Before you install the
operating system on the blade server,
verify that the blade server is installed in the BladeCenter® unit, the management-module
firmware is at the latest available level, and the blade server is
turned on.
If you are not using an unattended
network-installation
method to install your operating system, you must first provide a
Serial over LAN (SOL) connection to the blade server to install your
operating system. If you have not already done so, configure the SOL
feature on the blade server to establish an SOL connection, enable
the SOL feature, and start an SOL session. For instructions, see the IBM® BladeCenter Serial over LAN Setup Guide and
the BladeCenter Management
Module Command-Line Interface Reference Guide. For information
about SOL commands, see the documentation for your operating system.
Important: - If you plan to install the operating system
through the Ethernet
network, you must install and configure a second Ethernet switch module
into the applicable I/O-module bay of the BladeCenter unit. For additional information,
see:
- After you install the operating system
on the blade server, you
must install any service packs or update packages that come with the
operating system. For additional information, see the instructions
that come with your operating-system documentation and the service
packs or update packages.
- The blade server has no external
USB ports, but communicates with
and uses the removable-media drives and USB ports that are in the
media tray of the BladeCenter unit.
- The operating system in the blade server must provide USB support
for the blade server to recognize and use the removable-media drives
in the BladeCenter unit.
The BladeCenter unit
uses USB for internal communication with these devices.
- For
the BladeCenter PS703 or PS704 blade
server: If you plan to install an Ethernet
expansion card, first install the operating system to enable the onboard
ports to be recognized and configured before the ports on the expansion
card. If you install the Ethernet expansion card before you
install the operating system, the expansion card ports will be assigned
before the onboard ports.
See the ServerProven website for information about
supported operating-system versions and all blade server optional
devices.
