactive component can be activated.
Additional methods for activating components for which usage rights have not been purchased include:
If an HP-UX server is a member of a Global Instant Capacity Group (GiCAP), and if extra capacity is available from other members of the group, capacity may be “borrowed” from another member of the group. Global Instant Capacity is described in Chapter 7 “Global Instant Capacity”.
You may purchase additional Temporary Instant Capacity (TiCAP) and apply the temporary capacity codeword in order to activate one or more cores for a temporary period of time. Temporary Instant Capacity is described in Chapter 5 “Temporary Instant Capacity”. If a server is a member of a Global Instant Capacity Group, TiCAP on other members can be used to share temporary capacity with other members of the group.
You may temporarily activate one or more inactive cores using the Instant Access Capacity (IAC) provided with the initial purchase of the Instant Capacity component. Instant Access Capacity is exactly the same as Temporary Instant Capacity except it is automatically provided with an Instant Capacity component and is not separately purchaseable. It provides an immediate buffer of temporary capacity in case extra capacity is needed before there is time to purchase an RTU codeword, a TiCAP codeword, or to setup a GiCAP group on an HP-UX system.
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 | IMPORTANT: It is always a good idea to keep some quantity of temporary capacity in reserve. Purchase of codewords may take one or more days, so having a buffer of temporary capacity allows you to avoid delays in activation of additional cores. The Instant Access Capacity provides this buffer initially, but as that capacity is depleted, ongoing purchases of additional Temporary Instant Capacity are recommended to replenish this capacity. |
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The Instant Capacity software product is a part of the HP Utility Pricing Solutions (formerly On Demand Solutions) program.
This user’s guide provides you with the most recent information on using the Instant Capacity versions 8.x software to manage processing capacity in your HP enterprise server.
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| NOTE: All personnel with system administrator access (that is, root login privileges) to an Instant Capacity system should read and understand the contents of this document and the implications of increasing processing capacity. |
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This user’s guide is not designed to be read from front to back in its entirety. To get an understanding of Instant Capacity versions 8.x, you should read this chapter and Chapter 2 - Getting Started. After reading these two chapters, you can utilize the table of contents and index (in back) for specific topics of interest.
Chapter 1, About this Guide provides an introduction to the guide, an overview of the Instant Capacity system, and locating Instant Capacity documentation.
Chapter 2, Getting Started describes Instant Capacity requirements, concepts and methods, and related software topics.
Chapter 3, Installing and Uninstalling Instant Capacity Software contains procedures on how to install and reinstall Instant Capacity software.
Chapter 4, Using Instant Capacity to Manage Processing Capacity explains how to view system status, apply codewords, activate and deactivate cores, assign and unassign cells, and HP’s test activation policy for Instant Capacity.
Chapter 5, Temporary Instant Capacity gives you details on what temporary capacity is, and how to order and use it.
Chapter 6, Instant Capacity Cell Board provides details on what Instant Capacity Cell Board is, and how to order and use it.
Chapter 7, Global Instant Capacity gives you details on Global Instant Capacity, describes the concept of groups and shared resources, and how to order and use it.
Chapter 8, Troubleshooting gives you step by step procedures to resolve problems with the Instant Capacity software and other related configurations.
Chapter 9, Frequently Asked Questions contains questions and answers to common Instant Capacity software topics.
Appendix A, Special Considerations describes assumed values in icapstatus output, upgrading to Instant Capacity versions 8.x software, dual core support, creating and shutting down partitions, implications of removing a cell board from an Instant Capacity system, par commands with PC SMS, integration with virtual partitions and Psets, configuring e-mail, testing e-mail transmission of an asset report, measurement software, and dynamic processor resilience.
Appendix B, Considerations for OpenVMS Systems contains information for running Instant Capacity on OpenVMS systems.
Appendix C, Instant Capacity HP-UX Manpages contains the actual HP-UX manpages for icap, icapmanage, icapmodify, icapnotify, icapstatus, and icapd.
Appendix D, Glossary explains Instant Capacity systems and software terms.
We welcome any feedback that helps us improve the quality of our documentation. To provide feedback, go to the following HP web site: http://docs.hp.com/assistance/feedback.html
Be sure to reference the Instant Capacity User’s Guide and the page numbers of recommended changes in your feedback message.
See “Instant Capacity Terminology” for commonly used terms associated with the HP Utility Pricing Solutions program.