To Boot an x86 Server From an External Disk Drive

After you have created or imported a logical drive, assuming your system BIOS is set to boot in legacy mode, you can use the drive to boot through the HBA. Only one logical drive can be set as the boot drive for this HBA at any time.

This section describes how to boot through the HBA using the WebBIOS utility on an x86 system.

1. Initiate a system boot.

   A message is displayed that gives you the option to press CTRL+H to access the WebBIOS configuration utility.

2. Press CTRL+H to access the WebBIOS utility.

   The Adapter Selection screen is displayed.

   Figure 3-11  Adapter Selection Screen

   
   
3. Use the Tab key to navigate to the adapter that you want, and press Enter.
4. Use the Tab key to navigate to the Start button, and press Enter.

   The MegaRAID BIOS Config Utility Virtual Configuration screen is displayed.

   Figure 3-12  MegaRAID BIOS Config Utility Virtual Configuration Screen

   
   
5. In the navigational menu on the left, use the Tab key to navigate to the Virtual Drives menu option, and press Enter.

   The MegaRAID BIOS Config Utility Virtual Drives screen is displayed.

   Figure 3-13  MegaRAID BIOS Config Utility Virtual Drives Screen

   
   
6. Use the Tab key to move to the list of drives and use the arrow keys to select the drive that you want to set as the boot drive.
7. With the drive highlighted in blue, use the Tab key to navigate to the Set Boot Drive (current=number) field, and press Enter to select the radio button next to the field.

   Figure 3-14  Designating a Virtual Drive to Be the Boot Drive for the HBA

   
   
8. Use the Tab key to navigate to the Go button, and press Enter.

   The selected drive is now the boot drive for the HBA.

9. Exit the utility by using the Back button to return to the main menu, navigating to the Exit menu option, and pressing Enter.
10. Reboot the system and then validate the label of the logical drive, as described in Validating the Label of the HBA Logical Drive.