Dell MD3000i User Manual
Dell™ PowerEdge™ Systems With
®
Microsoft
Windows Server® 2003
Operating Systems
Instructions to Perform Boot From
iSCSI With Dell PowerVault™
MD3000i Storage Array
www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Notes and Notices
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of
your computer.
NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data
and tells you how to avoid the problem.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2007–2008 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc.
is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, PowerEdge, and PowerVault are trademarks of
Dell Inc.; Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation in the United States and/or other countries;
MS-DOS, Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Server are either trademarks or re gistered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries; Broadcom is a registered trademark
of Broadcom Corporation; Symantec is a trademark of Symantec Corporation.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming
the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and
trade names other than its own.
May 2008 Rev. A03
Contents
1Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2 Configuring Boot From iSCSI (BFi)
Using Intel PRO Network Adapter on
a System That is Configured With
a Local Disk
Pre-Installation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Creating the Operating System Boot Image
Configuring the Host:
Configuring the PowerVault MD3000i
Storage Array
Configuring the Intel iSCSI Boot Menu
Preparing the Host and Operating System
Boot Image
Method 1—Using Snapshot Virtual Disks
and Virtual Disk Copy (Preferred Method)
Method 2—Using Virtual Disk Copy
Premium Feature
Method 3—Using an Imaging Server
Troubleshooting
Additional Information
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
. . . . . . . 13
. . . . . . . 17
. . . . . 20
. . . . . . . 21
Contents 3
3 Configuring Boot From iSCSI (BFi) Using
Intel PRO Network Adapter on a System
That is Not Configured With a Local
Disk Using the F6 Option
Pre-Installation Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Creating the Operating System Boot Image
. . . . . . . 27
Configuring the PowerVault MD3000i
Storage Array
Configuring the Intel iSCSI Boot Menu
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
. . . . . . . 29
Installing the Operating System on the
iSCSI LUN
Cloning
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Method 1—Using Snapshot Virtual Disks
and Virtual Disk Copy (Preferred Method)
Method 2—Using Virtual Disk Copy
Premium Feature
Method 3—Using an Imaging Server
Troubleshooting
Additional Information
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
. . . . . . . . 36
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4 Configuring Boot From iSCSI (BFi)
Using Broadcom™ NetXtreme Network
Adapter on a System That is
Configured With a Local Disk
. . . . . . . . . 39
. . . . . 35
4 Contents
Pre-Installation Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Creating the Operating System Boot Image
Configuring the Host
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
. . . . . . . 41
Configuring the PowerVault MD3000i
Storage Array
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Configuring the Broadcom iSCSI Boot Menu . . . 44
Preparing the Host and Operating
System Boot Image
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Cloning
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Method 1—Using Snapshot Virtual Disks
and Virtual Disk Copy (Preferred Method)
. . . . . 50
Method 2—Using Virtual Disk Copy
Premium Feature
Method 3—Using an Imaging Server
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
. . . . . . . 51
Troubleshooting
Additional Information
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
A Replacing the Intel Network Adapter
Configured for Boot From iSCSI
Retrieving the iSCSI Boot Configuration
Information
iSCSI Utility MS-DOS Commands
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Restoring the iSCSI Boot Configuration
from a Backup File
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Determining iSCSI Boot Configuration
Settings from a Failed NIC
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Saving iSCSI Boot Configuration Settings
from NVRAM
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Manually Entering Boot Settings from the
iSCSI Boot Menu
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
. . . . . . . 55
. . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Contents 5
B Instructions for Booting a New
Host From an Operating System
Image using Intel Network
Adapters
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Configuring the PowerVault MD3000i
Storage Array
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
C Replacing the Broadcom Network
Adapter and Configuring the Boot
Menu to Boot From iSCSI
Retrieving the iSCSI Boot Configuration . . . . . . . . 68
Restoring the iSCSI Boot Configuration
From a Backup File
Determining iSCSI Boot Configuration
Settings From a Failed NIC
Saving iSCSI Boot Configuration Settings
from NVRAM
Manually Entering Boot Settings from the
iSCSI Boot Menu
Backing Up iSCSI Boot Settings
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
. . . . . . . . . . . . 67
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
. . . . . . . . . . 71
6 Contents
iSCSI Utility MS-DOS Commands
. . . . . . . . . . . . 71
D Instructions for Booting a New
Host From an Operating System
Image With a Broadcom NetXtreme
Network Adapter
Configuring the PowerVault MD3000i
Storage Array
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
E Configuration Worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Index
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Contents 7
8 Contents
Overview
This document provides instructions about configuring a Dell™ PowerEdge™
system for booting from a virtual disk in an Internet Small Computer System
Interface (iSCSI) storage solution.
The following sections describe the process to configure a PowerEdge system,
create an operating system base image, and clone the operating system image
to an iSCSI disk in order to boot from it.
The following topics are discussed in detail:
• Configuring boot from iSCSI using Intel® PRO network adapter on a
system that is configured with a local disk
• Configuring boot from iSCSI using Intel PRO network adapter on a
system that is not configured with a local disk using the F6 option
• Configuring boot from iSCSI using Broadcom
adapter on a system that is configured with a local disk
• Replacing the Intel network adapter and configuring the boot menu to
boot From iSCSI
• Replacing the Broadcom network adapter and configuring the boot menu
to boot from iSCSI
NOTE: Throughout this document the terms host refers to the PowerEdge system
that on which you configure Boot From iSCSI (BFi). The terms iSCSI LUN and
iSCSI Target refer to the refer to the logical unit number (LUN) PowerVault MD3000i
storage array from which you perform the boot.
®
NetXtreme® network
Overview 9
10 Overview
Configuring Boot From iSCSI (BFi) Using Intel PRO Network Adapter on a System That is Configured With a Local Disk
This section provides information about configuring a Dell™ PowerEdge™
system that is configured with a local disk to boot from an Internet Small
Computer System Interface (iSCSI) using the Intel
To create the operating system base image, you must initially configure the
PowerEdge system with a local hard drive. After you create the operating
system image and clone the image to an iSCSI Logical Unit Number (LUN)
on the storage array, the PowerEdge system does not require a local hard drive
for booting.
Before implementing a Boot From iSCSI (BFi) LUN:
• See "Additional Information" on page 23 and the
User Guide
• Configure IP addresses for the iSCSI ports on the Dell PowerVault™
MD3000i storage array
®
PRO network adapter.
Intel iSCSI Boot
Instructions to Configure BFi for Intel NIC 11
Pre-Installation Requirements
NOTE: It is strongly recommended that you configure redundant paths to the target
from all hosts that are configured with boot from iSCSI. The following instructions
incorporate Multi-path I/O (MPIO) configuration. Misconfigured networks or
networks under heavy load may interfere with critical communication between the
host and the associated boot LUN on the target, causing the system to hang or
display a bluescreen. To work-around this issue, configure multiple paths between
the host and target. For best practices, configure a redundant iSCSI network on a
separate subnets and monitor the network performance. For more information , see
the whitepaper Creating Multipath Connections to Dell iSCSI Storage Arrays
available on the Dell Techcenter website at www.dell.com/TechCenter.
Before configuring your system for BFi, read this document, complete the
configuration worksheets in "Configuration Worksheet" on page 77, and ensure
that you have the following:
• A system with a local hard drive to create the initial image
•Intel
• Download the Intel PRO PCIe Gigabit drivers and firmware from the Dell
•
• Microsoft® iSCSI Software Initiator with boot support version as stated in
• Media of the supported Microsoft operating system or a copy of the
• Any disk imaging software such as Symantec™ Ghost
• Dell PowerVault Resource media
®
PRO/1000 Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe)
Network Interface Card (NIC)
Support website at
support.dell.com
Gigabit drivers and firmware versions, see the
Support Matrix
Intel iSCSI Boot User Guide
Support website at
the
Dell PowerVault MD3000i Support Matrix
website at
Sysprep
located on the Dell Support website at
located on the Intel NIC media or on the Dell
support.dell.com
support.dell.com
utility
. For latest supported Intel PRO PCIe
Dell PowerVault MD3000i
support.dell.com
located on the Dell Support
.
NOTE: All systems that use the cloned operating system base image must have the
same hardware configuration as the host.
NOTE: For the latest drive and firmware versions, refer to the Dell PowerVault
MD3000i Systems Support Matrix located on the Dell Support website at
support.dell.com.
12 Instructions to Configure BFi for Intel NIC
Creating the Operating System Boot Image
The following sections describe the process to create the operating system
boot image on the virtual disk.
Configuring the Host:
To create an operating system boot image:
1
Configure a PowerEdge system with a local hard drive. To configure:
a
Install Microsoft Windows Server® 2003 SP1, Windows Server 2003
SP2, or Windows Server 2003 R2 operating system on the PowerEdge
system that is temporarily configured with a local hard drive.
b
Install the Intel PRO/1000 NIC(s) to be used for BFi in an available
PCIe slot of the PowerEdge system. For information about supported
NICs, see the Intel documentation.
c
Install the latest supported drivers for Intel PRO PCIe Gigabit family
of adapters.
NOTE: Do not configure the IP addresses of the Intel NICs being used for
iSCSI boot manually. You must configure the NICs with Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol (DHCP). The IP address is assigned automatically
when the iSCSI LUN is detected by the boot firmware of the Intel NIC.
2
Install the supported version of Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator with
integrated software boot support on the PowerEdge system. To download
the iSCSI Software Initiator boot version, go to the Microsoft Support
website at
www.microsoft.com
and search for
iSCSI Initiator
.
NOTE: Download the iSCSI Initiator. The download link may be in the text and
not hyperlinked.
3
To ensure that BFi is configured correctly, select the following installation
options when prompted during installation:
a
Select
Initiator Service, Software Initiator
Microsoft Multipath I/O
NOTE: Do not select Microsoft Multipath I/O (MPIO) Support for iSCSI.
Select
b
Configure iSCSI Network Boot Support
one Intel NIC with an
(MPIO)
Support
e1express service name
Instructions to Configure BFi for Intel NIC 13
, and
for iSCSI.
and highlight at least
.
NOTICE: It is strongly recommended that you do not login to the iSCSI target manually.
The iSCSI Software Initiator automatically retrieves the iSCSI boot configuration from the Intel
PRO/1000 adapter iSCSI boot firmware. Adding additional connections manually inside the
iSCSI Software Initiator with the same paths as configured in the iSCSI boot firmware may
cause the system to hang, display a blue screen, or reboot during failover.
4
Install the
Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager
host software
available on the Dell PowerVault Resource media.
5
Select the installation type as either
Typical
or
Host
. The
Typical
installation installs both host software and management software; the
Host
installation installs only the necessary host software.
6
Disable the page file if the PowerEdge system does not have a local hard
drive configured on the host. To disable the page file:
a
Right-click
b
In the
c
In the
d
In the
e
In the
f
In the
then click
NOTICE: You must perform the following step. Skipping the following step may
cause the operating system to display a blue screen and fail to boot. For more
information, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 934235 on the Microsoft
Support website at support.microsoft.com.
7
If you add or update any hardware or software components such as
My Computer
System Properties
Performance
and select
screen, click the
section, click
Performance Options
Virtual Memory
Virtual Memory
Set
and OK.
section, click
screen, select the
Properties
Advanced
Settings
.
screen, click the
Change
No paging file
.
tab.
Advanced
.
tab.
option, and
network drivers or operating system service pack updates that may impact
the Networking stack, you must re-run the iscsibcg.exe utility with the
/verify /fix
command line option. Failing to do this may cause the
operating system to blue screen and fail to boot.
14 Instructions to Configure BFi for Intel NIC
To configure the iscsibcg.exe utility to run every time the system is turned off,
perform the following steps:
a
Click
Start→ Ru
b
Ty p e
gpedit.msc
c
In the
Group Policy
Windows Settings→ Scripts (Startup/Shutdown)
d
In the
Scripts (Startup/Shutdown)
e
In the
Shutdown Properties
f
Locate the
in the
Script Name f
Parameters
g
Click OK.
n.
and click OK.
window, expand
iscsibcg.exe utility
ield and type
field.
Computer Configuration→
screen, double-click
screen, click
Add
(default location is
/verify /fix
.
Shutdown
.
c:\Windows\System 32\
in the
Script
.
Configuring the PowerVault MD3000i Storage Array
1
Perform the following procedure to manually register a host:
a
Open the P
the PowerVault MD3000i storage array to be used by the host for
booting.
b
Select the
(Manual)
c
In the
drop down list, and then click
d
In the
e
In the
(IQN) of the host initiator and leave the iSCSI Initiator label to the
default.
Fully qualified IQN format is
name>:<server name>
Example:
IQN of the host initiator in the "Configuration Worksheet" on
page 77. The IQN of the host initiator is required to configure Intel
iSCSI boot BIOS.
f
Click
owerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager
Configure
tab, and then click
Configure Host Access
.
host
field, enter the host name, select the
Next
.
Selected iSCSI initiators
iSCSI initiator name
field, click the
field, enter the
New
iSCSI Qualified Name
<iqn><yyyy-mm>.com<company
.
iqn.1984-04.com.dell:server-name
Add
and then click
Next
.
, and connect to
host type
from the
button.
. Record the
)
Instructions to Configure BFi for Intel NIC 15
g
Ensure that the option
No,This host will NOT share
access to the same virtual disks with other
hosts
is selected and then click
h
In the
Confirm Host Definition
2
Create a virtual disk and assign it to the host:
a
Select the
b
Create a virtual disk which is of the same size as the boot partition and
Configure
tab and click
Next
.
page, click
Finish
Create Virtual Disks
.
.
assign it to the host. Enter the virtual disk capacity.
NOTE: It is recommended that the capacity you allocate to the virtual disk be
equal to or more than the boot partition capacity. A minimum boot partition
size of 16 GB is recommended.
Enter a Name for the virtual disk.
c
NOTE: It is recommended that you use the service tag of the PowerEdge
system and the term boot-LUN in the description field.
In the
d
e
3
After creating the virtual disk, assign the preferred path for the virtual disk
Virtual Disk I/O characteristics
click
Next
.
Select
Finish
Map now
.
and the host you are preparing to boot, and then click
field, select
File system
to the appropriate Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID)
controller. For systems with only one boot NIC, ensure that you assign the
virtual disk to the RAID controller the NIC is connecting to. For systems
with two boot NICs, configure the primary path to the RAID controller
that the Primary NIC is configured to boot from. To configure the
preferred path:
a
Click the
Ownership/Preferred Path
b
Select the
Modify
tab and select the
virtual disk
option.
and the
Change Virtual Disk
preferred path
, and then click
Change
if required.
, and
16 Instructions to Configure BFi for Intel NIC
4
Record the IQN of the PowerVault MD3000i storage array in the
"Configuration Worksheet" on page 77:
a
Select the
b
Record the iSCSI target name.
NOTE: The ISCSI Target Alias cannot be used by a host for booting.
5
Record the iSCSI host port IP addresses of the RAID controllers in the
iSCSI
tab, and then click
Change Target Identification
"Configuration Worksheet" on page 77:
a
Select the
b
Select each iSCSI host port from the drop down list. Record the IP
iSCSI
tab and click
Configure iSCSI Host Ports
address of the port to which the host system is configured to boot
from. If the host system has redundant paths, select a port on a
controller that is on a separate subnet.
Configuring the Intel iSCSI Boot Menu
1
Use the iSCSI DOS utility located in the
media that shipped with the Intel NIC to flash the Intel NIC with the
iSCSI Boot Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM). For more
instructions, see the
Boot to a bootable MS-DOS
the
iSCSI DOS
Intel iSCSI Boot User Guide
®
diskette drive or a bootable USB key and run
utility using the following commands:
ISCSIUTL -ALL -FLASHENABLE
ISCSIUTL -ALL –UP
For additional help, type
2
Boot into the
the
Firmware Setup
a
Configure one NIC as
b
Enter the initiator name, IP address, subnet, and gateway of the host
Intel iSCSI Boot Setup
ISCSIUTL -?
section in the
Primary
Intel iSCSI Boot User Guide.
that you recorded in step 1 of "Configuring the PowerVault MD3000i
Storage Array" on page 15.
c
Enter the IQN and IP address of the target.
d
Retain the default values of the port number as 3260 and LUN
number as 0, unless you need to change them.
iSCSI\DOS
directory on the
.
at a command prompt.
menu. For more information, see
.
.
.
Instructions to Configure BFi for Intel NIC 17
e
Select OK and save the changes.
f
Repeat step a to step e to configure a secondary NIC if required.
NOTE: Ensure that the primary NIC and the secondary NIC are configured on
separate subnets.
Observe the Power-On Self-Test (POST) output to ensure that the
g
iSCSI LUN is detected. If the iSCSI LUN is not detected during
POST, halt the process and verify the configuration on the PowerVault
MD3000i storage array and the Intel iSCSI Boot Setup menu.
NOTE: Do not continue if the iSCSI LUN is not detected during POST.
NOTE: It is strongly recommended that you save the iSCSI boot configuration
to a file to enable faster recovery when you replace the NIC.
3
To save the iSCSI boot configuration to a file, perform the following steps:
a
Boot to a bootable device.
b
Save the configuration to a file using the iscsiutl program by typing
the following command at the command prompt:
ISCSIUTL -SAVE -FILE <FILENAME> -NIC <#>
where
FILENAME
and
#
is the NIC number.
NOTE: It is recommended that you include the NIC number in the file name.
For example, to name the iSCSI boot configuration file of the first NIC use the
following command:
is the name of the iSCSI boot configuration file
ISCSIUTL -SAVE -FILE dell1 -NIC 1
where NIC 1 is the NIC number for the first NIC. To name the iSCSI boot
configuration file of the second NIC use the following command:
ISCSIUTL -SAVE -FILE dell2 -NIC 2
NOTE: The iscsiutl program identifies each port of a dual-port NIC separately. If
you have configured both ports on a dual-port NIC to boot from iSCSI, you must run
the command in step 3 for each port.
18 Instructions to Configure BFi for Intel NIC
Preparing the Host and Operating System Boot Image
1
In the host system, go to the BIOS menu and confirm that the boot order
lists the local hard drive before the iSCSI LUN.
NOTICE: The following step is mandatory. Failure to follow the step may cause the
operating system to display a blue screen and fail to boot.
2
Log in to the operating system. Open the
Disk Management Console
verify that the iSCSI LUN is recognized.
NOTE: It is strongly recommended that you do not login to the iSCSI target
manually. The iSCSI Software Initiator automatically retrieves the iSCSI boot
configuration from the Intel PRO/1000 adapter iSCSI Boot firmware. If you
manually add connections inside the initiator with the same paths as
configured in the iSCSI boot firmware, the system may hang, display a blue
screen or reboot during failover.
3
Boot to a bootable device such as a diskette drive, media, or USB key and
run a disk imaging software such as Symantec Ghost.
4
Clone the local disk to the iSCSI LUN (disk to disk).
5
Reboot the host.
6
Go to the BIOS menu, change the boot order to disable the local hard
drive and reboot. The host now boots from the iSCSI LUN.
Cloning
and
If you intend to create an operating system image to deploy to multiple hosts,
run Sysprep prior to cloning the LUN.
1
In the system drive root, create a directory and name it as
2
In your operating system media, locate the archive file
support\tools\deploy.cab
3
Sysprep
Use the
directory.
setupmgr.exe
utility to create the
and copy all the contents to the
sysprep.inf
Sysprep
.
file and follow the on
the screen instructions to provide specific information.
4
In the
Sysprep.inf
file, edit the
[Unattended]
section as shown below:
[Unattended]
LegacyNic=1
Instructions to Configure BFi for Intel NIC 19
5
Run Sysprep.
6
To create an operating system image, select
Reseal and Shutdown
clone additional iSCSI LUNs so that they can be used to boot additional
hosts. The following section describes various methods that you can use to
clone one iSCSI LUN to additional iSCSI LUNs.
NOTE: After you have created the clone(s), boot the new systems from their
respective LUNs by following the steps in "Instructions for Booting a New Host
From an Operating System Image using Intel Network Adapters" on page 63.
Method 1—Using Snapshot Virtual Disks and Virtual Disk Copy
(Preferred Method)
1
Configure the host system to boot from an iSCSI LUN.
2
Turn off the system
3
Use the
virtual disk of the source virtual disk.
4
Configure a different system to boot from the snapshot virtual disk. For
instructions, see"Instructions for Booting a New Host From an Operating
System Image using Intel Network Adapters" on page 63.
5
Run
6
Use the
disk copy of the snapshot virtual disk.
7
After the virtual disk copy is created, remove the copy pair using the
PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager
8
Configure the system to boot from the new iSCSI LUN. For instructions,
see "Instructions for Booting a New Host From an Operating System
Image using Intel Network Adapters" on page 63.
PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager
Sysprep
and turn off the system.
PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager
.
to create a snapshot
to create a virtual
. You can
NOTE: For more information about creating snapshot virtual disks and virtual disk
copy, see the PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager User’s Guide located on
the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.
20 Instructions to Configure BFi for Intel NIC
Method 2—Using Virtual Disk Copy Premium Feature
1
Configure the host system to boot from an iSCSI LUN.
2
Run
3
Using the
Sysprep
and turn off the system.
PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager
create a virtual disk
copy of the snapshot virtual disk.
4
After the virtual disk copy is created, remove the copy pair using the
Dell PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager
5
Configure each system to boot from the assigned iSCSI LUN. For more
.
instructions, see "Instructions for Booting a New Host From an Operating
System Image using Intel Network Adapters" on page 63.
NOTE: For more information about creating snapshot virtual disks and virtual disk
copy, see the PowerVault Modular Disk Storage Manager User’s Guide located on
the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.
Method 3—Using an Imaging Server
This procedure uses an imaging server to clone the boot image of one system
(that boots from an iSCSI LUN) to multiple iSCSI LUNs. The images on the
multiple iSCSI LUNs can then be used to configure BFi on multiple systems.
Perform the following steps to clone the boot image:
NOTE: Before you perform the following steps, ensure that the imaging server is
configured with an iSCSI connection to the iSCSI target.
1
Configure the host system to Boot from an iSCSI LUN.
2
Run
Sysprep
3
Unassign the iSCSI LUN from the original host system and assign the
iSCSI boot LUN to the imaging server.
4
Execute the imaging software (such as Ghost32) and create an image file
of the iSCSI LUN (disk to image).
5
Unassign the original iSCSI LUN from the imaging server.
6
Assign the iSCSI LUN(s) on which you are creating clone(s) to the
imaging server.
and turn off the system.
Instructions to Configure BFi for Intel NIC 21
7
Execute an imaging software such as Ghost 32 and image each iSCSI LUN
with the boot image that you created in step 4 (image to disk).
8
Unassign all iSCSI LUNs from the imaging server.
9
Assign each iSCSI LUN to the system that it boots to. Follow the
instructions in "Instructions for Booting a New Host From an Operating
System Image using Intel Network Adapters" on page 63 to configure each
system to boot from the assigned iSCSI LUN.
Troubleshooting
If iSCSI Boot BIOS fails to detect iSCSI Target, perform the following steps
and try to boot the system from iSCSI:
• Disable the spanning tree protocol on the switch ports on which the iSCSI
boot NIC is configured. For information about disabling the spanning tree,
see the documentation that shipped with the switch.
• Check for typographic errors in the BIOS settings. The configuration
options must match the instructions provided. For more troubleshooting
procedures, see the
website at
• To eliminate switch problems, test by connecting the initiator to the target
directly using a standard Ethernet cable. Do not use a cross-over cable.
During initial setup, if the host displays a blue screen or continues to reboot
when you boot from the iSCSI LUN, perform the following steps:
support.dell.com
Intel iSCSI Boot User Guide
.
and the Dell Support
NOTE: The following steps are applicable only to newly-configured Boot from
iSCSI host systems.
1
Change the boot order in the BIOS screen to re-enable the local hard drive.
2
Reinstall the supported boot version of the iSCSI Software Initiator.
During installation, the GUI displays the previously selected options,
ensure that you select the correct boot option.
3
Re-install
22 Instructions to Configure BFi for Intel NIC
Power Vault Modular Disk Storage Manager
host software.
4
Open the iSCSI Software Initiator GUI to ensure that there are no entries
in the Discovery tab or in the
5
Open the
recognized.
6
Replicate the operating system boot image from the local hard drive to an
image then to the iSCSI LUN and then boot from the iSCSI LUN.
7
Disable the local hard drive and boot from the iSCSI LUN.
Disk Management
Persistent Targets
console and verify the iSCSI LUN is
tab.
Additional Information
• If you are using two NICs — one as primary and one as the secondary boot
NIC, ensure that they are configured to use separate subnets.
• NIC teaming is not supported for iSCSI traffic on the host or on the
PowerVault MD3000i storage array.
• After the host is configured to use BFi, you can configure additional paths
to other targets in the Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator.
•
Do not
log in to ports that were configured in the iSCSI boot BIOS, these
logins are automatically performed through the NIC iSCSI boot firmware
table.
Instructions to Configure BFi for Intel NIC 23
24 Instructions to Configure BFi for Intel NIC
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