HP 9000/K-Class

Overview
Internals
External connectors
ROM Update
References
Operating systems
Benchmarks
Physical dimensions/Power

Quick Facts
CPU	1/1-4 PA-7200/ 1-4 PA-8000/ 1-6 PA-8200 100-240MHz
Caches	512KB-4MB L1
RAM	?
Drives	6 SCSI
Expansion	1 HSC 4 HP-PB/ 8 HP-PB (K4x0)
Bandwidth	?
I/O	SCSI MUX parallel

Overview

The K-Class Hawk servers except the K100 are multiprocessor systems. The K370/K380 and K570/K580 are able to support up to six-way multiprocessing, whereas the K2x0 and K4x0 support up to four-way SMP. A typical K-Class server consists of a System Processing Unit (SPU), system console and an optional Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). These units then are packaged in a 19″ rack.

The first number after the K — 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 — indicates the general type:
- K100 are single-CPU with limited expandability
- K2x0 take up to four CPUs, better expandability (more RAM) than K100
- K3x0 take up to six CPUs, more I/O slots than K2x0
- K4x0 take up to four CPUs, more I/O slots and partially more RAM than K2x0
- K5x0 take up to six CPUs, different I/O configuration than K3x0
The latter numbers [00, 10, …, 80] indicate the internal features, like CPU and chipset.

Model numbers and introductions dates:

System	Model number	Introduced
K100, K200, K400	HP 9000/809, HP 9000/819, HP 9000/829	March 1995
K210, K410	HP 9000/839, HP 9000/849	September 1995
K220, K420	HP 9000/859, HP 9000/869	March 1996
K250, K450	HP 9000/802, HP 9000/804	August 1996
K260, K460	HP 9000/879, HP 9000/889	August 1996
K370, K570	HP 9000/898, HP 9000/899	May 1997
K380, K580	HP 9000/800	February 1998

Internals

CPU

K100: PA-7200 100MHz with 256/256KB off-chip I/D L1 and 2KB on-chip assist L1 cache
K200/K400: 1-4 PA-7200 100MHz with 256/256KB off-chip I/D L1 and 2KB on-chip assist L1 cache each
K210/K410: 1-4 PA-7200 120MHz with 256/256KB off-chip I/D L1 and 2KB on-chip assist L1 cache each
K220/K420: 1-4 PA-7200 120MHz with 1024/1024KB off-chip I/D L1 and 2KB on-chip assist L1 cache each
K250/K450: 1-4 PA-8000 160MHz with 1024/1024KB off-chip I/D L1 cache each
K260/K460: 1-4 PA-8000 180MHz with 1024/1024KB off-chip I/D L1 cache each
K370/L570: 1-6 PA-8200 200MHz with 2048/2048KB off-chip I/D L1 cache each
K380/K580: 1-6 PA-8200 240MHz with 2048/2048KB off-chip I/D L1 cache each

The 2KB on-chip assist cache on systems with a PA-7200 is not really a true cache.

Chipset

LASI ASIC, which features:
- NCR 53C710 8-bit single-ended SCSI-2
- Intel 82596CA 10Mb Ethernet controller
- WD 16C522 compatible parallel
- Harmony CD/DAT quality 16-bit stereo audio
- NS 16550A compatible serial
PA-7200-models: U2 I/O adapter Runway to GSC bridge
PA-8000/PA-8200-models: UTurn I/O adapter Runway to GSC bridge
PA-7200/PA-8000/PA-8200 models: MMC/SMC memory controllers
Gecko BOA BC GSC+ Port
Intel 82503 Ethernet transceiver, media auto-selection
CS4215 or AD1849 programmable CODECs
NCR 53C720 16-bit Fast-Wide high-voltage differential (HVD) SCSI-2
Eole CAP/MUX

Buses

Runway CPU/memory bus (100MHz with 800MB peak data rate on Kx00, 120MHz 960MB/s on all others)
GSC+ bus for the general system level I/O
HSC bus for expansion I/O
HP-PB bus for expansion I/O
SCSI-2 Fast-Wide high-voltage differential (HVD) bus for main storage I/O
SCSI-2 Fast-Narrow single-ended bus for main storage I/O

Memory

72-pin ECC SIMMs on special RAM boards

The required access-time of the RAM modules depends on the used CPU in the system, systems with a PA-8x00 need 50ns modules, those with PA-7200 and can take up to 60ns. It is possible that slower modules will also work.

Expansion

K100/K2x0:

One slot for a GSC/HSC (HSC formfactor) card on the core I/O board
Four slots for HP-PB cards, from which two slots can either be used for single or double-height HP-PB cards.

K3x0:

One slot for a GSC/HSC (HSC formfactor) card on the core I/O board
Through the use of an 2-slot HSC I/O expansion module, which can be installed at the rear into the slot right of the core I/O, these models can faciliate two more GSC/HSC (HSC formfactor) cards.
Four slots for HP-PB cards, from which two slots can either be used for single or double-height HP-PB cards.

K4x0:

One slot for a GSC/HSC (HSC formfactor) card on the core I/O board
Through the use of an 2 or 4-slot HSC I/O expansion module, which can be installed at the rear into the slot right of the core I/O, these models can faciliate two or four more GSC/HSC (HSC formfactor) cards.
Eight slots for HP-PB cards, from which four slots can either be used for single or double-height HP-PB cards.

K5x0:

One slot for a GSC/HSC (HSC formfactor) card on the core I/O board
Through the use of an 2 or 4-slot HSC I/O expansion module, which can be installed at the rear into the slot right of the core I/O, these models can faciliate two or four more GSC/HSC (HSC formfactor) cards.
Four slots for HP-PB cards, from which two slots can either be used for single or double-height HP-PB cards.

Drives

One tray for four Fast-Wide 68-pin SCSI-2 high-voltage differential hard drives
One vertical tray for two 5.25″ half-height drives, external accessible

External connectors

68-pin HD SCSI-2 Fast-Wide high-voltage differential
TP/RJ45 10BaseT 10Mbit Ethernet
15-pin AUI 10Mbit Ethernet
Two DB9 male RS232C serial, one for console, one for UPS
DB25 male RS232C serial, for remote console via modem
DB25 female parallel
Two PS/2 connectors for keyboard und mouse
MDP-connector for a serial MUX
Kx50/Kx60/Kx70/Kx80: four audio jacks

ROM update

There is a firmware update available for the K200, Kx10, Kx20 and K400 which contains the latest version (2.9).

PF_CKHK0029.txt has details about the contents and installation of the patch.
PF_CKHK0029 contains the patch.

There is a firmware update available for the Kx50/Kx60 which contains the latest version (39.43).

PF_CMHK3943.txt has details about the contents and installation of the patch.
PF_CMHK3943 contains the patch.

There is a firmware update available for the Kx60 which contains the latest version (41.33).

PF_CMHK4133.txt has details about the contents and installation of the patch.
PF_CMHK4133 contains the patch.

References

Manuals

Service Manual HP 9000 K-Class Enterprise Servers and HP 3000 Model 9x9KS (PDF, 2.1MB)
K-Class Installation Guide (HP 9000/Kxx0) (PDF)
K-Class Installation Guide (HP 3000/9x9KS) (PDF)
K-Class Owner’s Guide (PDF)

Articles

Symmetric Multiprocessing Workstations and Servers System-Designed for High Performance and Low Cost (.pdf) William R. Bryg, Kenneth K. Chan, and Nicholas S. Fiduccia (February 1996: Hewlett-Packard Journal)
J/K-Class Memory System description (PDF, HP Journal 2/96)

Operating systems

HP-UX: every 32-bit release from 10.20-11.11 works. Systems with a 64-bit PA-8x00 CPU also can use 64-bit version of HP-UX 11.x.
- 10.20 for 800s servers: runs very nicely.
- 11.00 and 11i v1: run nicely
Linux: works on most models.
OpenBSD: on-going work to support at least the K220.

Benchmarks

Model	SPEC95, int	SPEC95, fp	SPECrate95, int	SPECrate95, fp
Kx00	4.92	6.80	44.3	61.2
Kx00 2-CPU			87.9	117
Kx00 4-CPU			174	198
Kx10	5.92	8.15	53.3	73.4
Kx10 2-CPU			106	140
Kx10 4-CPU			210	238
Kx20	6.41	9.11	57.7	82.0
Kx20 2-CPU			114	157
Kx20 4-CPU			228	275
Kx50	10.7	18.8	96.	169
Kx50 2-CPU			189	279
Kx50 4-CPU			375	383
Kx60	11.8	20.2	107	182
Kx60 2-CPU			212	297
Kx60 4-CPU			418	398
Kx70	14.6	23.0	132	207
Kx70 2-CPU			261	322
Kx70 4-CPU			519	434
Kx70 6-CPU			767	489
Kx80	17.4	28.5	157	257
Kx80 2-CPU			312	398
Kx80 4-CPU			610	532
Kx80 6-CPU			902	604

Compare these with other results on the Benchmarks page.

Physical dimensions/Power

Stand-alone:

635×432×698 mm height/width/depth
59kg weight

Packaged:

870×889×775 mm height/width/depth
76.66kg

Kx00/Kx10/Kx20:

1250W max. power input, 450W typical
6A max. RMS at 240V
10.5A max. RMS at 120V

Kx50/Kx60/Kx70:

2400W max. power input
10A max. RMS at 240V
16A max. RMS at 120V
Require 20A power services.

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