How to boot rx 2620 directly from tape ( i.e without using install CD/DVD )

[Pulse001]

I have a rx 2620 server with latest version of firmware and a tape media with latest version of ignite-UX recovery image. I am able to install OS after booting from install CD/DVD but how can i boot directly from the tape drive ( i have a DAT72 tape drive ) without using the install CD/DVD ?

[Dennis Handly]

See this thread:
http://forums.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1152977

[Torsten. · Accepted solution]

From the firmware release notes:

"System 04.10

Added support for Tape Boot on U160 and U320 SCSI cards in combination with the HP-UX 11i v2 0606 Release"

Where is the tape connected? Do you have at least this hp-ux release?

When in EFI shell, can you something like this:

Shell> drivers
...
62 00000030 D - - 1 - SCSI Tape Driver SysROM:SCSI Tape Dr

Shell> devices
...
69 D X X 1 1 - SCSI Tape Device
...


Shell> reconnect -r
...
Scsi(Pun3,Lun0) HP Ultrium 3-SCSI G64D (320 MBytes/sec)

[Pulse001]

Tape drive is connected on SCSI card of PCI riser card. I have HP-UX 11i v3 recovery image in tape.

[Torsten.]

If you can see the device (see above) go ahead and boot from tape.

[Pulse001]

on the EFI shell tape device is showing
it is (Pun3,Lun0). but in mar -r output it is not there. How to boot ???

[Torsten.]

I did this only once because it took too long to boot from the tape - I think it was the boot from file option in EFI menu.

[Pulse001]

The entry for booting from tape can be added in Add Boot Option from EFI menu. The HW path of tape drive (Pun#,Lun#) has to be kept in mind whilechoosing the entry. Once done, it is very easy to boot from tape.
Itanium systems support native tape booting from 2006 onwards. Thanks for the suggestions.

[Pulse001]

The entry for booting from tape can be added in Add Boot Option from EFI menu. The HW path of tape drive (Pun#,Lun#) has to be kept in mind whilechoosing the entry. Once done, it is very easy to boot from tape.
Itanium systems support native tape booting from 2006 onwards. Thanks for the suggestions

[Torsten.]

Please remember to read this too:

http://forums12.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/helptips.do?#33