Internal drives in IBM Power 520

[ogniemi]

Is anyone using internal SAS drives in Power 520 box for two LPARS (without VIO)? Bu default it is not possible by maybe there is a feature for such configuration. Anyone knows?

 

[MoreFeo]

In fact there is such a feature, it's split backplane.

You need the optional 8345 backplane, instead of the default 8341 backplane, and also a PCI-X (FC 5900 or 5912) and a SAS cable (FC 3679).

There's a pdf called "p6 Split Backplane Nutshell" that explains the different options for POWER6.

On a p6 520, the optional DASD/Media Backplane with external SAS port (feature code 8345)
provides:
l six hot-swappable 3.5-inch SAS disk bays, one hot-plug, slim-line media bay, and one 5.25 inch media bay and
l one integrated SAS DASD controller with eight SAS ports which are connected to the six disk bays and to any media devices.
On servers with a feature code 8345 backplane, there is the opportunity to order additional features which
provide additional functionality:
l Optional SAS Cable, DASD Backplane (Split) to Rear Bulkhead (feature code 3670), which allows three of the six SAS disk bays to be
accessed via an external SAS port on the back of the p6 520. Feature code 3670 requires that a SAS Cable (feature code 3679) and a PCI-X
SAS controller (feature code 5900 or 5912) also be configured. When the SAS Cable (FC 3679) is used to connect the PCI-X SAS controller to
the external SAS port provided by feature code 3670, then three disk bays (accessed via the PCI-X SAS controller) can be assigned to one
LPAR and three disk bays (accessed via the integrated SAS controller) can be assigned to another LPAR.