Installing the Server Operating System

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Updated:August 3, 2012

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Installing the Server Operating System

Installing the Server Operating System

This chapter includes the following sections:

Operating System Installation Methods

E-Series Servers support several operating systems. Regardless of the operating system being installed, you can install it on your server using one of the following tools:

  • KVM console
  • PXE installation server
  • Internal repository installation

KVM Console

The KVM console is an interface accessible from CIMC that emulates a direct keyboard, video, and mouse (KVM) connection to the server. The KVM console allows you to connect to the server from a remote location. Instead of using CD/DVD or floppy drives physically connected to the server, the KVM console uses virtual media, which are actual disk drives or disk image files that are mapped to virtual CD/DVD or floppy drives. You can map any of the following to a virtual drive:

  • CD/DVD or floppy drive on your computer
  • Disk image files (ISO or IMG files) on your computer
  • USB flash drive on your computer
You can use the KVM console to install an operating system on the server and to do the following:
  • Access the BIOS setup menu by pressing F2.
  • Access the CIMC Configuration Utility by pressing F8.
  • Access the WebBIOS to configure RAID, by pressing the Ctrl and H keys.

Installing an Operating System Using the KVM Console

Before You Begin
  • Locate the operating system installation disk or disk image file.
Procedure
    Step 1   Load the operating system installation disk into your CD/DVD drive, or copy the disk image files to your computer.
    Step 2   If CIMC is not open, log into the CIMC GUI.
    Step 3   In the Navigation pane, click the Server tab.
    Step 4   On the Server tab, click Summary.
    Step 5   From the Actions area, click Launch KVM Console.

    The KVM Console opens in a separate window.

    Step 6   From the KVM console, click the Virtual Media tab.
    Figure 1.



    Step 7   In the Virtual Media tab, map the virtual media using either of the following methods:
    • Check the Mapped check box for the CD/DVD drive containing the operating system installation disk.
    • Click Add Image, navigate to and select the operating system installation disk image, click Open to mount the disk image, and then check the Mapped check box for the mounted disk image.
    Note   

    You must keep the Virtual Media tab open during the operating system installation process. Closing the tab unmaps all virtual media.

    Step 8   Reboot the server and select the virtual CD/DVD drive as the boot device.

    When the server reboots, it begins the installation process from the virtual CD/DVD drive. Refer to the installation guide for the OS being installed to guide you through the rest of the installation process.
    Step 9   If disk drives are not displayed after you install the Microsoft Windows operating system, you must install drivers. See Installing Drivers.
    What to Do Next

    After the operating system installation is complete, reset the virtual media boot order to its original setting.

    PXE Installation Servers

    A Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) installation server allows a client to boot and install an operating system from a remote location. To use this method, a PXE environment must be configured and available on your LAN, typically a dedicated provisioning LAN. Additionally, the server must be set to boot from the network. When the server boots, it sends a PXE request across the network. The PXE installation server acknowledges the request, and starts a sequence of events that installs the operating system on the server.

    PXE servers can use installation disks, disk images, or scripts to install an operating system. Proprietary disk images can also be used to install an operating system, additional components, or applications.


    Note

    PXE installation is an efficient method for installing an operating system on a large number of servers. However, considering that this method requires setting up a PXE environment, it might be easier to use another installation method.

    Installing an Operating System Using a PXE Installation Server

    Before You Begin
    • Verify that the server can be reached over a VLAN.
    Procedure
      Step 1   Set the boot order to PXE.
      Step 2   Reboot the server.

      If a PXE install server is available on the VLAN, the installation process begins when the server reboots. PXE installations are typically automated and require no additional user input. Refer to the installation guide for the operating system being installed to guide you through the rest of the installation process.

      What to Do Next

      After the operating system installation is complete, reset the LAN boot order to its original setting.

      Host Image Mapping

      The Host Image Mapping feature allows you to download, map, unmap, or delete a host image. Download a host image, such as a Microsoft Windows, Linux, or VMware from a remote FTP, SFTP, HTTP, or HTTPS server onto an SD card, then map the image onto the virtual drive of a USB controller in the E-Series Server. After you map the image, set the boot order to make the virtual drive, in which the image is mounted, as the first boot device, and then reboot the server. The host image must have .iso as the file extension.

      The Host Image Mapping feature also allows you to download and mount a diagnostics image. The diagnostics image must have .diag as the file extension.

      Mapping the Host Image

      Before You Begin
      • Log into CIMC as a user with admin privileges.
      • Obtain the host image file from the appropriate third-party.

      Note

      If you start an image update while an update is already in process, both updates will fail.
      Procedure
        Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the Server tab.
        Step 2   On the Server tab, click Host Image Mapping.
        Figure 2. Host Image Mapping



        Step 3   In the Install Pane, complete the following fields:
        Name Description

        URL field

        The URL of the remote server on which the image is located.

        If the remote server requires user authentication, you must add the username and password of the remote server in the URL. The remote server can be an FTP, SFTP, HTTP, or HTTPS server.

        The URL syntax must be: protocol://username:password@server-ip-address/path/filename

        Image Name field

        The name of the image.

        • If you are installing a host image, that image must have .iso as the file extension.
        • If you are installing a diagnostics image, that image must have .diag as the file extension.
        Step 4   Click Download.

        The image file is downloaded from the specified FTP, SFTP, HTTP, or HTTPS server onto the SD card.
        Step 5   Click Map Image to Host.

        The image is mounted on the virtual drive of a USB controller. The virtual drive can be one of the following:

        • HDD—Hard disk drive
        • FDD—Floppy disk drive
        • CDROM—Bootable CD-ROM
        Step 6   Set the boot order to make the virtual drive in which the image is mounted as the first boot device.

        To set the boot order, see Configuring the Server Boot Order.

        Tip   

        To determine in which virtual drive the image is mounted, see the Host Image Update area in the Host Image Mapping page.
        Step 7   Reboot the server.
        Step 8   If the image contains an answer file, the operating system installation is automated and the image is installed. Otherwise, the installation wizard is displayed. Follow the wizard steps to install the image.
        Step 9   If disk drives are not displayed after you install the operating system, you must install drivers. See the appropriate operating system documentation for instructions on how to install drivers. For instructions on how to install drivers on a Microsoft Windows operating system, see Installing Drivers for the Microsoft Windows Operating System.
        What to Do Next

        After the operating system installation is complete, reset the virtual media boot order to its original setting.

        Installing Drivers for the Microsoft Windows Operating System


        Note

        If you purchased E-Series Server Option 1 (blank E-Series Server without preinstalled operating system), and you installed the Microsoft Windows operating system, you must install drivers.

        Microsoft Windows operating system requires that you install two drivers: LSI driver and Broadcom driver. The LSI driver is installed during the Microsoft Windows installation process. To install the Broadcom driver, see the following procedure.

        Procedure
          Step 1   Unzip and copy the Broadcom driver tar file into an USB flash drive.
          Step 2   Plug the USB flash drive into the USB slot in the E-Series Server.
          Step 3   Execute the Launch.exe file to install driver.
          Step 4   Follow the instructions to complete the installation.

          Unmapping the Host Image

          Before You Begin
          • Log into CIMC as a user with admin privileges.
          Procedure
            Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the Server tab.
            Step 2   On the Server tab, click Host Image Mapping.
            Figure 3. Host Image Mapping



            Step 3   Click Unmap Image.

            The image is unmounted from the virtual drive of the USB controller.

            Deleting the Host Image

            Before You Begin
            • Log into CIMC as a user with admin privileges.
            Procedure
              Step 1   In the Navigation pane, click the Server tab.
              Step 2   On the Server tab, click Host Image Mapping.
              Figure 4. Host Image Mapping



              Step 3   Click Delete Image.

              The image is removed from the SD card.

              Note   

              After the image is removed from the SD card, the information that was originally displayed in the Existing Image Information area and the Host Image Update area is erased.

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