From Servers4Linux

Contents 1 A Little History 2 Recent Models 3 HP Servers Based on PA-RISC (The "HP 9000" Model Line) 4 HP Servers Based on Itanium (The "Integrity" Model Line) 5 HP Servers Based on x86-64 (The "Proliant" Model Line) 6 HP Server Documentation and Helpful Links

A Little History

(Note: I'm actively working on this page... It's morphing a lot these days, check back often...)

Servers from HP had three distinct "eras". Servers from each era are a distinct color, with a different rack system that goes with them.

The classic HP servers were PA-RISC based, and given letter based designations like "A-Class", "D-Class", "K-Class" and so on. I'm not sure what the official name HP gave their color, but it's a beige off-white color.

In 2001-2002 HP acquired Compaq, and started to merge their product lines. The "old school" Compaq servers and racks were bright white. HP "freshened up" the way their servers looked, and switched colors and racks to the Compaq-ish white. HP also attempted to change server designations from letter names (i.e. "L-Class") to a new designation like rp5400. Servers from this era are white and each have 2 names, the letter based names ("N-Class") and new names like rp7400. Manuals for these interchangably refer to either name (or both). In this same period, HP was preparing to phase out their PA-RISC CPU architecture, and move to Itanium. I'm not sure what HP officially referred to the white color as, it may be "flint".

PA-RISC servers are called the "HP 9000" server line. In the new fangled designations, PA-RISC servers have a "p" in their name, for example what was the N-Class server line was re-designated rp7400.

Itanium servers are called the "Integity" server line. (Integrity was a originally a server line made by Tandem, later bought by Compaq, and then by HP). Integrity servers have a "x" in their name, like rx2600.

The white color didn't last long, and HP went to (and stuck with so far) a gray/black color scheme. Servers that came out during the transition period are actually available in both colors white (flint?), and gray/black (carbon?). For example, I've seen rx2600's in both white (flint?) and grey/black. Accessories (such as hard drives) for some of these servers are available in both white and black. (You have to be clear when buying after the fact so you don't get stuck with the wrong color). There's different part numbers for the flint parts and carbon parts (read the manual).

Recent Models

After the Compaq merger, and after the attempted deprecation of PA-RISC for Itanium, HP (wisely) tried to merge server model lines. As a result, there are quite a few different model numbers, but in actuality not that many different models. One common chassis powers both Itanium and PA-RISC servers (if PA-RISC supported in that model line at all), or perhaps even x86-64 (*cough*).

Models based on a 1U chassis with 2 Ultra160 SCSI drives:

• rx1600 (Itanium)
• rx1620 (Itanium)

Models based on a 2U chassis with 3 Ultra320 SCSI drives:

• rx2600 (Itanium)
• rx2620 (Itanium)
• zx6000 (Itanium)
• rp3410 (PA-RISC)
• rp3440 (PA-RISC)

Models based on a 4U chassis with 2 Ultra320 SCSI drives:

• rx4610 (Itanium)
• rx4640 (Itanium)
• rp4410 (PA-RISC)
• rp4440 (PA-RISC)

Models based on a 2U chassis with 8 SAS drives:

• rx2660 (Itanium)
• ProLiant DL385 G5 (x86-64) (Based on outward appearance)

Based on my experiences updating firmware on zx6000's and rx2620's, all of the models in one chassis appear to have common firmware. So these models are so similar that they share common firmware (i.e. damn near identical). The main differences (say, for sake of argument between a rx2600 and a rx2620) seem to be size and speed of supported DIMMS (memory), speed of CPU, and in some models whether single core and/or dual cores are supported.

In general, higher numbers support bigger faster DIMMS, faster CPU's, and if available, dual core CPU's. Some later models *ONLY* have dual core CPU's.

I have a rp4440, and it literally has a little switch on the CPU carrier board that says "IPF/PA-RISC". It appears that if you select "IPF" (Itanium Processor Family) you can slap Itaniums in it or or "PA-RISC" you could put PA-RISCs in it. (I haven't tried...) So for that particular 4U chassis, the only difference between Itanium (rx4640) and PA-RISC (rp4440) models is the factory set the little switch to IPF or PA-RISC. Pretty cool.

HP Servers Based on PA-RISC (The "HP 9000" Model Line)

HP has had their own in house CPU architecture, PA-RISC. Servers made with PA-RISC are the "classic" HP servers. HP calls this line of servers "HP 9000". The "classic" models with letter designations are old and slow enough now to not be "production" capable. They are perfectly suitable for use as demonstrations or for your own "workstation". Note that these are built like tanks (and are heavy like tanks). You can get them for darn near free, price wise, but you'll pay dearly to ship them.

The canonical reference for HP PA-RISC servers is at openpa.net. He is slowly working on including later models.

The wikipedia page on HP 9000 is good, but is lacking the newer models as well.

Brief overview of common server models:

• D-Class
• K-Class
• L-Class (renamed rp5400 series, rp5400, rp5405, rp5430, rp5450, rp5470)
• N-Class (renamed rp7400 series, rp7400, rp7405, rp7410, rp7420, rp7440)
• rp3410 (PA-RISC)
• rp3440 (PA-RISC)
• rp4410 (PA-RISC)
• rp4440 (PA-RISC)

Sadly, HP stopped selling PA-RISC servers December 31, 2008.

Model	Ht	Color	Sockets	Cores	Disk	Remarks
rp4440	4U	Carbon	4	8	SCSI	Very similar (same chassis?) as rx4640. Always dual core.
rp7400	10U	White	4	4	SCSI	Also known as N-Class.

HP Servers Based on Itanium (The "Integrity" Model Line)

HP partnered with Intel to make the Itanium CPU architecture. HP basically gave all their PA-RISC talent to Intel for this effort, and closed their VLSI laboratory (was http://cpus.hp.com) and chip fabs. (Intel subsequently repeatedly made Itanium marketing fumbles and AMD came along with X86-64. HP got screwed, IMHO.)

Enterprise HP Servers made with Itanium are called "Integrity".

The wikipedia page on Integrity servers is not bad.

Model	Ht	Color	Sockets	Cores	Disk	Remarks
rx2600	2U	White	2	2	SCSI	I've seen some on Ebay that look carbon (grey/black) color, usually these are white
zx6000	2U	Carbon	2	4	SCSI	zx6000's are rx2600's plus high end video, audio (used for workstations)
rx2620	2U	Carbon	2	4	SCSI	Usually see these in single core, book says could be upgraded to dual core
rx2660	2U	Carbon	2	4	SAS	Always dual core
rx4640	4U	Carbon	4	8	SCSI	Always dual core

Many of these Integrity servers are available with lights out management capabilities. In some cases, it's an optional card that must be purchased. In others, it comes integrated with the server. The LOMs I have seen on these Integrity servers all seem pretty similar.

Here's some tips on racking Integrity systems.

HP Servers Based on x86-64 (The "Proliant" Model Line)

HP's entry level x86 servers are called "Proliant" (this line was acquired by HP when they bought Compaq). These servers don't turn me on so much. Maybe I'll buy some and write them up here if I get a particularly good deal. Don't hold your breath.

HP Server Documentation and Helpful Links

Thankfully, unlike some competitors, HP makes the full documentation for its servers available to the public. You don't need to register or have a support contract (get a clue, Sun!). Usually the "User's Guide" or "User's Manual" has everything you need.

All HP server manuals.

HP Partsurfer has exploded diagrams of most HP products, including most (all?) servers.

One of the best third party sites on HP servers is openpa.net.

HP still stocks a lot of common parts in the HP Parts Store. Of course you'll pay retail.

Photo	Base Model	Ht	Disk	Sockets	Cores	Itanium	PA-RISC	Color	Remarks
	rx1600	1U	2 SCSI	2	2	rx1600		?
						rx1620		Carbon
	rx2600	2U	3 SCSI	2	2	rx2600		Flint or Carbon	usually flint (white), seen some in carbon (grey/black)
						zx6000		Carbon	Added graphic and audio
						rx2620		Carbon
							rp3410	Carbon
							rp3440	Carbon