Overview
IBM ServerGuide is a tool that simplifies the process of installing and configuring IBM System x and BladeCenter servers. ServerGuide goes beyond mere hardware configuration by assisting with the automated installation of Windows server operating systems, device drivers and other system components, with minimal user intervention. The goal of ServerGuide is to simplify and shorten installation. This focus on deployment helps you reduce both your total cost of ownership and the complexity that administrators and technical personnel face.
ServerGuide, an important part of systems management, is shipped with most IBM System x and BladeCenter servers. It has been expanded and updated to help you install Windows 2003 Server faster than ever before. It addresses most configuration and onsite requirements during deployment, setup and configuration. The built-in intelligence of ServerGuide recognizes machine types and models as well as ServeRAID adapters and other hardware criteria. Based on the gathered hardware information, ServerGuide offers installation and configuration choices tailored to your system.
A system which has been installed using ServerGuide can then be easily cloned by Remote Deployment Manager. This allows you to leverage both the ease of installation of ServerGuide and the remote, one to many, capabilities of Remote Deployment Manager.
How ServerGuide works
ServerGuide simplifies and accelerates the installation of IBM servers by:
- Assisting with the installation of popular operating systems and providing updated device drivers based on the hardware that is detected
- Reducing restarts during hardware configuration and native operating system installation
- Providing consistency and confidence in server installation, guiding you via simple user interface dialogues
- Providing the latest IBM system software updates