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FT
Subsystems
Chapter 1 - Introduction
The Cubix Fault Tolerant (FT) Subsystems are rack mount units designed for installation in Cubix System cabinets or in a customer furnished enclosure. These subsystems provide single or multiple network workstations in a small and controlled environment well suited for remote communications, fax servers, e-mail servers, mainframe gateways, and NLM servers. Up to four Cubix FT Subsystems may be installed in a single Cubix Cabinet.
The Fault Tolerant Subsystems are available in several configurations: Resource, Server, Expansion, EISA Resource, and EISA Server.
These three subsystems resemble one another in that they are used to house Cubix BC and QL processors, floppy and hard disk drives, network interface controllers, and a variety of other ISA and EISA based controllers. In addition, each subsystem offers:
1) dual redundant power supplies;
2) an electronic multiplexor that permits a number of processors to share a
single VGA monitor, keyboard, mouse, floppy disk drive, and reset pushbutton;
3) dual AC inputs; and
4) dual CMOS battery packs, each with a test pushbutton.
The Resource Subsystem also has the ability to turn the power off on a group of PC slots while allowing all other groups in a subsystem to continue to operate.
The Resource Subsystem's backplane can be separated into individual groups of PC slots, and is usually used to house a number of communication servers. A communications server typically consists of a Cubix BC processor, a NIC (Network Interface Controller), and possibly other controllers such as X.25, 3270 or fax servers. The 16 slot ISA backplane in the ISA Resource Subsystem and the 8 ISA slot portion of the EISA/ISA Resource Subsystem can be configured in many variations, as described in Appendix A. Refer to Chapter 2 for the Resource Subsystem description.
The Server Subsystem has a 16 slot backplane and is typically used to house a single BC series Cubix processor, NIC, disk drive, back-up tape, and other controllers such as Cubix QL processors, WAN controllers, etc. Refer to Chapter 3 for the Server Subsystem description.
The Expansion Subsystem is used to extend the ISA bus of a PC. This subsystem must always be used in conjunction with either the Server Subsystem, a single group of a Resource Subsystem, or an IBM compatible PC. Refer to Chapter 4 for the Expansion Subsystem description.
Refer to Table 1-1 for a summary of the features of the FT ISA Resource, Server and Expansion Subsystems.
The EISA-only Resource Subsystems are similar to the ISA versions except that EISA-only backplanes have a fixed slot grouping of either 8EISA+8EISA or 4EISA+4EISA+4EISA+4EISA. The FT EISA/ISA Resource Subsystem combines the features of the EISA FT Resource Subsystem with the configuration flexibility of the ISA FT Resource Subsystem. Refer to Table 1-1 for a summary of the FT EISA and FT EISA/ISA Subsystems. This table is a summary of the capabilities of each of these three subsystems.
The Cubix processor (QL and BC Series) products provide complete computer solutions on single plug-in boards. Each board contains a CPU, system memory, VGA video support, a keyboard controller, and serial & parallel ports. The BC Series processors also have floppy disk and IDE hard drive controllers. When installed into a Cubix passive backplane, (and with the addition of a network interface controller (NIC) in one of the backplane's expansion slots for each BC board), the Cubix processor boards become network workstations.
All Fault Tolerant subsystems contain a 16 slot passive backplane. The backplane is simply a row of either standard 16 bit ISA expansion slots, or standard 32 bit EISA expansion slots, or a combination of both ISA and EISA slots. Adding a Cubix BC Series processor to the backplane creates a single workstation. Figure 1-1
This table is a summary of the capabilities of each of these three subsystems.
NOTE 1: The symbol "Å" means a shunt can connect adjacent groups.
NOTE 2: Group Switch means a group of PC slots and drives can be powered independent of other groups.
TH = Third Height HH = Half Height
All slots in a passive backplane are interconnected with traces, creating a bus. If these traces are broken between slots, the backplane can be separated into smaller independent backplanes or groups. Refer to Figure 1-2
For information on the Resource, Server, and Expansion Subsystems, refer to Chapters 2, 3, and 4 respectively. For installation information, refer to Chapter 5.
Troubleshooting tips are found in Chapter 6 and information on Field Replaceable Units is in Chapter 7.
The appendices contain detailed information on power supply loading, specifications, and multiplexor options.
This document, and all Web contents, Copyright © 1997
by Cubix Corp., Carson City, NV, USA.
