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Configuring blade servers

Configuring a blade server involves setting up the SAS storage, installing the operating system, and updating the firmware.

Be sure to refer to the documentation for the blade server that you are configuring. It contains specific instructions that might differ slightly from those listed in this section.

For more information about blade servers, see the blade server documentation. To determine which blade servers are compatible with the BladeCenter S chassis, see the ServerProven Web site.

Although there are several ways to access the blade server, consider using KVM access when you perform the initial setup of a blade server. Attach a monitor to the video connector on the advanced management module. Attach a USB keyboard and mouse to the USB connectors on the advanced management module or the USB connectors on the media tray.
Note
If you are using KVM, you must press the KVM selection button on the blade server that you are configuring to assign the monitor and keyboard to the blade server.
  1. Update the firmware for the blade server. See the documentation that comes with the blade server form information about updating firmware.
  2. Start the blade server.
  3. Optionally use the LSI configuration utility on the blade server to set the SAS hard disk drive configuration if you are installing SAS connectivity modules. You can implement integrated mirroring (IM), integrated mirroring enhanced (IME), or integrated striping (IS) for the hard disk drives.
    Note
    In addition to the LSI configuration utility, you can use MegaRAID Storage Manager (available on CD with the SAS expansion card option), or the ServerGuide program to configure your SAS storage.
    1. Some blade servers, such as the HS21 and LS21, might have two SAS controllers, one for the internal SAS controller (called Planar SAS) and one for the SAS expansion card. You must first access BIOS to either disable the internal SAS controller or the option ROM for the SAS expansion card.
      • If no hard disk drives are installed in the blade server, disable the internal SAS controller:
        1. When you are prompted, press F1 to access BIOS.
        2. Select Device and I/O ports.
        3. Disable the Planar SAS.
      • If hard disk drives are installed in the blade server, disable the option ROM for the SAS expansion card:
        1. When you are prompted, press F1 to access BIOS.
        2. Select Advanced Setup > PCI Control > PCI ROM .
        3. Disable the Option ROM for the SAS expansion card slot.

      For more information about setting up the SAS hard disk drive configuration, see the IBM® BladeCenter SAS Expansion Card (CFFv) Installation and User's Guide.

    2. Save the BIOS configuration and restart the blade server.
    3. When you are prompted, press Ctrl-C to start the LSI Configuration Utility.
    4. Select the SAS expansion adapter and complete the following steps:
      1. Select RAID Properties.
      2. Select the type of volume that is to be created (IM Volume, IME Volume, or IS Volume) and follow the prompts.
    5. After you create the volumes, exit the LSI Configuration Utility.
  4. Assign the DVD drive on the media tray to the blade server that you are configuring by pressing Media tray selection button on the front of the blade server.

    For more information about assigning the media tray to the blade server, see Selecting shared BladeCenter resources.

  5. Insert the operating system media into the DVD drive.
  6. Set the DVD drive as the boot device for the blade server that you are configuring, if it is necessary for that blade server. You can do that from the advanced management module.
  7. Install the operating system. The ServerGuide program is a server installation assistant that simplifies the process of installing and configuring blade servers. If you are installing a Microsoft Windows operating system, consider using the ServerGuide CD that comes with your blade server. If you have already configured your SAS storage before using the ServerGuide program, make sure that you choose to retain the configuration when you begin installing the operating system.
    Important
    If you have two SAS connectivity modules installed, the blade server does not have internal hard disk drives installed, and you are installing the operating system one on of the disks or disk arrays in the storage modules:
    1. From the advanced management module Web interface, disable the ports for one of the SAS connectivity modules.
    2. Install the operating system to the disk or disk array.
    3. From the advanced management module Web interface, re-enable the ports for the SAS connectivity module.

    If you are using IBM Director and RDM, these steps are performed by the software; you do not need to perform these steps.

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