Manually Performing a Network Boot of an RS/6000 SP PCI Node


Contents

About this document
     Related documentation
Booting an RS/6000 SP PCI node via manual node conditioning

About this document

This document describes the procedure for performing a network boot via manual node conditioning on an RS/6000 SP PCI node. Manual node conditioning is a procedure that may be used when the automatic procedures to network boot a node in Perspectives or the command nodecond has failed. Manual node conditioning allows more effective monitoring and troubleshooting during the network boot.

The procedure detailed in this document is not AIX specific, so it applies to all versions of AIX.

Related documentation

The product documentation library is also available:
http://www.rs6000.ibm.com/resource/aix_resource/Pubs/index.html


Booting an RS/6000 SP PCI node via manual node conditioning

  1. Configure the System Data Repository (SDR) for the appropriate bootp_response using one of the following procedures.

    Procedure from the command line

    1. From the command line on the control workstation, enter:
              spbootins -r <bootp_response> -l <node_number> -s yes
      
    2. Choose one of the the following for <bootp_response>: install, migrate, maintenance, or diag (for diagnostic). <node_number> is the number(s) of the node(s) separated by commas.

    If the preceding steps are not used, select one of the following procedures according to the appropriate Parallel System Support Programs (PSSP) level.

    Procedure using PSSP 3.1.0, 3.1.1 or 3.2.0

    1. From SMIT on the control workstation for PSSP 3.1.0, 3.1.1 or 3.2.0, enter smitty server_dialog. The following screen will display.
       ---------------------------------------------------
                      Boot/Install Server Information
      Type or select values in entry fields.
      Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
      Start Frame                                     []      #
      Start Slot                                      []      #
      Node Count                                      []      #
      OR
      Node List                                       []
      Response from Server to bootp Request                   +
      Volume Group Name                               []
      Run setup_server?                               yes     +
      ---------------------------------------------------
      
    2. In the preceding screen, fill in the following.

      For Node_List, enter the number(s) of the node(s) separated by commas.
      For Response from Server to bootp Request, enter either install, migrate, maintenance, or diag.
      At the Run setup_server? prompt, enter yes.

    Procedure using PSSP 2.2, 2.3, or 2.4

    1. From SMIT on the control workstation for PSSP 2.2, 2.3, or 2.4, enter smitty server_dialog. The following screen will display.
      ---------------------------------------------------
                      Boot/Install Server Information
      Type or select values in entry fields.
      Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
      Start Frame                                     []      #
      Start Slot                                      []      #
      Node Count                                      []      #
      OR
      Node Group                                      []      +
      OR
      Node List                                       []
      Boot/Install Server Node Identifier                     []
      Network Install Image Name                      []
      Destination Hard Disk(s)                                []
      Response from Server to bootp Request                   +
      LPP Source Name                                         []
      PSSP Level                                              +
      /usr Server's Hostname or IP Address            []
      Gateway to /usr Server                          []
      /usr Client Adapter Name                                +
      Run setup_server on the Control Workstation?    yes     +
      ---------------------------------------------------
      
    2. In the preceding screen, fill in the following:

      For Node_List, enter the number(s) of the node(s) separated by commas.
      For Response from Server to bootp Request, enter either install, migrate, maintenance, or diag.
      For Run setup_server on the Control Workstation, enter yes.

    For all three of the preceding methods, setup_server should complete with a return code of 0, that is, rc = 0. If you do not see rc = 0, this could indicate possible NIM errors, which requires fixing before the network boot will work. Please contact customer support if you do not see rc = 0.

    NOTE: For the following steps 2-5, you may use either Perspectives or the command line. Examples for both Perspectives and the commmand line are included.

  2. Power off the node.

  3. Open the SP LED panels

  4. Power on the node.

  5. Open an slterm/tty connection to the node.

  6. As the node is coming up, Exxx-type LEDs will display. On the console, the screen shown below will appear. When you see the word scsi, there will be a pause. At this pause, press the 1 (the number one) key once.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000
    RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000
    RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000 RS/6000
         memory      keyboard     network      scsi      
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
  7. The following menu will display. Select option 3, Utilities.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Firmware
    Version WIL98170
    (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 1997  All rights reserved.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    System Management Services
    1  Display Configuration
    2  Multiboot
    3  Utilities
    4  Select Language
                                                                        .------.
                                                                        |X=Exit|
                                                                        `------'
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
  8. On the following menu, select option 4, Remote Initial Program Load Setup.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Firmware
    Version WIL98170
    (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 1997  All rights reserved.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Utilities
    1  Set Passwords and Unattended Start Mode
    2  Test Memory
    3  Display Error Log
    4  Remote Initial Program Load Setup
    5  Change SCSI ID
    6  Update System Firmware
    7  Update Service Processor Firmware
    8  Select Console
                                                                        .------.
                                                                        |X=Exit|
                                                                        `------'
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
  9. Now select option 3, Ping, so a ping test can be administered to check the network connection between the node and the control workstation.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Firmware
    Version WIL98170
    (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 1997  All rights reserved.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Network Parameters
    1.  IP Parameters
    2.  Adapter Parameters
    3.  Ping
                                                                        .------.
                                                                        |X=Exit|
                                                                        `------'
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
  10. Now select the adapter that will be used to netboot the node. This will be the Integrated Ethernet card, so choose option 1.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Firmware
    Version WIL98170
    (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 1997  All rights reserved.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Interface
    1 .  ethernet      Integrated    0004ac4912a9
    2 .  ethernet      Slot 3        00203512cb51
                                                                        .------.
                                                                        |X=Exit|
                                                                        `------'
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
  11. The following menu sets the IP address of the node and the control workstation or boot/install server that will be used to netboot the node. First, choose option 1, Client IP Address.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Firmware
    Version WIL98170
    (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 1997  All rights reserved.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ping IP Address
    1.  Client IP Address                   [000.000.000.000]
    2.  Server IP Address                   [000.000.000.000]
    3.  Gateway IP Address                  [000.000.000.000]
    4.  Subnet Mask                         [255.255.255.000]
    .---------.                                                          .------.
    |E=Execute|                                                          |X=Exit|
    `---------'                                                          `------'
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
  12. Enter the client's (in this case, the node) IP Address. Use leading zeros.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Firmware
    Version WIL98170
    (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 1997  All rights reserved.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ping IP Address
    1.  Client IP Address                   [000.000.000.000]
    2.  Server IP Address                   [000.000.000.000]
    3.  Gateway IP Address                  [000.000.000.000]
    4.  Subnet Mask                         [255.255.255.000]
    .---------.                                                          .------.
    |E=Execute|                                                          |X=Exit|
    `---------'                                                          `------'
    X to Abort or Enter Client IP Address: 010.001.000.001
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
  13. Now select option 2. Enter the server's (in this case, the control workstation or boot/install server) IP address. Use leading zeros here.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Firmware
    Version WIL98170
    (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 1997  All rights reserved.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ping IP Address
    1.  Client IP Address                   [010.001.000.001]
    2.  Server IP Address                   [000.000.000.000]
    3.  Gateway IP Address                  [000.000.000.000]
    4.  Subnet Mask                         [255.255.255.000]
    .---------.                                                          .------.
    |E=Execute|                                                          |X=Exit|
    `---------'                                                          `------'
    X to Abort or Enter Server IP Address: 010.001.000.254
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
  14. Press E to execute the ping test.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Firmware
    Version WIL98170
    (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 1997  All rights reserved.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Ping IP Address
    1.  Client IP Address                   [010.001.000.001]
    2.  Server IP Address                   [010.001.000.254]
    3.  Gateway IP Address                  [000.000.000.000]
    4.  Subnet Mask                         [255.255.255.000]
    .---------.                                                          .------.
    |E=Execute|                                                          |X=Exit|
    `---------'                                                          `------'
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
  15. The message shown below should display. This will bring you back to the Ping IP Address menu. Press X three times to return to the System Management Services menu.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  .----------------.
                                  | Ping  Success. |
                                  `----------------'
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
  16. At the System Management Services menu, choose option 2, Multiboot.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Firmware
    Version WIL98170
    (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 1997  All rights reserved.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    System Management Services
    1  Display Configuration
    2  Multiboot
    3  Utilities
    4  Select Language
                                                                        .------.
                                                                        |X=Exit|
                                                                        `------'
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
  17. From the Multiboot menu, choose option 3, Install From.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    RS/6000 Firmware
    Version WIL98170
    (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 1997  All rights reserved.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Multiboot
    1  Select Software
    2  Software Default
    3  Install From *note: on newer systems this may read Select Install Device*
    4  Select Boot Devices
    5  OK Prompt
    6  Multiboot Startup 
                                                                        .------.
                                                                        |X=Exit|
                                                                        `------'
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
  18. At the following menu, choose option 3, Ethernet ( Integrated ).
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Install Operating System 
    Device   Device
    Number   Name
    1        SCSI 4512 MB Harddisk id=0 ( Integrated )
    2        Ethernet  ( slot=3 )
    3        Ethernet  ( Integrated )
    4                 None
                                                                        .------.
                                                                        |X=Exit|
                                                                        `------'
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
  19. The following information should display:
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Firmware
    Version WIL98170
    (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 1997  All rights reserved.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    BOOTP S = 1 
    FILE: /tftpboot/f1n1.aix.dfw.ibm.com
    Load Addr=0x4000 Max Size=0xbfc000 
    FINAL Packet Count = 8788 
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Welcome to AIX.
                           boot image timestamp: 16:06 07/20
                     The current time and date: 20:58:28 07/26/2000
                    number of processors: 2    size of memory: 256Mb
    boot device: /pci@fef00000/ethernet@10:000.000.000.000,,000.000.000.000,000.000.
    000.000,00,00
    closing stdin and stdout...
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

    The value for Packet Count should increase until FINAL Packet Count displays. Then, the Welcome to AIX screen will appear. Shortly, the node will continue with the mode selected in the bootp_response in the SDR. If you do not begin receiving the requested output from the bootp_response, contact customer support.




[ Doc Ref: 96481577921868     Publish Date: Nov. 07, 2000     4FAX Ref: 8655 ]