C H A P T E R  3

Powering On and Configuring the Server

This chapter tells you how to power on and configure the server to suit your application. It contains the sections:


Understanding the Status Indicators

Before you power on the server, you should become familiar with the LED indicators associated with the server itself and with various components. The server status indicators are located on the bezel and repeated on the back panel. For more information about the status indicators, refer to the Sun Fire V125 Server Administration Guide.


Powering On the Server

To power on the server, you can use either the On/Standby button, located behind the front bezel, or you can use the keyboard. Powering on from the keyboard enables you to see system output as the server powers on.


procedure icon  To Power On From the Keyboard

1. Connect the server to the power supply.

The server automatically goes into Standby power mode when it is connected to a power source.

2. Set up a connection to the SERIAL MGT port.

For details, refer to the Sun Fire V125 Server Administration Guide.

When you switch to the ALOM prompt after initial power on, you will be logged in as the admin user and prompted to set a password. You must set this password to execute certain commands.

3. If you are prompted to do so, set a password for the admin user.

The password must:

After the password is set, the admin user has full permissions and can execute all ALOM command-line interface (CLI) commands.

4. Turn on power to any peripherals and external storage devices you have connected to the server.

Read the documentation supplied with the device for specific instructions.

5. At the console prompt, type the following command to power on the server:


sc> poweron

6. At the console prompt, type the following to access the server:


sc> console


procedure icon To Power On Using the On/Standby Button



caution icon

Caution - Never move the system when the system power is on. Movement can cause catastrophic hard drive failure. Always power off the system before moving it.



1. Connect the server to the power supply.

The server automatically goes into Standby power mode when it is connected to a power source.

2. Turn on power to any peripherals and external storage devices you have connected to the server.

Read the documentation supplied with the device for specific instructions.

3. Open the front bezel.

4. Press the On/Standby button.

5. Close the front bezel.


Configuring the Server

The Sun Fire server ships with the Solaris 10 OS and the Java Enterprise System preinstalled on the hard drive. When you power on the server for the first time, a series of questions leads you through the configuration procedure. This procedure consists of a number of questions. The answers you give determine how the server is configured.

In OpenBoot PROM 4.22.17, diagnostics are enabled by default. This ensures complete diagnostic test coverage on the initial boot and after error or reset events. This change results in increased boot time. To change the diagnostic settings after the initial boot and after you configure the server for the first time, refer to OpenBoot PROM Enhancements for Diagnostic Operation.

Choose the configuration that best suits your requirements from the list below and follow the instructions in the appropriate section to power on and configure your server.


procedure icon  To Configure With the Server's Details Registered at a Name Server



Note - Follow the instructions in this section only if you have a name server installed on your network. For instructions on using a name server to automate the process of configuring the Solaris OS on multiple servers, refer to the Solaris Advanced Installation Guide that accompanies the Solaris OS CDs.



During booting you will be prompted for certain information. The information you provide determines the configuration of the server.

1. Specify the type of terminal with which you are communicating with the server.

2. Specify whether you need IPv6 enabled, and then follow the instructions on the screen.

3. Specify whether you want to enable the Kerberos Security mechanism, and then follow the instructions on the screen.

4. When prompted, give a password (if any) for users logging in as the superuser.


procedure icon  To Configure Without the Server's Details Registered at a Name Server

Follow the instructions in this section if you do not have a name server configured on your network.



Tip - Read these instructions through before you follow them, to see what information the system will prompt you for when you start it for the first time.



During booting you will be prompted for certain information. The information you provide determines the configuration of the server.

1. Specify the type of terminal you are using to communicate with the server.

2. When asked if you want the server to be networked, answer Yes.

You must manually specify an IP address when prompted.

3. Specify whether the IP address is to be configured by DHCP.

4. Specify which of the Ethernet ports you intend to use as the primary Ethernet connection.

5. Specify a host name for the server.

6. If prompted, specify the IP address for the system.

The system prompts you for this address if you declined to use DHCP in Step 3. It also asks you whether the server is to be part of a subnet, and if you answer Yes it prompts you to provide the netmask of the subnet.

7. Specify whether you need IPv6 enabled, and then follow the instructions on the screen.

8. Specify whether you want to enable the Kerberos Security mechanism, and then follow the instructions on the screen.

9. Specify the name service you want the server to use.

10. Specify the name of the domain of which the server will be a part.

11. Specify whether you want the system to search the network for a name server or whether you want it to use a particular name server.

12. If you chose to use a particular name server, specify the host name and IP address of the name server.

13. At the name server prompt, create entries in the network administration files for the system you are setting up.

14. At the prompt for the system you are setting up, follow the prompts to provide time and date information.

15. When prompted, give a password (if any) for users logging in as the superuser.


procedure icon  To Configure a Standalone Server for the First Time

1. Specify the type of terminal you are using to communicate with the server.

2. When prompted to indicate whether you want the server to be networked, specify No.

3. Specify a host name for the server.

4. Confirm the information you have given.

5. Specify the date and time information.

6. When prompted, give a password (if any) for users logging in as the superuser.

Clearing Your Configuration

If you want to start the power on process again, as if from a previously unused server, you must clear the configuration of the server.


procedure icon  To Clear the Configuration

1. At the Solaris OS prompt, type:


# sys-unconfig

2. When prompted to confirm that you want to create a "blank" server, type y.

3. When the OpenBoot PROM prompt appears, type:


ok> boot

4. Follow the instructions in one of the following sections:


Accessing the Sun Advanced Lights Out Manager Software

This section contains a brief introduction to the Sun Advanced Lights Out Manager (ALOM) software. For detailed ALOM instructions and configuration information, refer to the Sun Advanced Lights Out Manager (ALOM) 1.6 Administration Guide.

The ALOM software is preinstalled on the server and is ready to run as soon as power is applied to the server. However, you need to perform some basic configuration steps to customize the ALOM software to suit your application.


procedure icon  To Display the ALOM Prompt

1. Type the default keystroke sequence:


# #.



Note - When you switch to the ALOM prompt after initial power on, you will be logged in as the admin user and prompted to set a password. You must set this password in order to execute certain commands.



2. If you are prompted to do so, set a password for the admin user.

The password must:

After you set the password, the admin user has full permissions and can execute all ALOM CLI commands.


procedure icon  To Display the Console Prompt

single-step bulletType:


sc> console

More than one ALOM user can be connected to the server console stream at a time, but only one user is permitted to type input characters to the console.

If another user is logged on and has write capability, you will see the message below after issuing the console command:


sc> Console session already in use. [view mode]