Supermicro Server Build Guidelines

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SuperMicro
Server Setup Guidelines

Application Purpose and Scope

This document covers the setup of SuperMicro servers.

Firmware Setup

BIOS Setup

The BIOS settings are required to enable field service, in case of server issues. We will want to set the BIOS Serial Console to use COM 1 and use 9600 baud.

In order to get into the BIOS setup, a keyboard and monitor must be connected. The keyboard must be a USB style keyboard. The monitor can be any VGA-style monitor.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 00.PNG
SuperMicro Splash Screen

To get into the BIOS Setup, power on the server and press the "DEL" key on the keyboard when the option appears.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 01.PNG
Advanced BIOS configuration

When the BIOS Setup utility comes up, navigate to the "Advanced" tab.

Boot Features

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Boot Feature Default Settings

In the "Boot Features" dialog, change the "Wait For F1 If Error" setting to "Disabled".

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Boot Features Desired Settings

Once all the settings match, you can press "ESC" to back out of the menu.

CPU Configuration

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CPU Configuration Default Settings

At this time, there appears that the default settings are sufficient, however ensure that all settings appear as shown below.

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CPU Configuration Desired Settings

Once all the settings match, you can press "ESC" to back out of the menu.

Super IO (Serial Port) Configuration

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Super IP Configuration Menu

Serial Port 1 Configuration

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Serial Port 1 Default Settings

At this time, the default settings for Serial Port 1 seem to be sufficient. Please ensure all settings match the below.

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Serial Port 1 Desired Settings

Once all the settings match, you can press "ESC" to back out of the menu.

Serial Port 2 Configuration

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Serial Port 2 Default Settings

For Serial port 2, we want to disable the serial port. This is important for the serial console to work correctly.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 10.PNG
Serial Port 2 Desired Settings

Once all the settings match, you can press "ESC" to back out of the menu.

Serial Port Console Redirection

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 11.PNG
Console Redirection Default Settings

Change the COM1 "Console Redirection" setting to "Enabled". Change the "Windows Emergency Management Services (EMS) setting to "Disabled"

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 12.PNG
Console Redirection Desired Settings

Select the COM1 "Console Redirection Settings" sub-menu.

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COM1 Console Redirection Default Settings

Change the "Bits per second" setting to "9600". Change the "Resolution 100X31" setting to "Disabled". Ensure all other settings are as shown below.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 14.PNG
COM1 Console Redirection Desired Settings

Once all the settings match, you can press "ESC" to back out of the menu.

IPMI (iLOM) Setup

Navigate to the IPMI Menu.

Enter the "BMC network configuration" menu sub-menu.

Change "Update IPMI LAN configuration" setting to "Yes". Change "Configuration Address source" setting to "Static". Assign "Station IP Address", "Subnet Mask" and "Gateway IP Address" with correct values for the server.

The configuration should look similar to the below display, except with different IP/Subnet mask/Gateway information.

Once all the settings match, you can press "ESC" to back out of the menu.

Save & Exit BIOS Utility

When all settings have been made and verified, press "F4" to save the configuration and exit the utility.

RAID Setup

For the RAID setup, we want to use RAID 1 (Mirroring).

To get into the RAID configuration utility, press <CTRL> and <H> when prompted.

In the example server, there is only one adapter. You can just click on the "Start" button to continue.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 19.PNG
MegaRADI BIOS Config Utility - Physical Configuration

In the "Physical Configuration" screen, select the "Configuration Wizard" link on from the left frame.

Select the "New Configuration" radio button, and then click on the "Next" button to continue.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 21.PNG
New Configuration Confirmation Page

Click on the "Yes" button to confirm that you want to replace the existing configuration with a new configuration.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 22.PNG
Select Configuration Method

Select the "Manual Configuration" method, and click on the "Next" button to continue.

In this screen, you will select the drives to add to your drive group, and accept the defined drive group.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 24.PNG
Drive Group - Select Drives

Select both drives, ensure that "Data Protection" is set to "Disabled" and click on the "Add To Array" button.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 25.PNG
Drive Group - Accept DG

Select the Drive Group, "Drive Group0" and click on the "Accept DG" button.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 26.PNG
Drive Group - Completed

Drive Group definition is now set. Click on the "Next" button to continue.

Select the Drive Group that you just defined, and click on the "Add to SPAN" button.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 28.PNG
Span Definition - Completed

When complete, click on the "Next" button to continue.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 29.PNG
Virtual Drive Definition - Default

Click on the "Update Size" button.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 30.PNG
Virtual Drive Definition - Accept

Set RAID Level to "RAID 1" and ensure all other selections are as shown below. Click on the "Accept" button when complete.


File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 31.PNG
Virtual Drive Confirmation

Click on the "Yes" button to confirm the new virtual drive definition.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 32.PNG
Virtual Drive Definition - Complete

Click on the "Next" button to continue.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 33.PNG
Configuration Wizard Preview

Click on the "Accept" button if the preview looks correct.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 34.PNG
Configuration Wizard Confirmation

Click on the "Yes" button to confirm the configuration.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 35.PNG
Initialize Confirmation

Click on the "Yes" button to confirm the initialization of the new virtual drive.

The new Virtual Drive has been saves and initialize. You can do further initialization if desired.

Click "Back" or the "Home" icon to return to the main menu.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 37.PNG
Main Menu - new configuration displayed

On the Main Menu screen, you can now see the new virtual drive definition and status. Click the "Exit"

Click on "Yes" to exit the application.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 39.PNG
Configuration Completed - Need to reboot

After the configuration is completed, you will beed to reboot your system.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 68.PNG
Completed Virtual Drive Setup

When the RAID configuration is successful, you will see the Virtual Drive in the devices list.

Server Software Installation

OS Installation

To install the OS on the server, you must have the server connected to the network, and have the routers and switches configured for network connectivity. The Boot CD contains just enough of the installation process to boot the server, configure the network interface on the server, and start a network installation.

You can download the correct ISO file from the kickstart distribution.

http://kikyo.home.labrats.us/pub/ISO/

Setup Virtual Media

In the iKVM console, click on the "Virtual Media" menu, and then the "Virtual Storage" menu item. This brings up the the virtual storage dialog.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 41.PNG
Virtual Storage Dialog

Click on the "CDROM & ISO" tab.

Select "ISO File" in the "Logical Drive Type" drop down field.

Click on the "Open I[SO]" button to open the selection dialog.

Select the ISO file on your local system, and click the "Open" button.

Click on the "Plug In" button to make the virtual CDROM available to the remote server.

Virtual media is now active. You can click on the "OK" button to close the dialog.

Specify Boot Option

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 00.PNG
Press "F11" for Boot Menu

At the Supermicro Splash Screen, press the "F11" keyboard key to trigger the boot menu option.

Specify the "IPMI Virtual CDROM" option.

Anaconda Installation

The Cobbler menu will appear after the computer boots from the CDROM. Select the appropriate menu option. In this case, select the IPMI option.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 49.PNG
Loading storage drivers

Anaconda will start loading the installation program, and loading appropriate drivers.

Anaconda may complain about not being able to load the kickstart file from CDROM. This appears to only happen while loading from the IPMI virtual media. You should select "OK" to continue.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 51.PNG
Specify kickstart file location

The kickstart file is on the CDROM. Give the system a few seconds to get everything sorted out, and press "OK" without changing anything. It will normally continue with the installation.

Installation will continue, and you will see it enter stage 2 installation.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 53.PNG
Retrieving installation information

Continuing to collect installation information.

Once the installation program starts formatting the partitions, the program should be able to complete.

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 56.PNG
Starting package installation

The install program has a number of packages that it needs to install before it actually starts to display the package installation. This screen will stay this way for several minutes.

Once the package installation starts to show progress, you will see the packages start counting down, and the estimated time to completion will show.


File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 58.PNG
Installing last package

Eventually, the last package will be installed.

After all the packages have been installed, you will see the post-install scripts start running. This will take a couple minutes.

After the post-install scripts have completed, the install program will shut down and the server will reboot.

Remove Virtual Media

Enter the virtual media dialog, as detailed above, and click on the "Plug Out" button to disconnect the virtual CDROM.

OS/IP Configuration

Booting the Server

If you need to change the boot options, press space at this time.

If you need to change the boot options, here is where you change it. You can select Serial or Monitor console, but it will default to serial. Both will be given a login prompt after the server start up.

The server has completed it's boot process.

Log into Server

Enter the username "server-setup" to enter the server setup account.

Enter the password that has been provided for the account.

Enter Server Configuration Information

File:SUPERMICRO SERVER BIOS 67.PNG
Enter Server Hostname/IP information

Enter the Server Hostname (FQDN), IP, Netmask, Gateway, and Ethernet interface.

Server will configure the information, and tell you that you can reboot the server when finished. It will also log out the "server-setup" account.

Post Install Steps

Validate Interfaces

The interfaces will often come up scrambled. You will need to re-order the interfaces so they appear correct in the OS.

Add to ZenOSS

Ensure that server is monitored in ZenOSS.