NEC Express5800-120Rj-2 User's Guide

Chapter 6

Installing and Using Utilities

This section describes how to use the NEC EXPRESSBUILDER DVD that comes with your server
and to install the utilities stored on the NEC EXPRESSBUILDER.

6-2 Installing and Using Utilities

NEC EXPRESSBUILDER

The NEC EXPRESSBUILDER (referred to as "EXPRESSBUILDER" hereinafter) helps you install
the Operating system/the Management software or use the maintenance utilities.

When you insert the EXPRESSBUILDER disk into the DVD drive and reboot the system, the
following menu appears.

 OS installation

If you select this item, the Top menu appears.

Installing and Using Utilities 6-3

IMPORTANT:

 This tool is Configuration Tool that built on Windows PE 2.0

technology.
Pay attention to the automatic reboot that occurs after 72 hours
from start.

 The configuration with Windows PE 2.0 supports Windows Server

2003 (32bit) and Windows Vista Business (32-bit (x86)), but the
other operation is not supported.

You can use the Express Setup (see Chapter 5) or the following functions from this menu.

– Create the OEM-Disk

You can create the Windows OEM-Disk to use at the Windows manual setup.

– Load the driver

This function is not usually used. If you add the new device to the server, this function
may use. (See Chapter 5.)

6-4 Installing and Using Utilities

 Maintenance Tools (Normal Mode)

If you select this item, the Tool menu appears.

You can use the below functions for maintenance.

– Maintenance Utility

The Maintenance Utility is usually used by the service representative. (See Chapter 7.)

– BIOS/FW Updating

You can update the system BIOS by using the floppy disk (prepare a 3.5" floppy disk).

– ROM-DOS Startup FD

The ROM-DOS Startup FD is used for starting the ROM-DOS system.

– Test and diagnostics

This function allows you to diagnose this computer. (See Chapter 7.)

Installing and Using Utilities 6-5

 Maintenance Tools (Redirection Mode)

If you want to operate this computer via the BIOS redirection (the console-less function),
select this item.

NOTE: If you operate this computer via the Remote KVM function,
select the "Maintenance Tools (Normal mode)".

The menu's functions are the same as the "Maintenance Tools (Normal Mode)".

6-6 Installing and Using Utilities

Autorun Menu

When the EXPRESSBUILDER disk is inserted into the DVD drive, Windows automatically
launches the menu as shown below.

This menu is used to,

 Read the User's Guide or the other documents,

 Update the server system (Windows drivers), and

 Install the management software.

NOTES:

 This menu requires Microsoft Windows XP, Vista or Windows

Server 2003 (or later).

 Some documents are provided in PDF format. Use the Adobe

Reader to view or print these documents.

If the menu does not appear, select "My computer" by using the Explorer, and double-click the icon
of the DVD drive that contains the EXPRESSBUILDER DVD.

Some menu items are grayed-out when the logon user does not have the authority of the
administrator or the menu item is not available for your system.

To use the menu,

 Click on the menu items, or

 Click the right mouse button on the menu window.

Installing and Using Utilities 6-7

PARAMETER FILE CREATOR

"Parameter File Creator" is a tool to create [Parameter file] that is used for configuring the server
with the Express Setup (see Chapter 5 for details).

If you use the Parameter file created by the Express Setup and Parameter File Creator to operate the
setup, you can setup from the installation of OS to several utilities automatically except for a few
key input to confirm the specification. Also, you can install the system with the same specification
as before when re-installing the system. We recommend you to create [Parameter file] to setup the
servers from NEC EXPRESSBUILDER.

When using a floppy disk, a USB floppy disk drive is required.

IMPORTANT: You can not create [Parameter file] for Microsoft
Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions.

NOTE: You can install Windows Server 2003 without [Parameter file].
Also, you can modify/newly create [Parameter file] during the setup
with NEC EXPRESSBUILDER.

6-8 Installing and Using Utilities

Parameter File

This section describes about specifying setup information that is necessary for OS installation and
creating [Parameter file].

Follow the procedure below.

IMPORTANT: Do not remove NEC EXPRESSBUILDER DVD from
drive during a parameter file creation.

1. Start the OS.

2. Insert the NEC EXPRESSBUILDER DVD into the optical disk drive.

The menu will appear.

3. Right-click on the screen or left-click [Setup Windows]. The menu will appear.

4. Click [Parameter File Creator].

Parameter File Creator will appear.

Installing and Using Utilities 6-9

6-10 Installing and Using Utilities

5. [Load Parameters] step is displayed.

Select [Do not load parameters] from the menu, click [Next].

6. Select the installing Operating System.

Select [Install the Windows (32bit editions)] from the menu, click [Next].

Installing and Using Utilities 6-11

7. Enter the setting of a logical drive.

[Enter RAID setting] steps are displayed. Confirm the parameters, modify if necessary,
and then click [Next].

IMPORTANT: At "The number of the total physical devices",
Parameter File Creator displays upper limit that the RAID controller
can support.
The total of "The number of physical devices used to create the logical
drive" and "The number of the physical devices specified as the hot
spare" must not exceed "The number of the total physical devices"
which connected to the target system.

NOTE: You can use only the physical devices that have same model
number to configure logical drive.

6-12 Installing and Using Utilities

8. Specify the installing medium and the Windows system partition.

[Specify medium / Partition] steps are displayed. Confirm the parameters, modify if
necessary, and then click [Next].

IMPORTANT:

 About partition size

– Specify the partition size larger than required minimum size for

OS installation.

– Do not specify larger partition size than the capacity of

connected hard disk drive.

– You can not specify the partition size larger than 2,097,152MB

(2TB) at RAID system.

 If you select "Create a new partition" at "Windows system drive

settings", the contents of the hard disk will be all deleted.

 If "Use existing partitions" is selected, EXPRESSBUILDER

installs the Operating System to the 1st partition (1st partition is
deleted). The data in the other partition is kept if the system has
two or more partitions. (See the figure below.)

First

Partition

Deleted

 You can not re-install the system with the existing partition that is

Second

Partition

Retained

Third

Partition

Retained

upgraded to Dynamic Disk remained. Do not select "Use existing
partitions" at "Windows system drive settings".

Installing and Using Utilities 6-13

9. Enter the user information and client license mode. [Enter basic parameters] steps are

displayed. Confirm the parameters, modify if necessary, and then click [Next].

IMPORTANT: Computer name and User name are required
parameters.

NOTE: Even if you do not input value into "Administrator password",
"Confirm password", "zzzzzz" is displayed.

6-14 Installing and Using Utilities

10. Enter the setting of the network protocol.

[Enter network protocol] steps are displayed. Confirm the parameters, modify if necessary,
and then click [Next].

NOTE: The order of entry in custom setting may differ from the
numbering of LAN port.

11. Enter the domain or workgroup name to be used.

[Enter domain account] steps are displayed. Confirm the parameters, modify if necessary,
and then click [Next].

Installing and Using Utilities 6-15

12. Select the installing components.

[Select Windows components] steps are displayed. Confirm the parameters, modify if
necessary, and then click [Next]

13. Select the installing applications.

[Select applications] steps are displayed. Confirm the parameters, modify if necessary, and
then click [Next].

6-16 Installing and Using Utilities

14. Save the parameters.

[Save parameters] steps are displayed.

If you want to save the parameters, set the free formatted floppy disk.

Select [Save parameters], enter the file path of the parameters files into the text box and
click [Next].

If not, select [Do not save parameters].

15. Saved to a floppy disk.

Installing and Using Utilities 6-17

Now [the floppy disk containing the parameters file] has been created.

Click [Yes] to exit Parameter File Creator.

NOTES:

 If you modify existing information file (parameter file), click

"Load Parameters" at [Load Parameters] screen. Refer to help to
modify information file.



If you cancel operation on the way, click at the upper-right
corner of the screen.

6-18 Installing and Using Utilities

NEC ESMPRO

The NEC ESMPRO lets a system administrator manage remote servers across a network. NEC
ESMPRO monitors server hardware and software configurations, failures, and performance. With
log data collected by NEC ESMPRO, a system administrator can track long-term and short-term
performance, monitor server usage, create graphs to record trends, and check server failure rates.
The administrator can use the information collected to create more efficient data routing procedures
and optimize server usage.

Functions and Features

NEC ESMPRO offers many functions and features for managing remote servers across a network.
These features help the system administrator perform daily system operation, system extension, and
transfer tasks. Some features of NEC ESMPRO Manager include:

 Hardware and software server configuration

– Hardware resources mounted in servers, such as the CPU, memory, disks, RAID

System, and LAN boards.

– Software resources, such as operating system information and drivers running on each

server.

 Server failures

– On-screen real-time displays provide the system administrator with the failure type,

location, cause, and suggested corrective action.

– Failure data includes hardware failure information such as system board temperature,

memory failure, crashes, and software failure information.

 Performance

– NEC ESMPRO monitors server performance and displays server usage on the screen

and displays information, such as the rate of CPU load, memory usage, disk usage, and
LAN traffic. Usage threshold values can help the system administrator monitor and
prevent server overloads.

For installation procedure and detailed explanations on NEC ESMPRO, refer to the online
document in the NEC EXPRESSBUILDER DVD.

Installing and Using Utilities 6-19

NEC DianaScope

NEC DianaScope is software for the remote management of the server.

See the online documents for details on the functions and installation of NEC DianaScope.

NOTE: You need the server license to activate DianaScope for this
product. The server license below is attached to this product.

 DianaScope Additional Server License (1)

6-20 Installing and Using Utilities

Universal RAID Utility

Universal RAID Utility is an application to manage or monitor the following RAID Controllers.

 Internal RAID Controller (equivalent to N8103-116)

 N8103-90 Disk Array Controller (External SAS HDD)

Before attempting to operate Universal RAID Utility, read the "Universal RAID Utility User's
Guide" included in NEC EXPRESSBUILDER DVD. The manual explains the installation
procedure and notes on operating Universal RAID Utility.

Setup with Express Setup

You can install Universal RAID Utility with Express Setup contained in NEC EXPRESSBUILDER
DVD. When you start the Express Setup, a dialog to specify an application appears. Select
[Universal RAID Utility] on the dialog.

Installing and Using Utilities 6-21

Manual Setup

Windows

You can start the setup program of Universal RAID Utility from [Autorun Menu].

Click to [Setup Software] → [Universal RAID Utility] in [Autorun Menu].

You need to install the following software.

 Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0

 The Runtime component of the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1

You can install these software from [Autorun Menu] too.

Click [Setup Windows] → [Install the .NET Framework Ver 2.0 Redistributable Package (x86)] (If
CPU architecture is x64, [Install the .NET Framework Ver2.0 Redistributable Package (x64)]) in
[Autorun Menu] for the setup of Microsoft.NET Framework 2.0.

Click [Setup Windows] → [Install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package
(x86)] (Use the x86 package whatever the CPU architecture may be.) for the setup of the Runtime
component of the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1.

Linux

You need to run the setup.sh in the install image of Universal RAID Utility

There is the install image of Universal RAID Utility in the following directory of
EXPRESSBUILDER.

/BBB/lnx/pp/uraidutl

The part of BBB is BBB of the medium number (5.AA-BBB.CC) of EXPRESSBUILDER

6-22 Installing and Using Utilities

Using Universal RAID Utility via Network

Universal RAID Utility doesn't have the function of management to computer installed RAID
Controller via network. If you want to manage it via network, please use the function of remote
console (ex. Remote Desktop of Windows).

Creating Logical Drive of RAID 6

You must use four or larger Physical Devices for creating the Logical Drive of RAID 6 by Universal
RAID Utility. If you want to create the Logical Drive from three Physical Devices, you need to use
WebBIOS.

Chapter 7

Maintenance

This chapter describes the daily maintenance of the server and precautions when relocating or
storing the server.

MAKING BACKUP COPIES

NEC recommends you make backup copies of your valuable data stored in hard disk drives of the
server on a regular basis. For backup storage devices suitable for the server and backup tools,
consult with your service representative.

When you have changed the hardware configuration or BIOS configuration, select "System
Information Management" and then "Save" of the Off-line Maintenance Utility to make a backup
copy of the system information.

Also make a backup copy of the RAID System configuration data if your system is in the RAID
System configuration. When your hard disk drives have been auto-rebuilt due to a failure, it is
recommended to make a backup copy of the configuration data. To make a backup copy of the
configuration data, use the configuration utility that is resident in the FLASH memory on the
optional RAID Controller. Refer to the manual supplied with the board.

7-2 Maintenance

CLEANING

Clean the server on a regular basis to keep the server in a good shape.

WARNING

Observe the following instructions to use the server safely. Failure to follow
these instructions may result in death or serious personal injury. See pages 1­3 to 1-8 for details.

 Do not disassemble, repair, or alter the server.
 Do not remove the lithium battery.
 Disconnect the power plug before working with the server.

CAUTION

Observe the following instructions to use the server safely. Failure to follow
these instructions may cause a fire, personal injury, or property damage. See
pages 1-3 to 1-8 for details.

 Avoid installation in extreme temperature conditions.
 Make sure to complete board installation.

Maintenance 7-3

Cleaning the Server

For daily cleaning, wipe the external surfaces of the server with a dry soft cloth. Follow the
procedure below if stains remain on the surfaces:

IMPORTANT:

 To avoid altering the material and color of the server, do not use

volatile solvents such as thinner and benzene to clean the server.

 The power receptacle, the cables, the connectors on the rear panel of

server, and the inside of the server must be kept dry. Do not moisten
them with water.

1. Make sure that the server is off-powered (the POWER/SLEEP LED goes off).

2. Unplug the power cord of the server from a power outlet.

3. Wipe off dust from the power cord plug with a dry cloth.

4. Soak a soft cloth in neutral detergent that is diluted with cold or lukewarm water, and

squeeze it firmly.

5. Rub off stains on the server with the cloth prepared in Step 4.

6. Soak a soft cloth in water, squeeze it firmly, wipe the server with it once again.

7. Wipe the server with a dry cloth.

8. Wipe off dust from the fan exhaust opening on the rear of the server with a dry cloth.

7-4 Maintenance

Cleaning the Interior

One of the most important items in a good maintenance program is regular and thorough cleaning of
the interior of the server, especially around the mother board.

Dust buildup inside the server can lead to several problems. As dust acts as a thermal insulator, a
buildup can prevent proper system cooling. Excessive heat will shorten the life of server
components. Also, dust may contain conductive or corrosive materials that can cause short circuits
or corrosion of electrical contacts.

How often you should clean the interior of the server depends on the environment in which it is
located. For most office environments, you probably should clean the server every 12 months. For
more severe environments, clean the interior every 6 months.

Cleaning the interior of the server entails powering off the server and removing the left side cover.
You will need a small vacuum cleaner (with plastic tipped nozzle and electrostatic protection),
computer grade canned air, and a small brush for cleaning the interior.

Follow the procedure below to clean the interior of the server.

WARNING

Unplug all power cords.

Unplug all power cords before performing any maintenance. Voltage is present
inside the server and display unit even after the power is turned off. All voltage is
removed only when the power cord is unplugged.

1. Turn off the server and unplug all power cables.

2. Remove the logic cover and drive cover. (See Chapter 9.)

3. Use a small brush to loosen any dust and debris on the mother board.

4. Use computer grade canned air to blow dust off components on the mother board.

5. Use a small vacuum cleaner with plastic tip to vacuum out dust and debris from the

interior of the server.

6. Reinstall the covers. (See Chapter 9.)

7. Reconnect all power cables and turn on the server.

Maintenance 7-5

Cleaning the Keyboard/Mouse

Make sure that the server and peripheral devices are all off-powered (the POWER/SLEEP LED
goes off), and then wipe the keyboard surface with a dry cloth.

The mouse operation depends on the degree of smoothness of the internal ball rotation. To keep the
mouse ball clean, use the mouse in a place with little dust. Follow the steps below to clean the
mouse regularly:

1. Prepare cold or lukewarm water, neutral detergent, alcohol, two dry soft clothes, and

cotton swabs.

2. Make sure that the server is off-powered (the POWER/SLEEP LED goes off).

3. Turn the mouse upside down, and rotate the mouse ball cover counterclockwise to remove

it.

4. Take out the ball from the mouse. Cover the bottom of the mouse with your hand, and turn

your hand holding the mouse (the mouse is on your palm with the button upward). The
mouse ball is released onto your palm.

Mouse ball

Mouse ball cover

Bottom View

Roller

5. Soak a soft cloth in neutral detergent that is diluted with cold or lukewarm water, and

squeeze it firmly.

6. Rub off stains on the mouse ball. Softly wipe the mouse ball with the cloth prepared in

Step 5.

7. Wipe the mouse ball with a dry soft cloth.

8. Wipe three small rollers inside the mouse with a cotton swab soaked with alcohol. Wipe

stains slowly and carefully by rotating rollers with the tip of the cotton swab.

9. Blow out any dust from the mouse. Protect your eyes from the dust.

10. Put the mouse ball back into the mouse.

11. Place the mouse ball cover, and rotate it clockwise until it is locked.

7-6 Maintenance

Cleaning Disc

A dusty disc or dust-accumulated tray causes the device to fail to read data correctly.

Follow the procedure below to clean the tray and disc regularly:

1. Make sure that the server is powered (the POWER/SLEEP LED is lit).

2. Press the CD tray Open/Close button on the front of the optical disk drive.

The tray opens.

3. Hold the disc lightly and take it out from the tray.

NOTE: Do not touch the signal side of the disc with your hand.

4. Wipe the tray with a dry soft cloth.

IMPORTANT: Do not wipe the lens of the optical disk drive. Doing

so may damage the lens and may cause a malfunction of the drive.

5. Push on the tray front to close the tray.

6. Wipe the signal side of the disc with a dry soft cloth.

IMPORTANT: Wipe disc from the center to the outside. Use only disc

cleaner if necessary. Cleaning a disc with record spray/cleaner, benzene,
or thinner causes damage to the disc contents. At worst, inserting the
disc into the server may cause failure.

Maintenance 7-7

SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS

The System Diagnostics runs several tests on the server.

Select [Maintenance Tools] - [Test and diagnostics] in the NEC EXPRESSBUILDER to diagnose
the system.

Test Items

The following items are tested in system diagnostics.

 Memory

 CPU cache memory

 Hard disk drive used as a system

IMPORTANT: When executing the system diagnostics, make sure to

disconnect the LAN cable. Executing the system diagnostics with the
LAN cable connected, the network may be influenced.

NOTE: On checking the hard disk drive, no data is written into the

disk.

7-8 Maintenance

Startup and Exit of System Diagnostics

There are two ways to diagnose the server: to use the local console (keyboard) of the server itself,
and to use the management PC via serial port (remote console).

IMPORTANT: Two methods of LAN and the serial port are mentioned
in "MAINTENANCE TOOLS" of Chapter 8 "Troubleshooting" in the
way of communicating in remote console.
Use the serial port to execute System Diagnostics with remote console.
The LAN connection is not for System Diagnostics.

Procedures to start the diagnostics program are as follows:

1. Shutdown the OS, and power off the server. Then, unplug the power cord.

2. Disconnect all the LAN cables from the server.

3. Plug the power cord and power on the server.

4. Use the NEC EXPRESSBUILDER DVD to start the system.

5. Select [Maintenance Tools (Normal mode)] when local console of the server is used for, or

select [Maintenance Tools (Redirection mode)] when remote console is used for.

NOTE: If the system displays the [Language selection] menu, select

[English].

The following menu is displayed on the screen.

Local console Remote console