How to boot install an Itanium from a boot helper?

[Geoff Wild]

You can't do a boot lan install....

Thanks...Geoff

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

I am not sure if this is a response, because I can't find a source question.

We, though not my personally have done this here.

Have to have the firmware on the system totally up to date.

After that its a matter of configuring efi for network boot and having a valid boot helper, which does not need to be an itanium box btw.

SEP

[D Block 2]

on boot helper, see /etc/bootptab (file) to add temporary IPs used during the boot up.

[wittie]

Hi,

Itanium systems lack the ability to boot directly from the Ignite-UX server. On PA-RISC systems you can specify the LAN address of the Ignite-UX server in the boot command "boot lan. install". This is not possible on Itanium, where the "lanboot" command on the EFI shell will send a DHCP/BOOTP broadcast into the subnet, choosing the server, which answers first.

One important thing to know: because the Itanium client sends a broadcast no other DHCP servers should be in the same subnet as the Ignite-UX server and the client. Other DHCP servers my answers faster than the Ignite-UX client, leading to failed installation attempts. The Ignite client will choose the first server which answers to its boot request.

The boot helper must be on a HP-UX system within the subnet of the Ignite-UX client.

The /etc/opt/ignite/instl_boottab or /etc/bootptab on the boot helper must be edited to assign IP addresses that have NOT been assigned to a client or reserve the IP of an Ignite-UX client to its LLA address (MAC address).

The Ignite Server must be also properly configured to allow Itanium clients to boot from it. There are two options available to configure Ignite Server for Itanium clients: bootpd and instl_bootd

For more informations - http://www.docs.hp.com/en/5991-7999/ch04s03.html

[Tim Nelson]

Not sure if this is what your are looking for.

The itaniums have a dbprofile config in the firmware ( if not update the firmware). This allows for direct lan boot to an Ignite server. After configuring execute
lanboot select -dn 'dbprofile' from an EFI shell.


Use it all the time works great. I can elaborate more if this is what you are looking for.

Tim

[RASHMI MYSORE]

Hi Tom,

the firmware upgrade is only to partionable IA servers, or is it possible to upgrade efi firmware on all IA servers,please reply

[RolandH]

The Installation of a Itanium System with a Ignite Server ist realy simple.

You need two entries in the file /etc/bootptab on your Ignite-Server
First Entry:
ignite-defaults:\
ht=ethernet:\
hn:\
bf=/opt/ignite/boot/nbp.efi:\
bs=48

Second Entry:
:\
tc=ignite-defaults:\
ha=:\
ip=10.10.10.201:\
sm=255.255.255.0:\
gw=10.10.10.1

After you did this do a inetd -c
In the inetd.conf file you need this entry:
instl_boots dgram udp wait root /opt/ignite/lbin/instl_bootd instl_bootd

If you boot the Itanium-System choose the Option: Boot from a File
Then choose the network device, which is connected to LAN. Not all LAN interfaces working. For example my ZX6000 system (equal to rx2600) has two network cards. The GBit card does not work but the internal 100Mbit Intel-Card works fine.

In the moment my Ignite-Server and the systems I install are in the same subnet. So I'm not sure how it works with seperated subnets.
I think it can work this way.
Just install a boothelper and configure it like the way you did before. But instead you are using /etc/opt/ignite/instl_boottab use /etc/bootptab.
Also configue your boothelper with the Ignite-Server data with the instl_adm command.

Regards
Roland

[RolandH]

I forgotten to mention, we have DHCP in all subnets. I never have had problems with this method. I think bootp an dhcp protocol is a bit different. The server I want to install has got always the answer from my Ignite-Server.

[Saurav_1]

Hello,

In this scenario we boot the system from the OS DVD 1 and when we get the isntallation screen I select Installation using the Ignite server. Then I provide the IP of the ignite server and contiune the normal installation. THis is the best way without making any changes anywhere.

Cheers.