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HP XC System Software: XC Installation Guide > Chapter 2 Installing Software on the Head Node

Task 2: Start the Installation Process

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The software installation procedure differs depending on the hardware model of the head node. Proceed to one of the following sections:

Installation Procedure For A Non-Blade Server Head Node

If the head node is not an HP server blade, follow this procedure to install the HP XC System Software:

  1. Turn off the power on all nodes.

  2. Turn on power to the head node.

  3. Insert the HP XC System Software DVD distribution media into the DVD drive on the head node for all hardware models except HP server blades.

  4. This step applies only to HP Integrity head nodes. Omit this step for all other hardware models and proceed to step 5.

    After displaying some power-on messages, the node power-on process displays the Boot Menu. Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to select the DVD ROM as the boot device.

    Do one of the following depending on upon how the EFI environment is configured:

    1. Select the preconfigured option to boot from the CD or DVD device if it is available. Proceed to step 5.

    2. If the option to boot from the CD or DVD device is not available, select the EFI Shell option and do the following:

      1. Display the device mapping table:

        EFI Shell> map

      2. Locate the DVD device name (such as fs0) and press the Enter key:

        fs0: Enter

      3. Proceed to step 5.

  5. At the boot prompt, enter the appropriate boot command to start the installation process and specify the name of the Kickstart file (ks.cfg). You must act fast, because the system does not pause very long at the boot prompt. As listed in Table 2-7, the boot command line is different depending upon the cluster platform chip architecture, the hardware model, and how the boot device was set.

    IMPORTANT: After this document was published, it is possible that specific head node hardware models require additional parameters to be included on the command line. Before booting the head node, look in HP XC System Software Release Notes at http://www.docs.hp.com/en/linuxhpc.html to make sure no additional command-line options are required for your model of head node.

    Table 2-7 Kickstart Boot Command Line

    Cluster Platform or Hardware ModelChip Architecture TypeBoot Command Line

    CP3000 and CP4000

    Opteron and Xeon

    boot: linux ks=cdrom:/ks.cfg

    HP ProLiant DL145 Generation 2 (G2)

    Opteron

    boot: linux ks=cdrom:/ks.cfg noapic

    The noapic option is required for DL145 G2 platforms only if InfiniBand PCI-X cards are used

    HP ProLiant DL385

    Opteron

    boot: linux ks=cdrom:/ks.cfg clock=pmtmr

    HP ProLiant DL585

    Opteron

    boot: linux ks=cdrom:/ks.cfg clock=pmtmr

    CP6000

    Itanium (when the boot device was set through the preconfigured boot option and the ELILO boot: prompt appears)

    ELILO boot: linux ks=cdrom:/ks.cfg

    CP6000

    Itanium (when the boot device was set through the EFI Shell option and the fs0:> prompt appears)

    fs0:> elilo linux ks=cdrom:/ks.cfg

     

  6. When prompted, answer the questions listed in Table 2-6. You have the opportunity to confirm every answer before continuing to the next question.

    When you have answered all questions, the unattended software load process begins. The total software load takes from 15 to 30 minutes depending upon the hardware model. A progress bar appears as the Linux RPMs are loading.

    When the Linux RPMs are loaded, the HP XC System Software RPMs are loaded, and the following message appears and remains on the screen for about 5 minutes until the software load is complete:

    Installing HP XC System Software RPMs
    IMPORTANT: After the software load is complete, ensure that the DVD is ejected from the drive before continuing. On systems with a retractable DVD device, you must remove the installation DVD before the system reboots. This is especially important if the head node is an HP workstation, which never ejects the DVD.

    If you do not remove the DVD, a second installation process is initiated from the DVD when the system reboots. If a second installation process is started, halt the process and remove the DVD. Upon reboot, the system will boot from the original, completed installation (assuming that the second installation had not begun).

  7. Do not press any keys while the system is coming up and while the new kernel boots. Ignore the Welcome to Kudzu screen. Do not press any keys until the login screen appears.

  8. Log in as the root user when the login screen appears, and enter the root password you previously defined during the software installation process.

  9. Open a terminal window when the desktop appears:

    1. Click on the Linux for High Performance Computing splash screen to close it.

    2. Click Applications->System Tools->Terminal to open a terminal window.

  10. Proceed to “Task 3: Install Additional RPMs from the HP XC DVD”.

Installation Procedure For A Server Blade Head Node

If the head node is an HP server blade, follow the procedure described here to install the HP XC System Software.

A server blade does not have a local DVD drive, a local VGA connection, a local keyboard, or mouse ports. Thus, you must install the HP XC System Software using the virtual console and virtual media features of the iLO2 console management device.

The virtual console interface enables you to connect to an iLO2 device over the network and display a full screen VGA graphics display. The virtual media function enables you to mount a CD or DVD drive on your local PC or laptop as if it were attached to the server blade.

Before you begin, you must have the following items available:

  • A PC or laptop with a local DVD drive

  • A recent version of Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer running on the PC or laptop

When you have these items in your possession, proceed to “Connect to the Onboard Administrator”.

Connect to the Onboard Administrator

Network access to the Onboard Administrator and iLO2 associated with the head node is required to use the virtual media features. The internal administration network is not operational until the head node is installed. Therefore, you must use one of the following methods to make the Onboard Administrator network accessible. If you are not able to connect to a public network (as described in the first method), use the second method.

Method 1

Put the Onboard Administrator on an active network:

  1. To provide IP addresses for the Onboard Administrator and all iLO2 devices in the enclosure, disconnect the Onboard Administrator associated with the head node from the administration network, and plug the Onboard Administrator into an active network with a DHCP server.

  2. Obtain the IP address of the Onboard Administrator from the Insight Display panel on the enclosure.

  3. From your PC or laptop, use the browser to access the Onboard Administrator using the IP address you obtained in the previous step.

  4. Log in to the Onboard Administrator with the default user name Administrator and the default password shown on the tag affixed to the Onboard Administrator.

  5. Proceed to “Start the Installation on the Server Blade Head Node.

Method 2

Assign a temporary static IP address to the Onboard Administrator:

  1. Use a network cable to connect the laptop or PC NIC directly into the Onboard Administrator or connect it to the administration network ProCurve switch.

  2. Use the menus on the Insight Display panel to manually set a static IP address and subnet mask for the Onboard Administrator. You can use any valid IP address because there is no connection to a public network.

    All static addresses must be in the same network. For example, assume the network is 172.100.100.0 and the netmask is 255.255.255.0. In this case, the static IP addresses might be:

    • IP address of the installation PC: 172.100.100.20

    • IP address of the Onboard Administrator: 172.100.100.21

    • Starting IP address for enclosure bay IP addressing: 172.100.100.1 (this uses the addresses from 172.100.100.1 to 172.100.100.16)

  3. On your laptop or PC, manually set a static IP address for the NIC in the same subnet as the IP address you just set for the Onboard Administrator.

  4. From your PC or laptop, use the browser to access the Onboard Administrator using the static IP address you assigned to the Onboard Administrator.

  5. Log in to the Onboard Administrator. Use the default user name Administrator and the default password shown on the tag affixed to the Onboard Administrator.

  6. Assign IP addresses to all iLO2 devices in the enclosure:

    1. Click on the plus sign (+) to open the Enclosure Settings menu in the left frame.

    2. Click Enclosure Bay IP Addressing.

    3. Select the check box to Enable Enclosure Bay IP Addressing.

    4. Specify a beginning IP Address and Subnet Mask in the same subnet as the static address you set for the Onboard Administrator. The enclosure consumes 16 addresses starting at the address you specify, so make sure none of these addresses conflict with the two IP address you have already assigned.

    5. Click the Apply button to save your settings.

  7. Proceed to “Start the Installation on the Server Blade Head Node.

Start the Installation on the Server Blade Head Node

Make sure you are logged in to the Onboard Administrator, and follow this procedure to install the HP XC System Software on a server blade head node.

  1. Insert the HP XC System Software System Software Version 3.2.1 DVD into the DVD drive of the local laptop or PC.

  2. Do the following from the Onboard Administrator management web page:

    1. In the left frame, click the plus sign (+) to open the Device Bays menu.

    2. Click the plus sign (+) next to the node that represents the head node.

    3. Click on the link to the iLO to open the Integrated Lights-Out 2 web utility.

  3. Click the Web Administration link in the body of the window to open the iLO2 Web Administration page.

  4. Click the Remote Console tab.

  5. Open the remote console, map the local DVD drive to the server blade, and turn on power to the node. The procedure depends upon the type of browser you are using:

    Internet Explorer

    If you are using Internet Explorer as your browser, do the following:

    1. Click the Integrated Remote Console link to open a virtual console window that provides access to the graphics console, virtual media, and power control in the same window.

    2. Click the Drives pull-down menu.

    3. Click Mount to mount the appropriate DVD drive

    4. Click the Power button and then click Momentary Press to turn on power to the server and start booting from the DVD.

    5. Proceed to step 6.

    Mozilla Firefox

    If you are using Firefox as your browser, do the following:

    1. Click the Remote Console link to open the virtual console window.

    2. In the iLO2 Web Administration window, click the Virtual Devices tab.

    3. In the left frame, click the Virtual Media link.

    4. Click the Virtual Media Applet link to open a new window that provides access to the virtual media functions.

    5. Go to Virtual Media Applet window, and in the Virtual CD-ROM area of the window, click Local Media Drive and use the drop-down menu to select the drive where you inserted the HP XC DVD.

    6. In the left frame of the iLO2 Web Administration window, click the Virtual Power link to access the power functions and then click Momentary Press to turn on power to the server and start booting from the DVD.

    7. Proceed to step 6.

  6. Look at the remote console window and watch as the XC DVD boots.

  7. Start the Kickstart installation process when the Boot: prompt is displayed:

    Boot: linux ks=hd:scd0/ks.cfg

    Some server blade hardware models require additional options to be included on the boot command line. Before booting the head node, look in Table 2-8 to determine if your head node requires a special option.

    Table 2-8 Additional Boot Command Line Options For Specific Server Blade Hardware Models

    Server Blade Hardware ModelBoot Command Line

    HP ProLiant BL465c

    boot: linux ks=hd:scd0/ks.cfg pci=nommconf

    HP ProLiant BL685c

    boot: linux ks=hd:scd0/ks.cfg pci=nommconf

     

  8. When prompted, answer the questions listed in Table 2-6. You have the opportunity to confirm every answer before continuing to the next question.

    When you have answered all questions, the unattended software load process begins. The total software load takes from 15 to 30 minutes depending upon the hardware model. A progress bar appears as the Linux RPMs are loading.

    When the Linux RPMs are loaded, the HP XC System Software RPMs are loaded, and the following message appears and remains on the screen for about 5 minutes until the software load is complete:

    Installing HP XC System Software RPMs
    IMPORTANT: After the software load is complete, ensure that the DVD is ejected from the drive before continuing. On systems with a retractable DVD device, you must remove the installation DVD before the system reboots. This is especially important if the head node is an HP workstation, which never ejects the DVD.

    If you do not remove the DVD, a second installation process is initiated from the DVD when the system reboots. If a second installation process is started, halt the process and remove the DVD. Upon reboot, the system will boot from the original, completed installation (assuming that the second installation had not begun).

  9. Do not press any keys while the system is coming up and while the new kernel boots. Ignore the Welcome to Kudzu utility. Do not press any keys until the login screen appears.

  10. Log in as the root user when the login screen appears, and enter the root password you previously defined during the software installation process.

  11. Open a terminal window when the desktop appears:

    1. Click on the Linux for High Performance Computing splash screen to close it.

    2. Click Applications->System Tools->Terminal to open a terminal window.

  12. Proceed to “Task 3: Install Additional RPMs from the HP XC DVD”.

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