Virtualization permits parallel execution of BS2000 systems with their applications on a Server Unit x86. The basic software X2000 together with Xen and if necessary VM2000 permits other systems to execute.
BS2000 operation
BS2000 operation is possible in either Native or VM2000 mode:
In Native mode, precisely one Native BS2000 system is available.
In VM2000 mode, a BS2000 system, the monitor system, is started under VM2000. Additional BS2000 VMs can be created in the SE Manager or with VM2000.
Main memory management
32 GB of the existing main memory is reserved for the X2000 carrier system. In addition, memory for the firmware of the individual BS2000 systems is needed.
BS2000 can use the remaining main memory on the Native system or on the BS2000 VMs.
The main memory is always allocated to the respective guest system only when a virtual machine is started (or when a BS2000 VM is created/activated), provided that free main memory is still available in the requested amount.
CPU pool management
The real CPUs of the Server Unit x86 are allocated to groups, which are known as CPU pools. Each real CPU can be assigned to at most one CPU pool.
One main objective of this distribution to different CPU pools is to seal off the carrier system X2000 from the other systems. For the operation of BS2000 this ensures a stable performance in accordance with the SE server model.
A virtual machine (VM) is assigned permanently to a CPU pool when it is generated. It can use only the CPUs from this CPU pool, even if CPUs in parallel CPU pools are unused. The scheduling of CPU performance always relates only to the CPUs of a particular CPU pool. The weightings between individual VMs (via limitation and weight) in a CPU pool can thus not influence the weightings among the VMs in another CPU pool.
The distribution of the real CPUs to CPU pools is implemented automatically on the basis of the installed hardware and the installed licenses when the Server Unit x86 is started up and cannot be changed by the user. The CPU pools can be extended by integrating further hardware or by installing further licenses.
The BS2000 CPUs, i.e. those CPUs which are used by the BS2000 systems in accordance with the server model, can be split into further CPU pools using VM2000 means.
The hardware and licenses are installed by Customer Support, and this requires a maintenance window.
In normal operation the CPU pools are configured and managed as follows:
Pool 0
This pool is reserved exclusively for the X2000 basic system. It contains a quarter of the existing real CPUs, but at least 2 CPUs.BS2000 pools
The standard pool is used exclusively by the Native BS2000 system or by the BS2000 VMs. Provided no further BS2000 CPU pools are configured, this pool contains all the BS2000 CPUs.
When further CPU pools are configured with VM2000 means, the BS2000 CPUs can be displayed in other BS2000 CPU pools. The standard pool is retained in this case, but may possibly no longer contain CPUs. BS2000 VMs are assigned to one of these CPU pools when they are created. In ongoing operation, VM2000 means can be used to switch them dynamically between these pools.Depending on the hardware and licenses which are installed, further unused real CPUs can exist in the Server Unit outside the pools, the so-called free CPUs.
The CPU pools are also visible under VM2000, but the naming of static pools is retained in VM2000 for compatibility reasons. The table below shows the names of the CPU pools in the X2000 basic system and the names in VM2000.
CPU pool | Users | Name in X2000 | Name in VM2000 |
Pool 0 | X2000 | Pool 0 | *POOL0 |
Standard BS2000 pool | BS2000 | bs2_pool | *STDPOOL |
Pool configured in VM2000 | BS2000 | <name 1..8> | <name 1..8> |
Free CPUs (not a pool) |
Table 3: Overview of the CPU pools (X2000 and VM2000 views)
1For CPUs which are not attached. These are as a rule the CoD CPUs (which are called extra CPUs in VM2000)
In normal operation enough CPUs are available for every pool. A lack of CPUs can occur in the following exceptional situations:
Reduced operation: a hardware failure means that fewer CPUs are operational at system startup.
Abnormal operation: a change of license means that more CPUs are required.
In the case of reduced or abnormal operation the basic system automatically reacts with the following step-by-step measures to rectify the lack of CPUs:
The (free) CPUs not used so far are used
The BS2000 CoD CPUs are omitted (CoD means Capacity on Demand)
Alternating omission of one CPU of the BS2000 pool down to 2 CPUs
Pool 0 is reduced to 1 CPU
The last but one CPU of the BS2000 pool is omitted
The SE Manager displays an overview over the available BS2000 CPU pools (including empty pools) and an overview over the BS2000 VMs to which a CPU pool is currently allocated as well as their current assignment to the defined CPU pools under Systems -> [<se server> (SE<model>) ->] <su-name> (model) -> VM resources.
For information on BS2000 and BS2000 VMs, see also section "Working in Native BS2000 mode" and section "Working in VM2000 mode".
BS2000 devices
The real devices of the periphery are not directly visible to BS2000 (Native BS2000 and BS2000 VMs). Only the devices emulated in the X2000 basic system are visible. See also section "Managing devices".