Installing Operating Systems

The unattended operating system installation function helps you install the Microsoft Windows and RedHat Linux operating systems. UCS-SCU has integrated device drivers including RAID drivers to seamlessly install operating systems on supported RAID logical arrays without additional load driver steps or devices such as the USB.

UCS-SCU supports operating system installation only on virtual disks, and solid state disk (SSD) in AHCI mode. Installation on physical disks is not supported. All UCS-SCU supported operating systems are organized into three groups: Windows, Linux and RHEL.

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Noteblank.gif Before you begin the operating system installation, be sure that you have disabled the Watchdog Timer. If this feature is enabled and the value is set for a time duration that is less than the time needed to install the OS, the operating system installation process is interrupted. This Watchdog Timer feature automatically reboots or powers off the server after the specified time duration.


You can use the following two options to install the operating system:

  • ESXi Install—Use the ESXi Install option to install the operating system with the customized settings.
  • Quick Install—Use the Quick Install option to install the operating system with the default settings.
  • Custom Install—Use the Custom Install option to modify the default settings prior to installing the operating system.

ESXi Install

The ESXi Install option allows you to install the operating system and customize the default settings.


Step 1blank.gif To enter the unattended operating system installation function area, click OS Install in the left navigation pane.

The OS Install page appears.

Step 2blank.gif Click the ESXi radio button and choose an ESXi version from the Operating System drop-down list.

The Edition drop-down list appears.

Step 3blank.gif Click Next.

The OS Install page of the selected ESXi version appears.


 

Basic Configuration

To configure the basic configuration settings, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif In the Basic Configuration area, do the following:

a.blank.gif In the Root Password field, enter the root password.

b.blank.gif In the Confirm Root Password field, reenter the root password.

c.blank.gif From the Media Type drop-down list, choose the disk on which you want install OS. This can be one of the following:

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Noteblank.gif A disk that is detected during SCU boot is listed under Media Type.


  • Local Disk—Refers to the local HDD available on the target server.
  • SAN Disk—Following SAN disks are supported for ESXi installation:

blank.gif Remote Disk—Refers to the SAN based FCoE disk allocated on the target server.

blank.gif iSCSI Disk—This refers to SAN based iSCSI disks configured on the target server. If you choose this option, then review and update the following parameters:

Table 6-1 iSCSI parameters

Parameter
Description

iSCSI Target Address field

Supports IPv4 address only.

Interface Name drop-down list

Lists the interfaces that have iSCSI enabled.

You must choose the interface with which the iSCSI Target can be reached. As a pre-requisite the selected interface's option ROM must be pre-configured with iSCSI details.

Initiator IP address field

Enter Initiator IP Address.

This IP address is bound to the selected Interface and used for iSCSI operations

Subnet Mask field

Subnet mask for the Initiator IP.

Gateway IP field

Gateway IP address.

IQN Name field

Allows you to enter the initiator IQN name. Required if ACL mandates connection with a specific IQN Name.

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Noteblank.gif If the value is left blank an auto-generated IQN name would be used.


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Noteblank.gif IQN Name might be required depending on vendor target configuration.


CHAP Username field

Required if the target ACL enables CHAP and mandates access via CHAP credentials.

CHAP Password field

Required if the target ACL enables CHAP and mandates access via CHAP credentials.

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Note iSCSI Disk is always listed under Media Type. If you choose iSCSI disk for OS installation, then you are required to enter the required input fields to discover the iSCSI target. To discover the iSCSI target, click Get Disks button.


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Noteblank.gif When configuring iSCSI parameters in CMC, configure values for primary target only and leave the secondary target values blank. If you configure secondary target then ESXi installation will fail.


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Noteblank.gif Installation of ESXi on iSCSI software targets are not supported through SCU.


d.blank.gif From the Select Disk drop-down list, select the disk on which the OS will be installed.


 

Network Settings

The Network Settings allows you to enter the network configuration settings for the onboard network adapters that are detected by the operating system during installation. These settings do not affect the network settings for the CMC. We recommend that you set different IP addresses for the operating system and CMC. The network interface column lists each network adapter detected by the UCS-SCU. Your operating system may have a different name for the interface after you install the operating system.

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Noteblank.gif Only one of the active network should be configured, and this network interface will be ESXi management network.


To configure the network settings, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif Click Network Settings to open the corresponding window.

The Network Settings window displays the link status of available network interfaces and the corresponding IP address, subnet mask, gateway, DNS, link status, vendor, type, and MAC address.

Step 2blank.gif To edit the Network Settings, do the following:

a.blank.gif Select a network interface and click Edit.

The Network Settings dialog box is displayed.

b.blank.gif In the Network Settings dialog box, do the following:

  • Select IP Address from DHCP server or Static IP Address. If you select Static IP Address, do the following:

blank.gif In the IP Address field, enter the IPv4 address.

blank.gif In the Subnet Mask field, enter the subnet IPv4 address.

blank.gif In the Gateway field, enter the gateway IPv4 address.

blank.gif In the DNS field, enter the DNS IPv4 address.

Click OK.

Other OS Install

Quick Install

The Quick Install option allows you to quickly install the operating system with the default parameters. You can view the OS Install page with the default parameters depending on the target operating system. The Quick Install method does not require any user input and is a one-click operating system installation method.

To perform the quick installation of the OS, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif To enter the unattended operating system installation function area, click OS Install in the left navigation pane.

The OS Install page appears.

Step 2blank.gif Click any one of the operating system radio buttons.

Step 3blank.gif From the Operating System drop-down list, select the version of the operating system.

Step 4blank.gif (For Windows) From the Edition drop-down list, select the edition of the operating system.

The Default Settings area and the Quick Install and Custom Install buttons appear.

Table 6-2 shows the default parameters that are displayed in the Default Settings area for the Windows OS.

Table 6-2 Default Parameters (for Windows)

Parameter
Default Value

Time Zone

Central American Standard Time

Name

admin

Organization

Organization

Computer Name

Computer

Network

DHCP

Work Group Name

WORKGROUP

Drivers

All drivers will be installed from the SCU boot media

Firewall

Disabled

RDP

Disabled

Disk Details

Disk Name

LSI

Disk Size

Minimum 40 GB

Partition Details

Drive Letter

C

File System

NTFS

Size (MB)

Depends on logical disks

Table 6-3 shows the default parameters that are displayed in the Default Settings area for the Red Hat Enterprise Linux OS.

Table 6-3 Default Parameters (for Red Hat Enterprise Linux)

Parameter
Default Value

Time Zone

America/New_York

Name

root

Default Password

password

Network

DHCP

Drivers

All drivers will be installed from the SCU boot media

Disk Details

Disk Name

LSI

Disk Size

Depends on logical disks

Partition Details

Drive Letter

 

File System

ext3

Size (MB)

Depends on logical disks

Drive Letter

 

File System

linux-swap

Size (MB)

2048

Table 6-4 shows the default parameters that are displayed in the Default Settings area for the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) OS.

Table 6-4 Default Parameters (for SLES)

Parameter
Default Value

Time Zone

America/New_York

Name

root

Default Password

password

Network

DHCP

Drivers

All drivers will be installed from the SCU boot media

Disk Details

Disk Name

LSI0-Logical Vol-2

Disk Size

Depends on logical disks

Partition Details

Drive Letter

/

File System

ext3

Size (MB)

Depends on logical disks

Drive Letter

swap

File System

linux-swap

Size (MB)

Minimum 2048

Step 5blank.gif Click Quick Install to complete the installation.

A progress bar is displayed that indicates the tasks being performed and the percentage of completion.

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Note Be sure that logical disks are created before you install the operating system. If logical disks are not available, the following occurs:

  • The disk details are not displayed under Default Settings area
  • The Quick Install and Custom Install buttons are not displayed
  • The following warning message is displayed:
OS Installation cannot be done as no logical disks found in the system. Please use RAID Configuration to create logical disks.


 


 

Custom Install

The Custom Install option allows you to customize the default settings.

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Noteblank.gif If no parameters are modified, the custom installation performs with the default parameters. Table 6-2 and Table 6-3 displays the default parameters for the Windows and Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating systems and downloads the drivers from the SCU boot media.


This section covers the custom installation procedures for the following operating systems:

Windows Server Operating System Installation

For unattended Windows Server operating system installation, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif To enter the unattended operating system installation function area, click OS Install in the left navigation pane. The OS Install page appears.

Step 2blank.gif Click the Windows radio button and choose an operating system from the Operating System drop-down list.

The Edition drop-down list appears.

Step 3blank.gif From the Edition drop-down list, choose an edition.

The Default Settings area and the Quick Install and Custom Install buttons appear.

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Noteblank.gif The Windows Server 2008 R2 option in the drop-down list is the same for both Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1. Depending on the installation CD used (Win2k8 R2 or Win2k8R2 SP1), the corresponding Windows OS version gets installed.


Step 4blank.gif Click Custom Install.

A progress bar displays indicating the tasks being performed and the percentage of completion. A new OS Install page appears with the following list of collapsible windows:

Step 5blank.gif Click Install.

A progress bar is displayed that indicates the tasks being performed and the percentage of completion. An OS Install dialog box appears which prompts you to remove the UCS-SCU media and insert the required operating system CD.

Step 6blank.gif Insert the operating system CD and click Ok.

The system reboots and installation of the operating system begins.


 

Personalization

To configure the personalization settings, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif Click Personalization to open the corresponding window.

Step 2blank.gif In the Personalization window, do the following:

a.blank.gif From the Time Zone drop-down list, choose a time zone.

b.blank.gif In the Name field, enter a name for the administrator. The maximum limit is 20 characters.

c.blank.gif In the Organization field, enter a name of the organization of the administrator. The maximum limit is 15 characters.

d.blank.gif Select one of the License Information radio buttons and enter the 25 character product key if license needs to be activated.

e.blank.gif In the Computer Name field, enter the name of the server. The maximum limit is 15 characters.

f.blank.gif In the Description field, enter the description of the server. The maximum limit is 25 characters


 

Installation Partitions

To configure the installation partition settings, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif Click Installation Partitions to open the corresponding window.

Step 2blank.gif In the Installation Partitions window, do the following:

a.blank.gif From the Select Disk drop-down list, choose a disk to create a logical partition.

b.blank.gif Click a disk name to view the corresponding partition details.

The disk entry expands and displays the partition name, drive letter, file system, and the space used in MB.

c.blank.gif To edit a partition, do the following:

    • Choose a partition to edit and click Edit.

The Edit Partition dialog box is displayed.

    • In the Edit Partition dialog box, do the following:

blank.gif From the Drive Letter drop-down list, choose a drive.

blank.gif In the Size text field, enter the partition size.

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Noteblank.gif The size cannot be more than the available disk space.


blank.gif From the File system drop-down list, choose a file system.

blank.gif Click OK to save your changes.

d.blank.gif To create a new partition, do the following:

    • Choose a free space and click New.

A Create Partition dialog box is displayed.

    • In the Create Partition dialog box, do the following:

blank.gif From the Driver Letter drop-down list, choose a drive.

blank.gif In the Size field, edit the disk size.

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Noteblank.gif The size cannot be more than the available disk space.


blank.gif From the File System drop-down list, choose a file system.

blank.gif Click Ok.

e.blank.gif To remove a partition, do the following:

    • Choose the partition to delete and click Delete.

The OS Install dialog box is displayed.

    • Click Yes to delete the partition.
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Noteblank.gif In the Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the Root and Swap partitions are necessary. If you do not specify their sizes during the partition process, the UCS-SCU generates an alert message and suggests an alternate partition solution. Accept it if you are not familiar with Linux partitions.



 

Network Settings

The Network Settings allows you to enter the network configuration settings for the onboard network adapters that are detected by the operating system during installation. These settings do not affect the network settings for the CMC. We recommend that you set different IP addresses for the operating system and CMC. The network interface column lists each network adapter detected by the UCS-SCU. Your operating system may have a different name for the interface after you install the operating system.

To configure the network settings, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif Click Network Settings to open the corresponding window.

The Network Settings window displays the link status of available network interfaces and the corresponding IP address, subnet mask, gateway, DNS, link status, vendor, type, and MAC address.

Step 2blank.gif In the Network Settings window, do the following:

a.blank.gif In the Work Group or Network Domain area, choose one of the following options:

    • Select No network or No domain radio button when a network or domain does not need to be added. Enter a workgroup name in the Work Group Name field. The maximum limit is 20 characters.
    • Select the Join this Domain radio button and do the following:

blank.gif In the Domain Name text field, enter the name of the domain. The maximum limit is 20 characters.

blank.gif In the Domain Username, enter the user name of the domain. The maximum limit is 20 characters.

blank.gif In the Domain password, enter the password of the domain.The maximum limit is 20 characters.

b.blank.gif Select or deselect the Enable Remote Access (RDP) radio button for remote access settings.

c.blank.gif Select or deselect the Disable Firewall radio button for firewall settings.

d.blank.gif In the DNS Suffix/Domain field, specify the DNS suffix of the domain.The maximum limit is 25 characters.

e.blank.gif In DNS Suffix Search Order 1 field, enter a DNS suffix search order. The maximum limit is 25 characters.

f.blank.gif In the DNS Suffix Search Order 2 field, enter another DNS suffix search order. The maximum limit is 25 characters.

g.blank.gif In the Proxy Address field, enter the IP address or name of the proxy server. The maximum limit is 30 characters.

h.blank.gif In the Port field, enter the port number of the proxy server. The maximum limit is 5 characters.

i.blank.gif Edit the Network Settings by doing the following:

    • Select a network interface and click Edit.

The Network Settings dialog box displays.

    • Select IP Address from DHCP server or Static IP Address. If you select Static IP Address, do the following:

blank.gif In the IP Address field, enter the IPv4 address.

blank.gif In the Subnet Mask field, enter the subnet IPv4 address.

blank.gif In the Gateway field, enter the gateway IPv4 address.

blank.gif In the DNS field, enter the DNS IPv4 address.

blank.gif Click OK.


 

Installation Drivers

UCS-SCU displays all available drivers downloaded from the driver source. Deselect the drivers that you do not want to install. If you want to install an operating system on a RAID volume, select the driver for the appropriate RAID controller.

To configure the installation driver settings, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif Click Installation Drivers to open the corresponding window.

Step 2blank.gif Select the drivers that you want to install from the Choose Drivers to Install table.

If drivers are not available in the Choose Drivers to Install table, download the drivers using the Installation Drivers toolbar. To download the drivers, choose one of the following options:


 

Downloading from SCU Boot media

To directly use the driver packages that are stored in the Tools and Drivers CD, follow this step:


Step 1blank.gif Click From SCU Boot media in the toolbar.

A progress message is displayed and the list of drivers are populated in the Choose Drivers to Install table.

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Noteblank.gif UCS-SCU selects this option as default.



 

Downloading from Network Share

To download a driver package stored on a network share folder, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif Click From Network Share in the toolbar.

If your network is not configured or if user credentials are not entered, the Network Configuration dialog box is displayed. If your network is configured or if user credentials are entered, the Network Location dialog box is displayed. If you need to configure your network, go to Step 2. If you do not need to configure your network, go to Step 3.

Step 2blank.gif In the Network Configuration dialog box, enter the IP addresses to configure the network. For more information about configuring the network, go to the “Configuring a Network” section

Step 3blank.gif In the Network Location dialog box that is displayed, do the following:

a.blank.gif In the User Name field, enter the login name to the network location.

b.blank.gif In the Password field, enter the password to the network location.

c.blank.gif In the Network Location field, enter the path name of the zip folder which contains the drivers.

d.blank.gif Click Connect.

A file dialog box is displayed that lists the zip folders containing drivers.

e.blank.gif Select a zip file.

f.blank.gif Click Open.

The selected zip file appears as a package name in the Network Location dialog box.

g.blank.gif Click Ok.

A progress message is displayed and the list of drivers are populated in the Choose Drivers to Install table.


 

Downloading from USB

To download the drivers that are stored in your USB key or USB hard drive, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif Click From USB in the toolbar.

A file dialog box is displayed that lists the USB folders.

Step 2blank.gif Navigate to the zip file that contains the drivers.

Step 3blank.gif Click Ok.

A progress message is displayed and the list of drivers are populated in the Choose Drivers to Install table.


 

Linux Server Series Operating System Installation

For unattended Linux operating system installation, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif Enter the unattended operating system installation function area by clicking OS Install in the left navigation pane.

The OS Install page appears.

Step 2blank.gif Click the RHEL radio button and choose an operating system from the Operating System drop-down list.

The Default Settings area and the Quick Install and Custom Install buttons appear.

Step 3blank.gif Click Custom Install.

A progress bar is displayed that indicates the tasks being performed and the percentage of completion. A new OS Install page appears with the following list of collapsible windows:

Step 4blank.gif Click Install.

A progress bar is displayed that indicates the tasks being performed and the percentage of completion. An OS Install dialog box appears.

Step 5blank.gif Click Ok.

Step 6blank.gif Remove the UCS-SCU media and insert the required operating system CD.


 

Basic Configuration

To configure the basic configuration settings, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif Click Basic Configuration to open the corresponding window.

Step 2blank.gif In the Basic Configuration window, do the following:

a.blank.gif In the Root Password field, enter the root password.

b.blank.gif In the Confirm Root Password field, reenter the root password.

c.blank.gif From the Default Language drop-down list, choose a default language.

d.blank.gif From the Keyboard drop-down list, choose the type of keyboard layout.

e.blank.gif From the Time Zone drop-down list, choose the time zone.

f.blank.gif In the Additional Languages list, select all languages that apply.


 

Package Selection

To configure the package selection settings, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif Click Package Selection to open the corresponding window.

Step 2blank.gif Select all check boxes that apply.


 

Network Settings

To configure the network settings, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif Click Network Settings to open the corresponding window.

The Network Settings window displays the link status of available network interfaces and the corresponding IP address, subnet mask, gateway, DNS, link status, vendor, type and MAC address.

Step 2blank.gif To edit the Network Settings, do the following:

a.blank.gif Select a network interface and click Edit.

The Network Settings dialog box is displayed.

b.blank.gif In the Network Settings dialog box, do the following:

  • Select IP Address from DHCP server or Static IP Address. If you select Static IP Address, do the following:

blank.gif In the IP Address field, enter the IPv4 address.

blank.gif In the Subnet Mask field, enter the subnet IPv4 address.

blank.gif In the Gateway field, enter the gateway IPv4 address.

blank.gif In the DNS field, enter the DNS IPv4 address.

    • Click OK.


 

SUSE Linux Server Operating System Installation

To perform an unattended SLES operating system installation, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif To enter the unattended operating system installation function area, click OS Install in the left navigation pane.

The OS Install page appears.

Step 2blank.gif Click the SLES radio button and choose an operating system from the Operating System drop-down list.

The Default Settings area and the Quick Install and Custom Install buttons appear.

Step 3blank.gif Click Custom Install.

A progress bar is displayed that indicates the tasks being performed and the percentage of completion. A new OS Install page appears with the following list of collapsible windows:

Step 4blank.gif Click Install.

A progress bar is displayed that indicates the tasks being performed and the percentage of completion. An OS Install dialog box appears.

Step 5blank.gif Click Ok.

Step 6blank.gif Remove the UCS-SCU media and insert the required operating system CD.


 

Basic Configuration

To configure the basic configuration settings, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif Click Basic Configuration to open the corresponding window.

Step 2blank.gif In the Basic Configuration window, do the following:

    • In the Root Password field, enter the root password.
    • In the Confirm Root Password, reenter the root password.
    • From the Default Language drop-down list, choose a default language.
    • From the Keyboard drop-down list, choose the type of keyboard layout.
    • From the Time Zone drop-down list, choose the time zone.


 

Package Selection

To configure the package selection settings, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif Click Package Selection to open the corresponding window.

Step 2blank.gif Select all check boxes that apply.


 

Network Settings

To configure the network settings, follow these steps:


Step 1blank.gif Click Network Settings to open the corresponding window.

The Network Settings window displays the link status of available network interfaces and the corresponding IP address, subnet mask, gateway, DNS, link status, vendor, type, and MAC address.

Step 2blank.gif To edit the Network Settings, do the following:

a.blank.gif Select a network interface and click Edit.

The Network Settings dialog box displays.

b.blank.gif In the Network Settings dialog box, do the following:

    • Select IP Address from DHCP server or Static IP Address. If you select Static IP Address, do the following:

blank.gif In the IP Address field, enter the IPv4 address

blank.gif In the Subnet Mask field, enter the subnet IPv4 address.

blank.gif In the Gateway field, enter the gateway IPv4 address.

blank.gif In the DNS field, enter the DNS IPv4 address.

    • Click OK.