Network Installation Management Guide and Reference

Booting a Machine Over the Network

If you are booting an rs6k machine with an up kernel, use Method A. If you are booting an rs6k machine with an mp kernel, use Method B. For some models of rspc machines, you may use Method C. For all other platforms and kernel types, follow the procedures in your hardware documentation to perform the network boot.

Method A

1. Begin with your machine turned off.
2. If your client requires IPL ROM emulation, insert the emulation disk into the diskette drive of the client, and turn on the machine with the hardware key in the Service position. When the bootp menus display, continue with step 3.

   If your client does not require emulation, turn the key to the Secure position and turn on the machine. Watch the LEDs on the front of the machine. They will eventually stop changing and display 200. Then, change the key position to Service and quickly press the reset (yellow) button. When the bootp menus display, continue with step 3.

   Note: On model numbers 570, 580, 58H, 59H, 591, and 595, the system powers on in the Secure mode, the power-on light does not come on, and the LED remains blank. The system performs no further operations until the key is set to the Normal or Service position. Refer to the documentation that came with your particular hardware model for more information about performing a network boot of the machine.

3. From the bootp main menu, choose the Select BOOT (Startup) Device option.
4. In the next menu, select the boot device.

   Select the network adapter to be used. Choose the adapter with the correct network type (Ethernet, Token-Ring, etc.) and adapter characteristics (thick cable, twisted pair, 16 Mb data rate, 4 Mb data rate, etc.).

5. Set or change the network addresses.

   Note: You do not need to type the `.' characters in the IP addresses, but you must specify any leading `0' characters that make up parts of the addresses.

   Specify the IP address of:

   • The client machine you are booting in the client address field.
   • Your SPOT server in the bootp server address field.
   • Your client's gateway in the gateway address field.
   After you specify the addresses, enter 99 to save the addresses and return to the main menu. If no gateway is used by the client to communicate with the boot server, you can leave this field empty.

   If broadcasting will be used to obtain a boot image, leave these IP addresses empty.

6. From the main menu, select the Send Test Transmission (PING) option.
7. Verify that the displayed addresses are the same as the addresses you specified for your boot device.

   If the addresses are incorrect, enter 99 to return to the main menu. Then, go back to step 3.

   If the addresses are correct, select the START THE PING TEST option.

   If the ping test fails, verify that the addresses are correct, and perform network problem determination if necessary. If the ping test completes successfully, enter 99 to return to the main menu.

8. From the main menu, select the Exit Main Menu and Start System (BOOT) option.
9. Turn the hardware key to the Normal position, and press Enter to boot your client over the network.

Method B (Booting Micro Channel-Based, Symmetric Multiprocessor Systems)

1. Turn the key mode switch to the Secure position.
2. Turn the power switch on the system unit to the On position.
3. When the LED displays 200, turn the key mode switch to the Service position.
4. Press the Reset button once.

   The LED persistently displays 260, 261, or 262, and The Maintenance Menu screen appears.

5. Select the System Boot option on the Maintenance Menu screen.
6. Select the Boot from Network option from the sub-menu. The MAIN MENU is displayed.
7. Select the Select BOOT (Startup) Device option on the MAIN MENU screen.
8. Select the network adapter from which the machine will boot. If there are multiple network adapters installed, type 88 and press the Enter key to view the other entries. Type a number from the list and press the Enter key.

   Note: If you are using a Token-Ring network, select the number that corresponds to the correct ring speed for your environment.

9. If a network adapter is selected, the SET OR CHANGE NETWORK ADDRESSES screen is displayed next. The hardware address for the network adapter is displayed in the hardware address field. Record the hardware address for defining the NIM machine object.

   If this client and the BOOTP server are on the same LAN, leave the IP address fields as zeros for the BOOTP request to be broadcasted over the LAN. If there are multiple BOOTP servers on the LAN or the client is on a different network to the server, enter the client and server IP addresses. Type in the IP addresses using leading zeros to pad the network address fields, for example, 009.101.002.050. If this machine must use a gateway to reach the server, enter the IP address for the gateway.

   Type 99 and press the Enter key to save the address information and return to the MAIN MENU.

10. (This step is optional.) Select the Send Test Transmission (PING) option on the MAIN MENU to test the network connection between the client and the server systems. Type 3 and press the Enter key to start the ping test. If the ping test was not successful, check that the IP addresses are correct and that the physical network connections are sound. If the ping test was successful, type 99 and press the Enter key to return to the MAIN MENU.
11. Select the Exit Main Menu and Start System (BOOT) option.
12. Follow the instructions on the screen to turn the key mode switch to the Normal position and press the Enter key.

The BOOTP request will be issued, followed by a TFTP transfer of the network boot image.

Method C (Booting an rspc Platform Machine)

1. Begin with your machine turned off.
2. If your system requires a System Management Services (SMS) diskette, insert it into the diskette drive of the client and turn on the machine. If you do not insert an SMS diskette at this time and one is required, you will be prompted to insert one later.
3. A graphics image is displayed on your screen. Press the F4 key as icons begin to display from left to right on the bottom of your display.

   Note: If the last icon is displayed prior to pressing the F4 key, the normal mode boot list is used instead of the System Management Services diskette.

4. The System Management Services menu displays on your screen. Select the Utilities option.
5. From the System Management Services Utilities menu, select the Remote Initial Program Load Setup option.
6. From the Network Parameters screen, select the IP Parameters option.
7. Set or change the values displayed so they are correct for your client system.

   Note: You do not need to specify any leading `0' characters, but you must specify the `.' characters in the IP addresses.

8. Specify the IP address of:
   • The client machine you are booting in the client address field.
   • Your SPOT server in the bootp server address field.
   • Your client's gateway in the gateway address field.

   Note: If broadcasting will be used to obtain a boot image, leave these IP address fields empty.

9. Specify the subnet mask for your client machine if you are prompted for one in the subnet mask field. All machines in your subnet have the same subnet mask.
10. After you specify the addresses, press Enter to save the addresses and continue.
11. The Network Parameters screen is displayed. Select the Ping option.
12. Select the network adapter to be used as the client's boot device.
13. Verify that the displayed addresses are the same as the addresses you specified for your boot device.
14. If the addresses are incorrect, press Esc until you return to the main menu. Then, go back to step 5.
15. If the addresses are correct, press Enter to perform the ping test. The ping test may take several seconds to complete.
16. If the ping test fails, verify that the addresses are correct, and perform network problem determination if necessary. If the ping test completes successfully, press Enter to acknowledge the success message. Then, press Esc until you return to the System Management Services menu.
17. From the System Management Services menu, choose the Select Boot Devices option.
18. Select the network adapter to be used for the network boot from the list of displayed bootable devices. Be sure to select the correct network type (Ethernet, Token-Ring, etc.) and adapter characteristics (thick cable, twisted pair, 16 Mb data rate, 4 Mb data rate, etc.). After making your selection, the machine will boot over the network.

Note: When performing a BOS installation on a NIM client with a "rspc" platform, the machine may fail to boot from the network adapter if network traffic is heavy.

If the network boot was intiated from the NIM Master, the machine will eventually boot from the disk. If the network boot was intiated from the SMS (System Management Services) menus on the NIM client, the machine will return control to the SMS menus.

Contact your service representative to receive a firmware update to correct this problem.