IBM L2/3 6.2 Blade server initial configuration

50 Nortel Networks L2/3 Ethernet Switch Module for IBM Eserver BladeCenter

To transfer the software image files from the TFTP server to the switch, you must establish a

Telnet session through the Management Module. To make sure that you have a connection,

ping the TFTP server. The Telnet session performs optimally if all three network entities

(TFTP server, Management Module, and switch IP addresses) are on the same subnet.

Otherwise, you must use a router. Use the Management Module graphical interface to

configure the IP addresses of the Management Module external network interface (eth0) and

the Nortel Networks L2/3 GbESM so that they are on the same subnet as the TFTP server.

6.2 Blade server initial configuration

In this section, we prepare the IBM eServer™ BladeCenter HS20s for operation.

There are two primary methods to update the firmware of the BladeCenter HS20:

򐂰Update diskettes

Download the firmware diskette image. Create an update diskette, and boot the HS20 with

it. The updates need to be done one at a time for each firmware.

򐂰UpdateXpress CD

IBM UpdateXpress provides an effective and simple way to update server firmware.

UpdateXpress is a CD that contains a self-starting program which allows you to maintain

your system firmware and Windows device drivers at the most current levels defined on

the CD. UpdateXpress detects currently applied device driver and firmware levels

automatically and presents them to you. It then gives you the option of selecting specific

upgrades or allowing UpdateXpress to update all of the items that it detected as needing

upgrades.

For our example, we used IBM UpdateXpress CD v4.01 - Servers to perform the firmware

updates to our HS20 servers. To obtain UpdateXpress CD v4.01 - Servers, go to:

http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-53046

Prior to starting IBM UpdateXpress, you should back up your system, unless you have a

pristine system. The IBM UpdateXpress CD is a DOS-startable (bootable) CD. You can use

the CD to start the system. You also can start the server from the hard disk drive and access

files on the CD after the server starts.

Note: Alternatively, you can use FTP instead of TFTP.

Note: Because updates are released as needed, UpdateXpress CD might not always

provide the latest level updates at the time of configuration. This applies to both firmware

and device drivers. Check the IBM Support Web site for updates that have been released

later than the UpdateXpress CD:

http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/support/xseries/index.html