Use this web page to plan for and install an IBM® BladeCenter® or System x™ model that is attached to an IBM i using iSCSI host bus adapters (iSCSI HBAs).
Follow the installation road map and use the corresponding checklist for your i5/OS® version:
- Use planning worksheets when configuring hardware and software
Use the iSCSI network planning worksheets that are referenced by the checklist when installing an iSCSI attached server. Note that some of the topics referenced by the checklist do not specifically mention to use the values from the planning worksheets. Keep the worksheets in mind when configuring the hardware and software (for example, when creating configuration objects in IBM i) and use the values from the appropriate worksheets as needed.
- Initialize option to use after creating the service processor configuration
In the Creating and initializing a service processor configuration object for the integrated server hardware step in the checklist, there are multiple choices for initializing the newly created service processor configuration. You should use the choice below that corresponds to the method that you are using to create the service processor configuration:
- If using System i Navigator or IBM Systems Director Navigator for i (web console), use the first choice on the panel that is displayed:
Validate service processor user ID and password and store in service processor configuration
- If using the Initialize NWS Configuration (INZNWSCFG) command, use the following command parameter:
OPTION(*SYNC)
- Assign the KVM and media tray before installing on a blade
If you are installing on a blade in a BladeCenter, you must assign the BladeCenter KVM and media tray to the blade that you are installing to before running the install command (INSWNTSVR or INSLNXSVR) on IBM i.
- Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator version
Note: The i 6.1 checklist refers back to this read me page for this item. Use the information below when directed to do so by the checklist.
When enabling multi-path I/O with any of the supported Windows Server 2003 versions, use Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator version 2.01 or later.
- Obtain integrated server operating system installation media
Note: The i 6.1 checklist refers back to this read me page for this item. Use the information below when directed to do so by the checklist.
First, review the BladeCenter and System x models supported with iSCSI web page to verify that the operating system you plan to install is supported with the hardware you plan to use. Then see the appropriate section below to obtain the installation media for the operating system.
Microsoft® Windows servers:
Obtain installation media for one of the following Windows Server versions:
- Windows Server™ 2003 R2 Standard or Enterprise Edition or
Windows Server 2003 Standard, Enterprise or Web Edition with Service Pack 1 included.
Note: iSCSI attached Windows Server 2003 servers require the 32-bit x86 versions of the Windows install media (CD, DVD or IFS directory) with Service Pack 1 or later integrated with the base Windows Server 2003 installation image.
Here are a few of the options available:
- Obtain a Windows Server 2003 R2 CD, which has Service Pack 1 built-in.
- Obtain a Windows Server 2003 CD with Service Pack 1 already integrated. This can be obtained through various channels such as Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN®).
- Create an integrated install image. To do this, follow the instructions on the Integrating a service pack with Windows Server 2003 web page.
VMware® ESX servers:
Obtain installation media for one of the following VMware ESX versions:
- VMware ESX Server 3.0.1 or 3.0.2.
Note: Also obtain install media for the guest operating systems that you plan to run on the virtual machines that are hosted by the VMware ESX server. For more information on supported guest operating systems, see the VMware Infrastructure 3 Documentation page.
Linux® servers:
Obtain installation media for one of the following Linux versions:
- SUSE® LINUX Enterprise Server 10 for AMD64 & Intel® EM64T
- Red Hat® Enterprise Linux 5 for x86_64
Note: iSCSI attached Linux servers require the 64-bit x86 versions of the install media (CD or DVD).
