Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

By runing /usr/sbin/bindprocessor -q I found 4 CPU available, but under the prtconf, it shows the system only run with 2 CPU, How can I activate other two CPU to easy the system? I have NO idea why my boss bought this system (AIX p-series 5.3 L, 4CPU, 4 G memory) but only signed on 2 CPU. Can I break the lisence agreement.

1. prtconf

System Model: IBM,9113-550
Machine Serial Number: *******
Processor Type: PowerPC_POWER5
Number Of Processors: 2
Processor Clock Speed: 1502 MHz
CPU Type: 64-bit
Kernel Type: 64-bit
LPAR Info: 1 06-C6E6A

1. /usr/sbin/bindprocessor -q

The available processors are: 0 1 2 3

Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

Hi. If "bindprocessor -q" shows them, then you have already got them. However, with POWER5 Processors and AIX 5L Version 3, you may have "logical" processors. If you run the command smtctl you will find that "Simultaneous Multi-Threading" (or SMT) is enabled. With SMT enabled, each processor can run two threads .. and therefore each physical processor now appears as if it is two logical processors.

You can also use the command mpstat to show the number of logical CPUs, and how the load is distribued between them.

Other commands like topas (or the nmon tool) also show the "logical" processors. nmon is at
http://www-941.ibm.com/collaboration/wiki/display/WikiPtype/nmon

Commands like prtconf or lscfg show the physical processors.

There is a good description of SMT in the Redbook "Advanced POWER Virtualization on IBM System p5"
http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg247940.html?Open

Regards Dave

Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

I run both smtctl and mpstat. Indeed we have 4 logical CPUs on those cpu0 and cpu2. Now I want to utilize the other physical CPU alredy installed.
# smtctl

This system is SMT capable.

SMT is currently enabled.

SMT boot mode is not set.
SMT threads are bound to the same physical processor.

proc0 has 2 SMT threads.
Bind processor 0 is bound with proc0
Bind processor 1 is bound with proc0
proc2 has 2 SMT threads.
Bind processor 2 is bound with proc2
Bind processor 3 is bound with proc2

Originally posted by: VirtualGreg

You have yet to convince anyone that there are more than 2 processors (single dual core POWER5 chip) installed in this server.

The 550 can be 2-way, 4-way, and even 8-way. If you have more than one LPAR, you are attached to an HMC - you could view the properties of the server for more clues as to what's installed.

lscfg -vp will give you a ton of info as well.

Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

lparstat -i will show you the "Active Physical CPUs in system", among other things.

Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

I tried the lscfg -vp, but there were so much information listed. What exact I am supposedly to look for? Thanks.

Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

Hi. I think that the only ways to be certain about the number of processors installed would be to
a) Look at what was ordered, and check the processor feature codes
b) View the processor details on Hardware Management Console (HMC)
c) Access the Advanced Systems Management Interface (ASMI)

b) HMC. If there is an HMC attached to the system, select
Server and Partition / Server Management
Right-click the server / Properties
Click the Processors tab, and see "Installed Processing Units" and "Configurable Processing Units which will show how many have been activated.

If there are more Installed Processing Units than Configurable PUs, then right-click the managed server, select
Manage on demand / Capacity on Demand / CUoD processor
And copy all the data shown (needed to order activation code)

c) ASMI. If there is not an HMC attached to the system
ASMI can be accessed in two ways. In either case, login as admin (for which the default password is also admin )
(1) By attaching an "ASCII terminal" to the first System Serial Port (S1)
Or by using a suitable ASCII terminal emulation program on a PC, and attaching to S1 using a "null-modem" cable. Suitable cables include those which are typically used for PC Laplink.
(2) By configuring TCP/IP on a PC to set the PC address to be on the same subnet as the default addresses for the Service Processor ports in the p550. And then by attaching Ethernet cable between PC and the HMC1 port on the p550. Then access ASMI by entering the Service Processor IP-address into a web browser ( i.e. 192.168.2.147 )

Further details in Info Center
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/eserver/v1r3s/topic/iphby/accessasmi.htm

Either way, the system needs to be power-off. i.e. shutdown -h in AIX, wait until operator panel shows 01 N V=F / HMC=0 T
and the green power lamp is flashing slowly.

In ASMI, select
On Demand Utilities
CoD Processor Information
Installed Processors / Permanent processors and Inactive Processors

Also select
CoD Order Information - copy all the data shown (needed to order activation code)

If HMC or ASMI show "inactive processors", then these are "Capacity on Demand" which require activation - by ordering the appropriate activation feature and then obtaining the code needed to activate those processors.

Regards Dave

Originally posted by: bassemir

Is it possible that this 4-way system was partitioned (divided up) and you are on a logical partition?

It is possible to partition this 4 way system up into partitions with various amounts of CPU resources assigned to the partition you are on. A partition could be build and given just one physical CPUs worth of resoucre (this is called entitlement). The partition you are on could define that one physical CPU of resource be spread across 2 virtual processors. So each virtual processor would be a half a physical processor.

Now when you are signed on to this system, if it is running SMT, each virtual processor could be running two threads at a time. Now those 2 virtual processors look like 4 logical processors. Run nmon and it reports on 4 CPUs. Turn off SMT (smtctl -m off) and nmon will show only 2 CPUs.

In your case it sounds like you are running with 2 virtual processors (prtconf tells us that) and bindprocessor -q shows tells us we have 4 logical processors (SMT is on).

If you know the system has 4 CPUs in it then I would guess (just a guess) that you are on an lpar defined with just 2 virtual processors.

What do you see if you type lparstat -i?

Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

1. lparstat -i

Node Name : baanserver
Partition Name : 06-C6E6A
Partition Number : 1
Type : Dedicated-SMT
Mode : Capped
Entitled Capacity : 2.00
Partition Group-ID : 32769
Shared Pool ID : -
Online Virtual CPUs : 2
Maximum Virtual CPUs : 32
Minimum Virtual CPUs : 1
Online Memory : 3792 MB
Maximum Memory : 4096 MB
Minimum Memory : 128 MB
Variable Capacity Weight : -
Minimum Capacity : 1.00
Maximum Capacity : 2.00
Capacity Increment : 1.00
Maximum Physical CPUs in system : 2
Active Physical CPUs in system : 2
Active CPUs in Pool : -
Unallocated Capacity : -
Physical CPU Percentage : 100.00%
Unallocated Weight : -

Originally posted by: andycor

You only have 2 physical CPU installed on the LPAR:

Active Physical CPUs in system : 2

If you know that there are 4 physical CPU on the system, you must assign more CPU to the LPAR profile in HMC.

Originally posted by: SystemAdmin

using /usr/sbin/bindprocessor -q and other command, I am pretty sure there are 4 real processors on board. However only two are activated and LPAR to 4 LCPUs. The box does not install with HMC or other utility allowing to view or to manage the HW. Last week, there is a gentlemen from IBM here (Mexico) said that we need to pay for some kind of microcodes (firmware), a licensing software, to activate the rest of real CPU, provides a new license key. wonder I can get away of it. Thanks all your inputs.