HP High Performance Clusters LC Series
Setup and Installation Guide
March 2004 (Second Edition)
Part Number 341524-002
© 2004 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Hewlett-Packard Company shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. The
information in this document is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind and is subject to change without
notice. The warranties for HP products are set forth in the express limited warranty statements accompanying such
products. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty.
HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide
March 2004 (Second Edition)
Part Number 341524-002
Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................... 5
Audience Assumptions...................................................................................................... 5
Where to Go for Additional Help ....................................................................................... 5
Documentation.............................................................................................................................................. 5
HP Services................................................................................................................................................... 6
Technical Support ......................................................................................................................................... 6
Telephone Numbers ............................................................................................................................... 6
Limited Warranty ................................................................................................................................... 7
Safety Information..............................................................................................................7
HPC LC Series Product Overview ..................................................................................... 7
HPC LC Series Cluster Components ................................................................................ 8
Control Node................................................................................................................................................. 8
Compute Nodes............................................................................................................................................. 9
HPC Networks .............................................................................................................................................. 9
Additional Components .............................................................................................................................. 10
Operating Systems and Software................................................................................................................ 10
Storage Components ................................................................................................................................... 10
Data CD ......................................................................................................................................................10
HPC LC Series Cluster Installation ................................................................................. 11
Overview..................................................................................................................................................... 11
Step 1: Physical Planning............................................................................................................................ 11
Step 2: Receiving the HPC LC Series Cluster ............................................................................................ 11
Step 3: Positioning the Racks ..................................................................................................................... 12
Rack Power........................................................................................................................................... 13
Rack Cooling........................................................................................................................................ 13
Step 4: Connecting External and Inter-rack Cables .................................................................................... 13
Power Cabling ...................................................................................................................................... 14
Step 5: Powering On the Equipment........................................................................................................... 15
Step 6: Setting up the Out of Band Management Switch (LC 1000 Series)............................................... 17
Step 7: Setting up the Control Node ........................................................................................................... 17
Step 8: Setting up the Compute Nodes .......................................................................................................18
Step 9: Installing Storage System Options.................................................................................................. 19
For More Information........................................................................................................ 19
HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide 3
Abstract
This guide provides instructions and the necessary reference information required to install
and set up HP High Performance Clusters LC Series (HPC LC Series) solutions. It provides
information about the various solution components, as well as how to receive equipment,
position racks, connect external and inter-rack cables, power on the equipment, and begin the
setup process.
Some LC clusters will be shipped with storage options, as well as an operating system or
application installed. This guide does not cover these cluster customizations. In these cases,
this document should be used to set up the cluster hardware first. Next, the documentation
supplied with the customizations, such as storage options or operating system, should be used
to finish the installation or set up testing.
This document supplements the information found in the user documentation for the servers,
switches and other components used in the HPC LC Series solution.
Audience Assumptions
This guide is for the person who installs, administers, and troubleshoots servers. HP assumes
you are qualified in the servicing of computer equipment and trained in recognizing hazards
in products with hazardous energy levels.
HP assumes that the user of this guide has advanced technical skills and has knowledge of the
following topics and products:
• High performance computing concepts
• Networking skills
• Linux or Microsoft® operating system installation knowledge and experience
• High performance computing system software installation experience
Where to Go for Additional Help
Documentation
In addition to this guide, the following information sources are available:
• HP High Performance Clusters LC Series cabling guides for LC Series 1000, 2000, and
3000
• User documentation for the cluster components
Documentation for most HP High Performance Clusters LC Series components (servers,
switches, options) is included with the cluster shipment.
HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide 5
HP Services
The Myrinet switch documentation, however, is not included with the shipment. Instead, it
can be downloaded from the following website:
http://www.myricom.com
HP offers a variety of installation care packs and professional services. There are highly
skilled professionals to help you install the cluster hardware, storage options, operating
system, or applications. HP can also provide customized consulting and integration services
to meet specific customer needs.
To learn more about what services are available for your HPC LC Series solution, please visit
the following:
• HP Services at
• HP Care Pack Services at
Technical Support
To ensure the best possible support for this HPC LC Series product, contact HP Services
using the telephone numbers listed below.
HP technical support will take calls on the cluster solution and will perform fault isolation. If
the problem is determined to be in the Cyclades product, HP will pass the call along with our
analysis to Cyclades for correction of the problem.
Before calling, be prepared to provide the following information:
• Product number of cluster or failing device
• Serial number of cluster or failing device
• Node name or host name
• Operating system
• Question or problem statement
• Contact name and phone number
http://www.hp.com/hps/
http://www.hp.com/hps/carepack
• Access number, obligation ID number, or system handle provided with your contract (for
systems covered under an HP support agreement)
Telephone Numbers
• Americas region:
— United States and Canada: 800-345-3746
— Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, Bolivia: 54-11-4779-4779, 54-11-4779-
4787
— Brazil: 55-11-4689-2620 (Warranty or standard support),
55-11-4689-2014 (Premium or Gold support)
6 HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide
— Central America, Caribbean, Ecuador, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela:
58-212-278-8236 (Spanish), 58-212-278-8237 (English)
— Mexico: 52-55-5258-4500
• Asia-Pacific region:
— Australia: 1-300-788990
— China: 8008106966
— Hong Kong: 852 25997333
— India: 1600-112267
— Korea: 82-1588-3003
— New Zealand: 0800-449-552
— Taiwan: 0800-211-666, 886-2-87228088
• Europe, Middle East, and Africa region:
For support phone numbers, go to
www.hp.com, select your country or region, then select
contact HP.
Limited Warranty
The limited warranty for your HPC LC Series cluster is supplied on a component basis. Refer
to the documents supplied with each component for the appropriate warranty information.
Safety Information
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Before installation, read the Important Safety Information document included with the product.
Also, read the safety information details of the documentation included for each component.
HPC LC Series Product Overview
The HPC LC Series product provides easy to order cluster solutions that are fully integrated
and tested in the factory. The clusters are shipped to their destination assembled in racks and
ready for a quick and easy installation.
There are three types of LC Clusters:
• LC 1000 Series is based on the ProLiant DL140 server compute node
• LC 2000 Series is based on the ProLiant DL360 server compute node
• LC 3000 Series is based on the ProLiant DL145 server compute node
Each cluster generally uses a ProLiant DL380 server as its control node. However, a
ProLiant DL145 server control node option is available with LC 3000 Series reference
designs.
HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide 7
Additionally, each LC Cluster Series offers the choice of three cluster interconnect types:
• Myrinet
• Gigabit Ethernet
• 10/100 Fast Ethernet
The flexible solutions are defined and ordered with the help of the Design and Configuration
guide. The guide provides more than 50 reference designs as cluster starting points that can
be further customized to your needs. The guide assists with the server and interconnect
selection and then helps determine the other required cluster components. The guide takes
the guesswork out of ordering a cluster because it lists the needed components right down to
the quantities and lengths of the cables needed for each solution.
Each LC Series also offers a packaged 32 node cluster. This reduces the order process to
ordering just two part numbers: one for the cluster and one for the interconnect (Gigabit or
Myrinet).
Each cluster ships with a Configuration Resource Kit containing a documentation CD, a data
CD, hardcopies of selected documentation, and additional cable labels to assist with future
cluster expansion.
The reference designs can easily be customized to support any node count cluster up to 128
nodes. This setup guide covers the hardware installation of these reference design
configurations.
The reference designs can be further customized with, for example, the addition of storage
options or an operating system. This setup guide does not cover these items. Refer to the
documentation that comes with these options for setup information.
HPC LC Series Cluster Components
Each HPC LC Series cluster contains one control node, a collection of compute nodes,
interconnects, rack(s), and rack infrastructure. It may also contain optional operating systems,
software, and storage components.
Control Node
One ProLiant DL380 or DL145 server functions as the control node in each reference design.
The control node is used as the interface to the user community via the public LAN for job
dispatch, control, monitoring, and job completion within the cluster. The control node serves
as the only access point to the compute nodes in the cluster.
The control node models and options available for use in the cluster are listed in the Design
and Configuration Guide.
8 HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide
Compute Nodes
Depending on which configuration was ordered, the cluster contains ProLiant DL140,
ProLiant DL145, or ProLiant DL360 server compute nodes. The compute nodes perform the
basic work unit of the cluster. More compute nodes are added to the cluster to increase
performance.
The current LC Series cluster reference designs scale to support up to 128 nodes per cluster.
The server models and options available for use in the cluster are listed in the Design and
Configuration Guide. In Myrinet solutions, each compute node will have a PCI Myrinet
adapter installed.
HPC Networks
Each HPC LC Series cluster includes multiple networks:
• Out of Band Management network
The Out of Band Management network provides cluster management capability not
available via the In Band Management network.
Cyclades terminal servers are used for Out of Band Management on ProLiant
DL140 server based systems. HP ProCurve 2650 switches are used for Out of Band
Management on ProLiant DL145 server based systems using IPMI. ProCurve 2650
switches are used for Out of Band Management on DL360 server based systems using
iLO.
• Cluster interconnect network
The cluster interconnect network is the main data network that connects all of the
compute nodes for cluster interprocessor communication (IPC) and message passing
interface (MPI) functions. This network can be either a Myrinet, Gigabit Ethernet, or
10/100 Fast Ethernet network.
Various types of ProCurve or Myrinet switches are used for the cluster interconnect
network, depending on the overall type and size of the HPC solution.
• Management network (In Band Management)
The management network (In Band Management network) is used for overall cluster
management using a standard Ethernet connection. This network is also used to connect
storage systems to the cluster in the reference designs.
Gigabit Ethernet ProCurve 2848 or 10/100 Fast Ethernet ProCurve 2650 switches are
used for the management network, depending on the cluster configuration.
• Public network
The control node connects the cluster to the public network (WAN interface).
HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide 9
Additional Components
Each HPC LC Series reference design also comes equipped with an HP TFT 5600 RKM
(integrated keyboard, monitor, and mouse), Power Distribution Units, and extra network
cables for external network connectivity. All components are integrated and pre-cabled into
HP 10000 series 42U racks.
All of the internal rack network cables are labeled with a descriptive cable label to facilitate
the identification process of each cable connection. The HPC LC Series cabling guides for
LC 1000, LC 2000, and LC 3000 illustrate the point-to-point connections of each network
cable and describe the cable label nomenclature in detail.
Operating Systems and Software
Each HPC LC Series cluster can be ordered with Linux or Microsoft operating systems
installed. Additionally, application software can be installed on the cluster. This setup guide
does not cover setup or installation of operating systems and software, however.
Storage Components
Data CD
Each HPC LC Series cluster can be customized with storage options. These options will
require setup and installation steps that are not covered by this guide. Use the documentation
that comes with these options for setup information.
The cluster ships with a data CD which contains useful information on your cluster
components that can save time in answering questions about the hardware in the cluster. The
CD includes information on each cluster server such as: rack serial number where installed,
server serial number, iLO DNS name, iLO MAC address, NIC IDs and NIC MAC addresses.
10 HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide
HPC LC Series Cluster Installation
Overview
Installation of your HPC LC Series cluster includes these general steps, described in more
detail on the following pages:
1. Physical planning
2. Receiving the HPC LC Series cluster
3. Positioning the racks
4. Connecting external and inter-rack cables
5. Powering on the equipment
6. Setting up the Out of Band Management switch (LC 1000 Series only)
7. Setting up the control node
8. Setting up the compute nodes
9. Installing storage system options (if applicable)
Step 1: Physical Planning
Physical planning for your HPC LC Series deployment is one of the first things that must be
considered before beginning the installation. You must ensure that you have enough physical
space, adequate power and ventilation. You should also consider providing a backup power
source such as an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). A properly designed computer room
has adequate ventilation and cooling for racks with servers and storage devices and has the
appropriate high-line power feeds installed. For more information on datacenter design and
planning, please refer to Technology Brief TC030203TB at the link below. This technology
brief describes trends affecting datacenter design, explains how to determine power and
cooling needs, and describes methods for cost-effective cooling.
Technology Brief TC030203TB can be downloaded from:
http://wwss1pro.compaq.com/support/reference_library/viewdocument.asp?countrycode=
1000&prodid=137&source=tc030203tb.xml&dt=21&docid=15719
Step 2: Receiving the HPC LC Series Cluster
The HPC LC Series cluster components are shipped fully integrated in 42U racks.
Depending on the size of the cluster ordered, the shipment can consist of from one to four
42U racks. More racks could be contained in the shipment if additional storage options are
ordered as well. Every configuration is shipped fully integrated with easy to read cable labels
to facilitate the cabling process.
HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide 11
Step 3: Positioning the Racks
Upon receipt of the HPC LC Series solution, the racks will need to be carefully transported
from the receiving area to the data center. Be sure to follow all unpacking, transporting, and
safety instructions included with the product. When selecting the final position of the racks,
be sure to place them in sequential order, beginning with Rack 1 on the left as viewed from
the front of the racks. The cable lengths provided are designed for that relative position. For
example, figure 1 below illustrates the proper rack positioning of a 128-node cluster solution.
The rack number is located on a label at the top rear of the cabinet.
Figure 1: Rack positioning for an HPC LC Series cluster solution
The following spatial needs should be considered when deciding where to physically place
the HPC LC Series cluster solutions:
• Clearance in front of the rack unit should be a minimum of 50 inches (127 cm) to allow
for adequate airflow and serviceability.
• Clearance behind the rack unit should be a minimum of 30 inches (76.2 cm) to allow for
adequate airflow and serviceability; 50 inches (127 cm) is recommended.
12 HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide
Rack Power
Rack Cooling
Each fully configured rack in an LC Series cluster reference design comes with three 24-Amp
(Americas region) or 32-Amp (European regions) High Voltage Power Distribution Units
(PDUs). The data center will need to be configured to support this amount of power and
power cabling. Power units supplied for other regions or to unique customer specifications
may come with alternative PDUs. This should be reviewed prior to receiving the cluster to be
sure that the data center is properly equipped.
The racks in each HPC LC Series solution draw cool air in through the front and exhaust
warm air out of the rear. To ensure continued safe and reliable operation of the equipment,
place the system in a well-ventilated, climate-controlled environment. A minimum of
50 inches (127 cm) is needed in front of the rack for adequate cooling and servicing. A
minimum of 30 inches (76.2 cm) is required behind the rack for adequate cooling and
servicing, but 50 inches (127 cm) are recommended. The HPC LC Series solutions should be
placed in data centers with an adequate air-conditioning system to handle continuous
operation of this solution. The maximum allowable ambient operating temperature for the LC
Series Clusters is 35°C (95°F).
Please review the documentation for each of the components within your HPC LC Series
solution to learn more about the recommended ambient temperatures. Component placement
in the rack is very important to ensure proper cooling. Larger cluster interconnect switches,
for example, must be located at the bottom of the rack to allow for additional cool air. It is
also very important to keep components installed in the servers as recommended, such as
hard disk drives, CD-ROM drives, or their blanks, to ensure proper airflow through the
server.
Step 4: Connecting External and Inter-rack Cables
All of the network cables within each rack are labeled for easy identification. The HPC LC
Series cabling guides explain and illustrate the cabling connections for each of the HPC LC
Series solutions in detail.
All cables whose two endpoints reside in a single rack will already be connected when
delivered to the customer’s site.
If your HPC solution is comprised of multiple racks, then there will be some inter-rack
cabling. That is, some of the cables from one rack will need to be connected to components in
another rack. Following the cabling guide and using the cable labels, connect these cables.
One end of these cables will be connected to a component in a rack. The other end will be
coiled and secured in the rack for shipping purposes. You will need to unpack the free cable
end and then connect it to its destination in the other rack. The cable lengths provided with
the solution are planned to make the connections as follows:
HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide 13
• Switch-to-switch connections are routed through the sides of each rack.
• Server- to-interconnect switch connections will be routed down from the server to the
floor, over to the rack with the switch, and then up from the floor to the switch. If a
Myrinet cluster was ordered, care must be taken when routing the fiber Myrinet cables to
prevent cable damage. The minimum bend radius, or the smallest internal radius possible
on a corner or bend, is 1.5 inches (3.81 cm).
Each HPC reference design includes a 20-foot (6.196 m) cable to connect the control node’s
Gigabit Ethernet NIC to the LAN. It also includes a 20-foot (6.196 m) cable to make the iLO
port connection. These cables are not labeled and are not shipped in a rack, but are included
in the cluster accessories packaging. Refer to the cabling wiring diagrams in the cabling
guide for more information.
IMPORTANT: Refer to the HPC LC Series cabling guides for LC 1000, LC 2000, and LC 3000 for
details on the power and network cabling connections, cable label nomenclature, wiring diagrams, and
rack layouts for each HPC LC Series solution.
The cluster reference designs assume you will be connecting the control node of your HPC
LC Series solution to an external DHCP server for setup. The DHCP server must be provided
by the customer and be made available to the system before proceeding to use iLO on the
control node. It is also assumed that you are planning to use the control node as a DHCP
server for the other cluster components. Refer to the server’s iLO documentation shipped
with the cluster for more information.
Power Cabling
Each 24A or 32A PDU shipped in the reference design LC Series solutions is comprised of
one PDU Control Unit supporting up to four eight-receptacle Extension Bars (power strips).
You will notice in your solution that some Control Units are not installed with all four of the
Extension Bars, and that not all eight receptacles of each Extension Bar are used. This is to
avoid current overload of the PDU or Extension Bar. General guidelines for these
components are to limit each Extension Bar to five or fewer components and each PDU to 14
or fewer components.
Each Extension Bar has its own breaker switch. Furthermore, the PDU Control Unit has one
breaker switch for each Extension Bar. The factory installs the Control Units in a 0U
orientation and sets the breaker switches on the Control Unit to On but sets the breaker
switches on the individual Extension Bars to Off.
Before plugging in the main power cable of each PDU Control Unit to the power source,
check each Extension Bar to make sure that the breaker switch is set to Off. Once you have
verified the breakers are Off then connect to the power source.
14 HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide
Step 5: Powering On the Equipment
After the power cables are connected, you are ready to power on the equipment.
IMPORTANT: Before powering on the servers, review Table 1: Factory System Settings to learn about
the factory system settings for specific cluster components that are pre-configured before the HPC
cluster is shpped to the customer.
1. Turn on each Extension Bar breaker switch.
2. Check to see that the servers come up to a standby state.
3. Check the switches to see that they have powered up. Some switches have a separate
on/off switch while others power up immediately when power is applied.
4. Verify that the TFT5600 keyboard/monitor/mouse unit has powered up.
5. If any of the above components do not power up or come up to a standby condition,
check the power switches to make sure they are On and check the power cords to ensure
that they did not come loose during shipping.
Table 1: Factory System Settings
ProLiant DL380 Server
BIOS settings for all LC
Series configurations
BIOS Settings for LC 1000
Series Clusters (DL140
based) to set up the Serial
Console/EMS Support
ProLiant DL140 Server
BIOS Settings
Remote Access
Boot Settings
• The operating system setting is set to Linux unless a Microsoft®
Windows® operating system is ordered with the solution
• Hyper-threading is disabled
• EMS Console = Local
• BIOS Serial Console Port = COM1:
• BIOS Serial Console Baud Rate = 19200, 8, n, 1
• Terminal Emulation Mode = VT100
• Hyper-Threading is disabled
• NIC2 is set to the default PXE NIC
• Remote Access via the serial port is set up (Advanced => Remote
Access Configuration)
• Remote Access = Enabled
• Serial Port Mode = 19200 8,n,1
• Flow Control = None
• Redirection after BIOS POST = Boot Loader
• Terminal Type = VT100
• Boot Settings Are Configured (Boot => Boot Settings
Configuration)
• Quick Boot = Disabled
• Quiet Boot = Disabled
continued
HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide 15
Table 1: Factory System Settings continued
Linux OS Settings
Completed if Linux OS is
shipped on the cluster
ProLiant DL360 Server
BIOS settings for all LC
Series configurations
• The Bootloader and OS Configuration for the control node and
each compute node are set up for Out of Band management via a
serial console.
• Modified /etc/inittab to spawn agetty for /dev/ttyS0 in runlevels 2,
3, 4, and 5
• Modified /etc/securetty by adding the line ttyS0
• Configured the boot loader to use serial line
• Configured the Linux kernel to use serial console
• Disabled the X server: such as modified /etc/inittab to select
runlevel 3 as default
• Set up the SysRq functionality
• The operating system setting is set to Linux unless a Microsoft®
Windows® operating system is ordered with the solution.
• Hyper-threading is disabled
iLO settings
ProLiant DL145 Servers
BIOS settings
• The iLO DNS name is set to match the iLO cable label for each
node.
• The iLO username and password are set to “Administrator” on
each node.
• The iLO server label tags for each node are removed
NOTE: By default, iLO is set to obtain an IP address from a DHCP
server. The DHCP server can be the cluster control node or some
other DHCP server provided by the customer. The DHCP server must
be made available to the systems before proceeding to use iLO for
initial setup. Refer to the server’s iLO documentation that is shipped
with the cluster for more information.
• Hyper-threading is disabled
• NIC2 is set to the default PXE NIC
continued
16 HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide
Table 1: Factory System Settings continued
ProCurve Switches
Trunking Trunking between switches is set up on systems that have multiple
racks to improve performance. The ports used for this purpose are the
highest numbered switch ports. The exact trunks are specified in the
cabling tables and wire diagrams.
VLANs VLANs are set up on systems that use that same ProCurve switch for
the management and cluster interconnect networks. These are the
16-node reference GigE and Fast Ethernet systems that expand to 22
nodes.
• The GigE system uses a ProCurve 2848. Ports 1-22 are used for
the interconnect network and ports 23-45 are used for the
management network. Port 48 is used for the OOB switch
connection.
• The Fast Ethernet system uses a ProCurve 2650. Ports 1-22 are
used for the interconnect network and ports 25-47 are used for the
management network. Port 48 is used for the OOB switch
connection.
Refer to the ProCurve documentation for additional information on
trunks and VLANs.
Step 6: Setting up the Out of Band Management Switch (LC 1000 Series)
LC 1000 Series clusters use Cyclades terminal servers that must be set up and configured at
the customer’s site. HP recommends that you follow Cyclades’ Quick Start process which is
detailed in the AlterPath Console Server User Guide. This guide is included with the cluster
shipment. It is also available from the Cyclades website at www.cyclades.com.
Step 7: Setting up the Control Node
The control node is connected to the TFT5600 monitor in the solution so you can directly
control and monitor this server.
1. First, power up the control node and confirm that it passes the power on self test (POST).
2. Set up the control node’s iLO configuration if desired. The control node will need to be
connected to a DHCP server supplied by the customer to complete the iLO setup.
3. If the cluster was shipped with an operating system installed, the server will boot to the
OS. Once it has been confirmed that the server boots properly you can continue to set up
the control node to your operating system and applications specifications. Refer to the
operating system and software vendor’s installation instructions for additional
information.
4. Visually check each NIC Link light on the server and the switches to which they connect
to verify that each cable has a link established.
5. If the server does not boot properly, you can try the following as part of the
troubleshooting process:
a. Look for error messages during POST.
HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide 17
b. Consult the Integrated Management Log (IMF).
c. Verify that the server BIOS settings are set up properly according to Table 1: Factory
System Settings in this document.
NOTE: During the installation process you may be required to assign each NIC a specific function
within the HPC cluster. Consult the cabling guide supplied with the cluster to see the intended function
of each NIC.
Step 8: Setting up the Compute Nodes
The compute nodes are not connected to a keyboard, monitor, or public LAN. Therefore, you
must use the Out Of Band (OOB) Management features of the LC Series solution to remotely
set up and manage each compute node.
If the OOB management switch(es) and the control node have been configured as previously
specified in this guide, you can use the control node and the cluster’s OOB management
connections as-is to verify and setup the compute nodes. On ProLiant DL360 server based
systems, use iLO and the factory preset username and passwords.
NOTE: If you desire to verify the compute node’s hardware before setting up the control node’s
operating system and DHCP functions, you will need to a) connect a separate keyboard, monitor and
mouse to the compute node under test, or b) configure the OOB switch(es) and connect another
computer such as a laptop or another server to the OOB switch for monitoring purposes. In this last
case, you may need to temporarily connect a DHCP server to the OOB management network for
server/switch setup and verification.
1. Power on each compute node and verify that it passes the power on self test (POST).
2. If the cluster was shipped with an operating system installed, then the server will boot to
the OS. Once it has been confirmed that the compute nodes boot properly you can
continue to set up the servers to your operating system and application specifications.
Refer to the operating system and software vendor’s installation instructions for
additional information.
3. Visually check each NIC Link light on the servers and the switches to which they connect
to verify that each cable has a link established.
4. If the server does not boot properly you can try the following as part of the
troubleshooting process:
a. Look for error messages during POST.
b. Consult the Integrated Management Log (IML) on iLO based systems.
c. Consult the IPMI log on IPMI based systems.
d. Verify that the servers’ BIOS settings are set up properly according to Table 1:
Factory System Settings in this document.
NOTE: During the installation process you may be required to assign each NIC a specific function
within the HPC cluster. Consult the cabling guide supplied with the cluster to see the intended function
of each NIC.
18 HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide
Step 9: Installing Storage System Options
LC Series clusters can support a wide variety of storage systems, which are not included in
the scope of this document. Refer to the installation instructions supplied with the storage
system for more information.
For More Information
To learn more about HP High Performance Clusters LC Series visit the following website:
http://www.hp.com/go/linuxclusters
To learn more about HP High Performance Computing visit the following websites:
http://www.hp.com/techservers
http://www.hp.com/techservers/clusters/
http://www.hp.com/techservers/resources/example_customers.html
http://www.hp.com/techservers/support/developers.html
HP High Performance Clusters LC Series Setup and Installation Guide 19
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