IBM xSeries 235 Typical operating-system installation, Setting up or updating multiple servers

Typical operating-system installation

You can use the ServerGuide program to shorten your installation time. The ServerGuide program provides the device drivers that are required for your hardware and for the operating system that you are installing. This section describes a typical ServerGuide operating-system installation.

Note: Features and functions can vary slightly with different versions of the

ServerGuide program.

1.After you have completed the setup process, the operating-system installation program starts. (You will need your operating-system CD to complete the installation.)

2.The ServerGuide program stores information about the server model, service processor, hard disk drive controllers, and network adapters. Then, the program checks the CD for newer device drivers. This information is stored and then passed to the operating-system installation program.

3.With some operating-system installations, you can create an operating-system replication diskette for setting up additional servers. This diskette contains the Internet protocol (IP) address, server name, and other selections.

4.The ServerGuide program presents operating-system partition options that are based on your operating-system selection and the installed hard disk drives.

5.If you are installing the operating system from diskettes, the ServerGuide program lists the diskettes that you must create and the optional device-driver diskettes (for installed adapters or controllers) that you might want to create.

6.The ServerGuide program prompts you to insert your operating-system CD and restart the server. At this point, the installation program for the operating system takes control to complete the installation.

Setting up or updating multiple servers

You can use the ServerGuide program to create diskettes that help you set up or update multiple servers. You can modify information on the diskettes as you use them to set up or update other servers.

Note: Availability and function can vary by server model and by the hardware that is installed.

You can create a setup-replication diskette, which contains your hardware configuration selections. Use this diskette to replicate selections to other servers that are of the same model.

You can create an operating-system replication diskette, which contains information that you need to complete multiple installations. Not all operating systems support operating-system replication diskettes.

Installing your operating system without ServerGuide

If you have already configured the server hardware and you decide not to use the ServerGuide program to install your operating system, complete the following steps to download the latest operating-system installation instructions from the IBM Support Web page:

1.Go to http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/.

2.Under Browse, click Servers.

3.From the Family drop-down list, select your server model.

Chapter 2. Configuring your server 25