Supermicro Server Build Guidelines
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.
To get into the BIOS Setup, power on the server and press the "DEL" key on the keyboard when the option appears.
When the BIOS Setup utility comes up, navigate to the "Advanced" tab.
Boot Features
In the "Boot Features" dialog, change the "Wait For F1 If Error" setting to "Disabled".
Once all the settings match, you can press "ESC" to back out of the menu.
CPU Configuration
At this time, there appears that the default settings are sufficient, however ensure that all settings appear as shown below.
Once all the settings match, you can press "ESC" to back out of the menu.
Super IO (Serial Port) Configuration
Serial Port 1 Configuration
At this time, the default settings for Serial Port 1 seem to be sufficient. Please ensure all settings match the below.
Once all the settings match, you can press "ESC" to back out of the menu.
Serial Port 2 Configuration
For Serial port 2, we want to disable the serial port. This is important for the serial console to work correctly.
Once all the settings match, you can press "ESC" to back out of the menu.
Serial Port Console Redirection
Change the COM1 "Console Redirection" setting to "Enabled". Change the "Windows Emergency Management Services (EMS) setting to "Disabled"
Select the COM1 "Console Redirection Settings" sub-menu.
Change the "Bits per second" setting to "9600". Change the "Resolution 100X31" setting to "Disabled". Ensure all other settings are as shown below.
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.
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.
Click on the "Yes" button to confirm that you want to replace the existing configuration with a new configuration.
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.
Select both drives, ensure that "Data Protection" is set to "Disabled" and click on the "Add To Array" button.
Select the Drive Group, "Drive Group0" and click on the "Accept DG" button.
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.
When complete, click on the "Next" button to continue.
Click on the "Update Size" button.
Set RAID Level to "RAID 1" and ensure all other selections are as shown below. Click on the "Accept" button when complete.
Click on the "Yes" button to confirm the new virtual drive definition.
Click on the "Next" button to continue.
Click on the "Accept" button if the preview looks correct.
Click on the "Yes" button to confirm the configuration.
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.
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.
After the configuration is completed, you will beed to reboot your system.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Continuing to collect installation information.
Once the installation program starts formatting the partitions, the program should be able to complete.
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.
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
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.
