OpenVMS Alpha Galaxy Guide
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  2.4  OpenVMS Galaxy Features

  An evolution in OpenVMS functionality, OpenVMS Galaxy
  leverages proven OpenVMS Cluster, symmetric multipro-
  cessing, and performance capabilities to offer greater levels
  of performance, scalability, and availability with extremely
  flexible operational capabilities.

  Clustering

  Fifteen years of proven OpenVMS Cluster technology facil-
  itates communication among clustered instances within an
  OpenVMS Galaxy.

  An OpenVMS Cluster is a software concept.  It is a set of co-
  ordinated OpenVMS operating systems,      one per computer  ,
  communicating over various communications media to com-
  bine the processing power and storage capacity of multiple
  computers into a single, shared-everything environment.

  An OpenVMS Galaxy is also a software concept.  However, it
  is a set of coordinated OpenVMS operating systems,     in a sin-

  gle computer , communicating through shared memory.  An
  instance of the operating system in an OpenVMS Galaxy can
  be clustered with other instances within the Galaxy or with
  instances in other systems.

  An OpenVMS Galaxy is a complete system in and of itself.
  Although an OpenVMS Galaxy can be added to an existing
  cluster as multiple cluster nodes can be added today, the sin-
  gle system is the OpenVMS Galaxy architecture focus.  An
  application running totally within an OpenVMS Galaxy can
  take advantage of performance opportunities not present in
  multisystem clusters.

  SMP

  Any instance in an OpenVMS Galaxy can be an SMP con-
  figuration.  The number of CPUs is part of the definition of
  an instance.  Because an instance in the OpenVMS Galaxy is
  a complete OpenVMS operating system, all applications be-
  have the same as they would on a traditional, single-instance
  computer.

  CPU reassignment

  A CPU can be dynamically reassigned from one instance to
  another while all applications on both instances continue to
  run.  Reassignment is realized by three separate functions:
  stopping, reassigning, and starting the CPU in question.  As
  resource needs of applications change, the CPUs can be reas-
  signed to the appropriate instances.  There are some restric-
  tions; for example, the primary CPU in an instance cannot
  be reassigned, and a CPU cannot specifically be designated to
  handle certain interrupts.

  Dynamic Reconfiguration
  Multiple instances of the OpenVMS operating system al-
  low system managers to reassign processing power to the
  instances whose applications most need it.  As that need
  varies over time, so can the configuration.  OpenVMS al-
  lows dynamic reconfiguration while all instances and their
  applications continue to run.
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