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Installing Windows onto Blade Server

Hi,

I need to install Windows onto a brand new blade server in a chassis, I've never used a blade server or a blade chassis, i'm heading in tomorrow blind. Can someone give me a heads up as to what to expect and whether it's as simple as putting in a CD and running it? All information is greatly appreciated!

Thanks

marmata75

A Blade Server is just an headless server. You'll have to connect to the console via the manufacturer via (HP iLO, Dell DRAC etc. etc.), then you'll be able to mount your host drive or an iso image so that the blade can boot from there. Some chassis have a real dvd drive that you can mount on any of the blades so that it's easier. With the major manufacturer it's just a matter of starting the blade with the right tool (i.e. HP SmartStart ), follow the onscreen instruction to partition the raid drives, put the windows cd in and reboot. Just be sure to take a laptop with you since blade servers are usually headless so you won't be able to connect a monitor to them!

Cheers,
]\/[arco

Optimus NZ

ASKER

Thanks ]V[arco,

I'll take a laptop. It's all IBM kit. So I should have loads of disks.
Does it matter if there are any other blades already configured? will it make sense as to what one i'm connecting to? Argh!

Thanks for your help :)

marmata75

No matter about the other blades installed. With the IBM BladeCenter Management Web GUI you can decide on which blade you're going to work, that will prevent you with 'messing' with the other running blades. You'll decide which blade will own the cd and the console, and then work just on that on safely! You'll find complete infos on the BladeCenters here: http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/pdfs/sg247523.pdf. From page 199 onwards there's the description of the advanced management module you'll be using.
Here you'll complete complete instructions on using the module: http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=psg1MIGR-5073887
altought it's all very easy! Of course, make sure you have the password to access this management module otherwise you're stuck!

Cheers,
]\/[arco

Optimus NZ

ASKER

Ok. Last Question before D Day tomorrow. The Blade Chassis is brand new. Does it come all pre configured with the IBM BladeCenter Management GUI? Or is there a possibility I'll have to install and configure that too? ANd if so.... that's straight forward?
Really appreciate all your help with this.

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marmata75

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dolomiti

hi,
I will call Blade Center the chassis, while with the word Blade, i mean the server.

Behind the IBM Blade Center, there is a module called MM (Management Module),
where you physically attach: a video, a mouse, a keyboard, and a Eth to manage it remotely.
A CDROM is placed on a side (depends from the model of Blade Center: H,E..), always in the fron panel.
Also this device is owned by MM.

The MM is logically shared across the blades (1-14);
each IBM blade has on the top of front panel 2 buttons:
- one for CDROM,
- the other for the console

When you press eg on Blade01 the console button and the CD button,
both these resources are allocated to such blade:
if you power on Blade01, you will see on the video, the BIOS start of the Blade01.
If you have precedentely inserted a Windows CD in caddy,
you will see Windows boot and just press F6...

Probably is better if, at BIOS level, press F1, and verify that the server is
enabled to boot from CDrom.
While setup is going, you can press Console Button from the Balde02, to see
what is happening on such blade.
Obviously, don't press CDrom button on this blade, otherwise Blade01 will lose CD
during setup.

good luck
vittorio

Optimus NZ

ASKER

Thanks for all your help - everything went fine.