General configuration

Note: The sample screens that appear in this document might differ slightly from the screens displayed by your system. Screen content varies based on the type of BladeCenter® unit that you are using and the firmware versions and options that are installed.

This section provides instructions for configuring the BladeCenter unit to operate using SOL. You must perform the following procedures:

Make sure that all BladeCenter components and firmware meet the minimum SOL requirements (see Hardware and firmware requirements).
Configure the BladeCenter unit for SOL operation (see Configuring the global SOL settings for the BladeCenter unit).
Configure the management module for SOL operation (see Configuring the management module).
If required, configure BladeCenter components for SOL operation (see Special component requirements).
Update and configure BladeCenter BIOS for SOL operation (see Updating and configuring the blade server BIOS).
Configure the operating system that is installed on each blade server to enable SOL (see Operating system configuration).
If secure SOL sessions over a network are required, install and configure SSH for SOL (see Installing and configuring SSH for SOL).
Enable the blade servers for SOL operation (see Enabling SOL for blade servers).

Perform the SOL configuration that is shared by all BladeCenter components using the management-module Web interface. The management-module Web interface supports only configuration and monitoring of the command-line interface and SOL and cannot be used to start command-line interface or SOL sessions.

You can also perform some SOL configuration using the management-module command-line interface or the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). See the BladeCenter Management Module Command-Line Interface Reference Guide for information about the management-module command-line interface and instructions for using it.