To Validate Installation by Creating and Activating a Farm

Before You Begin

• The N1 Provisioning Server software must be installed successfully. Chapter 4, Installing Provisioning Server Software.

• A PC running Internet Explorer 6.0 or later must be connected and configured to the network. See Table 2–3.

Steps

1. Log in to the Control Center Management PC as administrator and start Internet Explorer.

2. Type the URL of the N1 Provisioning Server in the address field of the Internet Explorer browser.

   The URL is the location where the Control Center software is installed, for example http://machine_name.domain_name where machine_name is the name of the control plane server, and domain_nameis the corporate domain name.

   The Control Center login page is displayed.

3. Click on Login Page.

   The login screen is displayed.

4. Type demo for the username and for the password.

   The first time that you log in as an administrator, the default username is demo with password demo for the user account. You should change this information immediately after you log in for the first time. An administrator account has also been provided. The username for this account is root with password root. For further information, See Managing Accounts in N1 Provisioning Server 3.1, Blades Edition, Control Center Management Guide.

5. Click Log In to access the Control Center Administration Screen.

   The Administration Welcome screen is displayed.

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   Caution –

   The Internet Explorer navigation controls are intentionally disabled by the Control Center. Do not navigate by using the keyboard shortcuts such as control-K and F5. Using Internet Explorer navigation controls within the Control Center causes unpredictable behavior.

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   The first time that you log in, the Administration screen shows that an initial account has already been created for you. The name of this account is demo. This account is already highlighted under Accounts in the upper left corner of the screen. This initial account enables you to quickly validate the N1 Provisioning Server installation.

6. From the Editor menu, choose Edit new farm.

   The Editor screen is displayed with the Create New Design dialog displayed.

7. In the Name field, type a name for your farm.

8. In the I-Fabric field, choose Initial I-Fabric.

9. Click Import Options and type a file name to import.

   See Importing and Exporting Farms in N1 Provisioning Server 3.1, Blades Edition, Control Center Management Guide for further information.

10. Click OK to close the Create New Design dialog box.

    The Editor screen appears.

11. From the Elements box on the left, drag and drop the External Subnet element icon (displayed as a subnet with a cloud) to the Editor work area.

12. From the Elements box on the left, drag and drop the Server Group element icon (third element down on the left column) to the Editor work area to a position about two inches below the External Subnet element.

13. Click a connection point (port) on the External Subnet element. Do not hold the mouse button 3 down.

14. Move the cursor to the Server Group element.

    A connection line is displayed in red.

15. Click the Server Group element Eth0 interface node.

    Your Control Center screen should look similar to the following screen.

    Figure 6–1 Initial Create I-Fabric Screen

    
    

16. Double-click the Server Group element.

    The Configure Server window on the screen is displayed.

    Figure 6–2 Configure Server Window

    
    

17. Click Select an Image.

    The Select Disk Image dialog is displayed. The name of the Disk Image is already highlighted.

18. Click OK to select this disk image.

    The Configure Server window is displayed with the name of the Disk Image displayed in the Image field.

19. Click OK to select the Disk Image.

20. In the upper left of the Editor screen, click the Submit button.

    The Farm Activation dialog box is displayed.

    Figure 6–3 Control Center Farm Activation Dialog Box

    
    

21. Click the Submit button.

    The Control Center Main screen is displayed.

    Figure 6–4 Control Center Main Screen

    
    

22. Click the Admin link at the upper right of the screen.

    The Administration screen is displayed.

23. Under Farm Management Tools on the left of the Administration screen, click the Pending Requests button

    Figure 6–5 Select Pending Requests Button

    
    

    The Pending Request screen displays.

    Figure 6–6 Pending Request Screen

    
    

24. Click Unblock Request to initiate farm activation.

    A confirmation dialog box is displayed.

25. Click OK.

26. Under Farm Management Tools on the left of the Administration screen, click the Farm Requests button.

    The Farm Requests screen is displayed.

    Figure 6–7 Farm Requests Screen

    
    

27. Monitor the message panel in the lower right corner.

    It might take up to an hour before you see the status field show Completed as illustrated in the following figure.

    Figure 6–8 Farm Request Completed Screen

    
    

    • If no failed messages appear in the message panel, the successful activation of this simple farm validates the N1 Provisioning Server Installation. You can now create your server blade farms. Follow the instructions in Chapter 4, Building, Updating, and Monitoring Server Farms in N1 Provisioning Server 3.1, Blades Edition, Control Center Management Guide.

    • If you see failed messages in the message panel, you need to correct the problem and resubmit the farm by returning to step 14. See Chapter 6, Troubleshooting in N1 Provisioning Server 3.1, Blades Edition, Control Center Management Guide for information on troubleshooting problems.

See Also

How To Import a Farm in N1 Provisioning Server 3.1, Blades Edition, Control Center Management Guide

How To Design a New Farm in N1 Provisioning Server 3.1, Blades Edition, Control Center Management Guide

How To Download Sample Farms in N1 Provisioning Server 3.1, Blades Edition, Control Center Management Guide