IBM i integration
with BladeCenter and System x

Note 1: iSCSI HBA firmware must be downloaded and updated to ensure that you have the required iSCSI HBA BIOS and firmware versions that are needed for a successful installation.

Use the iSCSI Host Bus Adapter for IBM BladeCenter or xSeries document (1.1 MB) for instructions on downloading and updating the iSCSI HBA firmware.

Use the "Download iSCSI HBA firmware" link for your configuration in the tables above to go to the web page where you can download the iSCSI HBA BIOS and firmware.

Important note: The BladeCenter and System x initiator iSCSI HBAs must use exactly the level of BIOS and firmware specified in IBM i documentation and available for download via the Download iSCSI HBA firmware links above, even if a newer level is present in the initiator iSCSI HBA as shipped from the manufacturer. Only downloadable ISO images obtained from the above web page are supported. Any downloads from any other web sites are considered unsupported BIOS and firmware versions. Once the server installation is completed, future iSCSI HBA BIOS and firmware updates are released and can be installed via the IBM i PTF process. After the IBM i PTF containing the iSCSI HBA BIOS and firmware is loaded and applied to IBM i, install the BIOS and firmware in each integrated BladeCenter blade or System x server by following the service pack installation procedure described in the Installing IBM i integration service packs section of the Service packs web page.

Use the iSCSI Host Bus Adapter for IBM BladeCenter or xSeries document (1.1 MB) for guidance on which firmware updates are required for your configuration and instructions on downloading and updating the firmware.

Use the "Download firmware" link for your configuration in the tables above to go to the web page where you can download the system BIOS and other firmware for your model.

Note 3: With iSCSI attached servers, all the disk drives for the BladeCenter blade or System x model are under the control of IBM i. There is no disk in the BladeCenter blade or System x model. When ordering BladeCenter blade or System x models, do not order internal or external BladeCenter blade or System x controlled disk or disk controller adapters. Any disk drives and disk controller adapters that may be installed in the BladeCenter blade or System x model need to be removed before the server installation process is started.

Note 4: When initially installing Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 on an x336 or x236 server, there is a known problem that restricts where the iSCSI HBA can be installed in the server:

• For the x336, only one iSCSI HBA can be present when installing and it must be installed in slot 1. Also note that you need to remove the "full height" tail stock from the iSCSI HBA and install the "1/2 height" tailstock on the iSCSI HBA when installing it in slot 1 of an x336.
• For the x236, only one iSCSI HBA can be present when installing and it must be installed in slot 6.

After Windows is installed on the x336 or x236, you can optionally install a Microsoft Windows hot fix that lifts the above restrictions to allow the iSCSI HBA to be moved to a different slot than shown above and to allow additional iSCSI HBAs to be installed. See Microsoft Knowledge Base entry Pci.sys resource configuration conflicts cause an error in Windows Server 2003 SP1 or in an x64-based version of Windows Server 2003: "Stop 0x0000007B" for information on how to obtain the hot fix from Microsoft.

Note 5: This model supports Remote Supervisor Adapter II SlimLine option P/N 73P9341. For ordering and related information, refer to the IBM eServer™ Configuration and Options Guide at http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=1201&uid=psg1SCOD-3ZVQ5W.

Note 6: There are two versions of the Management Module:

Note 7: These models do not have a diskette drive. If any of the BIOS or firmware updates that you download for these models are provided as bootable diskette images, then you will need to attach a USB diskette drive to the system in order to install them.

Note 8: This model supports Remote Supervisor Adapter II SlimLine option P/N 39Y9566. For ordering and related information, refer to the IBM eServer™ Configuration and Options Guide at http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=1201&uid=psg1SCOD-3ZVQ5W.

Note 9: For this model, if you are using a PCI-X iSCSI HBA (P/N 30R5201 or 30R5501), you must order PCI Riser Card PCI-X Option P/N 40K1908. For ordering and related information, refer to the IBM eServer™ Configuration and Options Guide at http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=1201&uid=psg1SCOD-3ZVQ5W.

Note 10: This blade model has room for two iSCSI HBA expansion cards. When used with the IBM i iSCSI solution, currently only one iSCSI HBA expansion card is supported in each blade server.

Note 11: For this model, if you are using a PCI-X iSCSI HBA (P/N 30R5201 or 30R5501), you must order IBM PCI-X Riser Card for 1U Systems, P/N 32R2816. For ordering and related information, refer to the IBM eServer™ Configuration and Options Guide at http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=1201&uid=psg1SCOD-3ZVQ5W.

Note 12: This BladeCenter model has some special ordering considerations. See IBM Software Technical Document 453371664 titled Ordering Blade Center Hardware for iSCSI Integrated Servers.

Note 13: For integrated servers running VMware ESX Server, you must set the Plannar SAS setting to Disabled under Device and I/O Ports in the BIOS Settings. Otherwise you may see an error message displayed on the ESX Server console with text such as:
0:00:00:04.445 cpu0:1024)PCI: 1663: failed for 029:01.1

Note 14: For integrated servers running VMware ESX Server, you must set the Plannar SATA setting to Disabled under Device and I/O Ports in the BIOS Settings. Otherwise you may see an error message displayed on the ESX Server console with text such as:
0:00:00:04.53 cpu0:1024)PCI: 1650: failed for 000:08.1

Note 15: Blades that are integrated with an IBM i system via iSCSI do not use any of the disk drives that are installed in the BladeCenter S chassis. However, the BladeCenter S chassis disk drives can be used with blades that are not integrated with i5/OS.