Sending new HP-UX OS image to server

[Shivkumar]

Hi,

We have an old pa-risc server and we want to use it.
We want to send new OS image to this server to install latest HP-UX Unix. The machine is in shutdown state and we do not have HP-UX OS CDs
readily available.

I have heard that once this server is switched on and comes online in the intranet there is some software which will sense the presence of this machine and can find its IP/mac address or some other relevant details etc which can be used later to send new latest OS image on this box.

Can someone explain in great detail how this works and what is the name of that software which is used to sense its IP or other
details ?

Thanks,
Shiv

[Arunvijai_4]

Hi Shiv,

I would say, you need to configure Ignite-UX to re-image old server. This could be the only way. It supports TFTP protocol and others as well during boot time.

http://docs.hp.com/en/IUX/

-Arun

[Shivkumar]

More ideas from gurus would be appreciated.

Thanks
Shiv

[Patrick Wallek]

Ignite/UX is the only way to go to install HP-UX via the network.

You need to have an Ignite server set up and have a "golden image" created to push out for installation.

All should be explained in the Ignite/UX documentation. The location of the documentation was given in the post above.

[Bill Hassell · Accepted solution]

If the rumors are true (that you have an Ignite/UX server somewhere in your company), there is nothing automatioc -- nor would you EVER want such a feature. Can you imagine turning on a production computer and magicallhy everything is erased and a new OS is loaded on it?

There is nothing you can do from your server except to search for bootable devices. But keep in mind that an "old" PA-RISC box may not even have the ability to boot from the network. If it does, you must boot from the built-in LAN card, not any LANs that are in I/O slote. And the network connected to this LAN must be the correct subnet for your Ignite server. If the server does not reside on your local LAN, you need a boot helper or create a boot helper machine or burn a boothelper CD.

You still must locate the Ignite server to determine whether it has a compatible version of HP-UX for your old server. If you don't know where this server is located (or if it exists), there isn't much you can do. There are about 5 versions of HP-UX that might be on your Ignite server, and 2 to 3 families of processors to choose from. The Ignite images may be exact backups of specific servers, Golden Images (for basic installs) or a combination. You need to speak to the Ignite sysadmin to get the details.