The host operating system of MX Server can boot from a remote FC storage array using the IOMs. Booting to an operating system through FC direct attach (F_port), FC (NPG), and FCoE (FSB) scenarios are supported.
The figure below shows the example topology that is used in this chapter to demonstrate Boot from SAN. The required steps are provided to configure NIC partitioning, system BIOS, an FCoE LUN, and an OS install media device required for Boot from SAN.
Configure NIC boot device
In this section, each QLogic CNA port is partitioned into one Ethernet and one FCoE partition.
- Connect to the server's iDRAC in a web browser and launch the virtual console.
- In the virtual console, select BIOS Setup from the Next Boot menu.
- Reboot the server.
- On the System Setup Main Menu, select Device Settings.
- Select the first CNA port.
- Select Device Level Configuration.
- Set the Virtualization Mode to NPAR (if not already set), and click Back.
- Choose NIC Partitioning Configuration.
- Select Partition 1 Configuration.
- Set NIC + RDMA Mode to Disabled.
- Click Back to return.
- Select Partition 2 Configuration.
- Set FCoE Mode to Enabled as shown.
- Click Back and select Back to go to Main Configuration Page.
- Select NIC Configuration, then set the Boot Protocol to UEFI FCoE, and then click Back.
- If present, select Partition 3 Configuration in NIC Partitioning Configuration.
- Set all modes to Disabled and then click Back.
- If present, select Partition 4 Configuration in NIC Partitioning Configuration.
- Set all modes to Disabled and then click Back.
- Select FCoE Configuration. Note: It is not required to have a Virtual LAN ID setup in the CNA, as the CNA uses FIP discovery on the untagged VLAN to obtain the FCoE VLAN.
- Set Connect 1 to Enabled.
- Set the World Wide Port Name Target 1 connected to the port on PowerStore 1000T.
- Click Back and then click Finish.
- When prompted, answer Yes to save changes and click OK in the Success window.
- Select the second CNA port and repeat the steps in this section for port 2.
- Click Finish to exit to the System Setup Main Menu.
Configure BIOS settings
To allow boot from SAN, perform the following steps in the system BIOS settings to disable the PXE BIOS.
- Select System BIOS from the System Setup Main Menu.
- Select Network Settings.
- Click Disable for all PXE Devices.
- Click Back.
- Click Finish, click Finish again, then select Yes to exit and reboot.
Connect FCoE LUN
The server should be provisioned to connect to an FCoE boot LUN before moving on. Follow the procedures in Dell PowerStore 1000T to configure and connect to FCoE volumes. Once connected, continue to the steps below to complete the Boot from SAN configuration.
Set up and install media connection
- Connect to the server’s iDRAC in a web browser and launch the virtual console.
- In the virtual console, from the Virtual Media menu, select Virtual Media.
- In the virtual console, from the Virtual Media menu, select Map CD/DVD.
- Click Browse to find the location of the operating system install media then click Map Device.
- In the virtual console, from the Next Boot menu, select Lifecycle Controller.
- Reboot the server.
Use Lifecycle Controller to set up operating system driver for media installation
The installation media for some operating systems do not contain the necessary FCoE drivers to boot from a FCoE LUN. Use this procedure to create an internal operating system install media device.
- In Lifecycle Controller, select OS Deployment, then select Deploy OS.
- From the Select an Operating System screen, verify that Boot mode is set to UEFI.
- Select an operating system to install to the boot LUN.
- Click Next.
- Click the Manual Install check box, then click Next.
- Click Next on the Insert OS Media screen.
- Click Finish when prompted on the Reboot System screen.
- System reboots to Virtual Media. Press any key to boot install media when prompted.
- Follow the operating system prompts to install the operating system to the FCoE storage volumes.