Workstation blade video subsystem 7
Workstation blade video subsystem
WS460c video subsystem overview
This chapter describes the workstation blade video subsystem. Because the workstation blade contains
two types of video controllers, you must be familiar with their functionality and operating modes.
• ATI RN50 video controller (ATI video controller)—The ATI Video controller is built into the
workstation blade.
• NVIDIA Quadro FX graphics adapter (NVIDIA graphics adapter)—The WS460c Workstation Blade
supports NVIDIA graphics adapters in single-card and dual-card configurations. See Hardware and
Software Supported by HP ProLiant Workstation Blades.
HP offers the HP Graphics Expansion Blade (expansion blade), which attaches only to the workstation
blade. The expansion blade supports the installation of certain PCI-Express NVIDIA Quadro FX graphics
adapters.
If an expansion blade is not attached to the workstation blade, NVIDIA graphics adapters are installed in
the WS460c Workstation Blade. If an expansion blade is attached, graphics adapters can only be
installed in the expansion blade, not in the workstation blade. Unless otherwise noted, no distinction is
made in this chapter based on where the graphics adapters are installed internally to the WS460c
Workstation Blade or in the expansion blade, because installation location is not visible to the Windows®
operating system.
Video subsystem architecture and operating modes
The key features of the video subsystem are:
• The workstation blade boot console is generated by the ATI video controller. The boot console can
be viewed either by connecting a monitor to the video output of the Local I/O Connector or can be
viewed over the network using the iLO 2 Ethernet port.
• The Windows® desktop runs on the NVIDIA graphics adapter in User Mode only.
• You can view the Windows® desktop on internally installed NVIDIA graphics adapters using RGS.
You can view the video directly if he graphics connectors are present.
• Operation of the workstation blade ATI video controller and NVIDIA graphics adapter is governed
by the BIOS parameter Remote Console Mode, which can be set to the following modes:
o User Mode (default setting)
o Admin Mode
o Server Mode
o Setup Mode
o HP Graphics Expansion x16 mode (only for WS460c Graphics Expansion Blade)
