Using the Configuration Options Menu to Create a Bootable Logical Drive (x86)

This section describes how to use the Configuration Options menu in the BIOS Setup utility to create a logical drive on an x86 system. You can then define the logical drive as bootable, and install an operating system onto that logical drive.

In order to create a logical drive through the Configuration Options menu, the HBA must have firmware version 2.120.203-1440 from firmware package 12.12.0-0079, at minimum, installed. Before performing the steps in this section, verify the firmware level on the HBA and perform any firware updates, as necessary. For information about updating firmware, see HBA Software Installation.

Perform the following procedures, in the order listed below, to create a logical drive on an x86 system:

• To Verify the Drives and Their Slots (x86)

• To Create a Logical Drive (x86)

• To Confirm the Logical Drive Creation (x86)

To Verify the Drives and Their Slots (x86)

This procedure helps you identify drives to be used in a logical drive configuration.

1. From the Integrated Lights Out Manager (ILOM) software or Video Graphics Array (VGA) video port, access the system console.
2. Initiate a system boot.

   During the boot process, the BIOS initialization banner lists information about the discovered SAS adapters and devices that are attached to the discovered HBAs in the system.

3. Press F2 during the boot process, when prompted, to launch the BIOS Setup utility, and then use the right arrow key to navigate to Configuration Options menu.
4. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the Enclosure Managment menu option and press Enter.

   Figure 3-1  Enclosure Management Menu Option

   
   
5. On the properties page that is displayed, use the arrow keys to navigate to the Attached Drives field, and press Enter.

   The Attached Drives popup window is displayed. In the following example, there are 4 drives in Slots 4, 5, 6, and 7. Slots 6 and 7 are not currently used (indicated by the Unconfigured Good text).

   Figure 3-2  Attached Drives Popup Window

   
   
6. Review the attached drives and note their respective slots for future reference.

   You can use these drives to be part of your logical drive configuration. See To Create a Logical Drive (x86).

To Create a Logical Drive (x86)

After you have verified which drives are available for logical drive configuration, as described in To Verify the Drives and Their Slots (x86), you can use those drives to create a logical drive. In the following procedure, drives 6 and 7 from (3:00:06, 3:00:07) are being used to create a RAID 1 volume.

Before You Begin

The HBA must have firmware version 2.120.203-1440 from firmware package 12.12.0-0079, at minimum, installed.

1. From the Attached Drives pop-up window (Attached Drives Popup Window ), use the Esc key to return to the Configuration Options page, navigate to the Virtual Drive Management menu option, and press Enter.

   Figure 3-3  Selecting the Virtual Drive Management Menu Option

   
   
2. From the menu options that are displayed, use the arrow keys to navigate to the Create Configuration menu option and press Enter.

   Figure 3-4  Selecting the Create Configuration Menu Option

   
   
3. From the page that is displayed, navigate to the Select RAID Level field and choose RAID1, and then navigate to the Select Drives field and press Enter.

   In the following example, note that the RAID 1 level is selected. You might want to create a different level of RAID volume, based on your requirements.

   Figure 3-5  Selecting the RAID 1 Level and Selecting Drives

   
   
4. For each drive that you want in the RAID volume configuration, do the following:
   1. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the drive.
   2. Use the arrow key to navigate to the Enabled or Disabled field associated with the drive.
   3. Use the plus (+) or minus (-) key to change the value of the field to Enabled and press Enter.

      The drive is now listed as Enabled. In the following example, drives 6 and 7 are enabled.

      Figure 3-6  Enabling the Drives for RAID Volume 1 Configuration

      
      
5. After you have enabled all the drives that you want to be part of the logical drive, use the arrow keys to navigate to the Apply Changes field on the same page, and press Enter.

   The logical drive is now created with the drives that you enabled, and the Confirmation page is displayed.

6. Complete the steps in To Confirm the Logical Drive Creation (x86).

To Confirm the Logical Drive Creation (x86)

Before You Begin

Before performing this procedure, verify the drives and their slots (To Verify the Drives and Their Slots (x86)) and create a logical drive (To Create a Logical Drive (x86)).

1. After enabling the drives that you want in your logical drive configuration (), confirm the configuration by using the arrow keys to navigate to the OK field on the Conifrmation page, and by then pressing Enter.

   Figure 3-7  Selecting OK on the Confirmation Page

   
   
2. Optionally specify a drive name and make any other changes, and then navigate to the Save Configuration field and press Enter.

   Figure 3-8  Selecting Save Configuration.

   
   

   A page is displayed that asks if you would like to continue with the virtual drive creation.

3. Confirm the drive creation by doing the following:
   1. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the Confirm field.
   2. Change the value of the Confirm field to Enabled and press Enter.

      Yes and No fields are displayed.

   3. Use the arrow key to navigate to the Yes field and press Enter.

      This completes the logical drive creation process.

      Figure 3-9  Confirming the Logical Drive Creation

      
      
4. To verify that the logical drive (virtual drive) was created, use the arrow keys to navigate to the Virtual Drive Group Properties menu option (Selecting the Create Configuration Menu Option), press Enter, and review the logical drive information on the page that is displayed.

   Figure 3-10  Viewing the Newly Created RAID Volume

   
   
5. Exit the Setup utility and reboot into the Oracle System Assistant utility to install an OS on that logical drive or to manipulate the boot drive.