Managing Host Boot Mode

Use the boot mode properties to specify how ILOM handles boot.

Boot Mode

Boot mode (bootmode) properties enable you to override the default method the server uses when it boots. This ability is useful to override particular OpenBoot or LDoms settings that might be incorrect, to set up OpenBoot variables using a script, or similar tasks.

For example, if the OpenBoot settings have become corrupt, you can set the bootmode state property to reset_nvram then reset the server to its factory default OpenBoot settings.

Service personnel might instruct you to use the bootmode script property for problem resolution. The full extent of script capabilities are not documented and exist primarily for debugging.

Because bootmode is intended to be used to correct a problem with the OpenBoot or LDoms settings, the bootmode takes effect for a single boot only. Additionally, to prevent an administrator from setting a bootmode state property and forgetting about it, a bootmode state property expires if the host is not reset within 10 minutes of the bootmode state property being set.

Manage the Host Boot Mode LDoms Configuration (CLI)

Type:
-> set /HOST/bootmode config=configname
where the config property takes a configname value such as a named logical domain configuration downloaded to the SP using the Logical Domains software.

For example, if you have created a logical domain configuration called ldm-set1:
-> set bootmode config=ldm-set1
To return the boot mode config to the factory default configuration, specify factory-default.

For example:
-> set bootmode config=factory-default
Note - If you set /HOST/bootmode config="", ILOM sets the config to empty.

Change the Host Boot Mode Behavior at Reset (CLI)

The /HOST/bootmode state property controls how OpenBoot NVRAM variables are used. Normally the current settings of these variables are retained. Setting /HOST/bootmode state=reset_nvram changes the OpenBoot NVRAM variables to their default settings at the next reset.

Type:

-> set /HOST/bootmode script=value

where value is one of the following:

normal – At next reset, retains current NVRAM variable settings.
reset_nvram – At next reset, returns OpenBoot variables to default settings.

Note - state=reset_nvram returns to normal after the next server reset or 10 minutes (see expires property in Display Host’s Boot Mode Expiration Date (CLI)). config and script properties do not expire and will be cleared upon the next server reset or manually by setting value to "".

Manage the Host Boot Mode Script (CLI)

Type:
-> set /HOST/bootmode script=value
where script controls the host server OpenBoot PROM firmware method of booting. script does not affect the current /HOST/bootmode setting. value can be up to 64 bytes in length. You can specify a /HOST/bootmode setting and set the script within the same command.

For example:
-> set /HOST/bootmode state=reset_nvram script="setenv diag-switch? true"
After the server resets and OpenBoot PROM reads the values stored in the script, the OpenBoot PROM sets the OpenBoot PROM variable diag-switch? to the user-requested value of true.

Note - If you set /HOST/bootmode script="", ILOM sets the script to empty.

Display Host’s Boot Mode Expiration Date (CLI)

Type:

-> show /HOST/bootmode expires
     Properties:
        expires = Thu Oct 16 18:24:16 2008

where expires is the date and time when the current boot mode will expire.

View or Configure Boot Mode Settings (Web Interface)

You can use the ILOM browser interface to view or configure the four aspects of boot mode control:

State
Expiration Date
Script
LDom Configuration

Select Remote Control -> Boot Mode Settings.

Select the Boot Mode State, if desired.

View the Expiration Date.

Specify a boot script, if desired.

Specify an LDoms configuration file, if desired.

Click Save.

Viewing and Configuring Host Control Information

Use the host information properties to view system configuration and firmware version information.

Display the Host’s MAC Address (CLI)

The /HOST macaddress property is automatically configured by the system software, so you cannot set or change the property. The value is read and determined from the server’s removable system configuration card (SCC PROM) and then stored as a property in ILOM.

/HOST macaddress is the MAC address for the net0 port. The MAC addresses for each additional port increments from the /HOST macaddress. For example, net1 is equal to the value of /HOST macaddress plus one (1).

Type:
-> show /HOST macaddress

Display the Host’s OpenBoot Version (CLI)

The /HOST macaddress property displays information about the version of OpenBoot on the host.

Type:
-> show /HOST macaddress

Display the Host’s POST Version (CLI)

The /HOST post_version property displays information about the version of POST on the host.

Type:
-> show /HOST post_version

Specify Host Behavior After the Host Resets (CLI)

Use the /HOST autorunonerror property to specify whether the host should continue to boot after system diagnostics have discovered an error.

Type:
-> set /HOST autorunonerror=value
where value can be:
- false – The system stops booting after an error has been discovered (the default).
- true – The system attempts to continue booting after an error has been discovered.

Specify Host Behavior When the Host Stops Running (CLI)

Use the /HOST autorestart property to specify what ILOM should do when the host leaves the RUNNING state (when the watchdog timer expires).

Type:
-> set /HOST autorestart=value
where value can be:
- none – ILOM takes no action other than to issue a warning.
- reset – ILOM attempts to reset the system when the Solaris watchdog timer expires (the default).
- dumpcore – ILOM attempts to force a core dump of the OS when the watchdog timer expires.

Managing Automatic Restart

Your server supports automatic restart.

Set the Boot Timeout Interval

Set the time delay between a request to boot the host and booting the host:
-> set /HOST boottimeout=seconds
The default value of boottimeout is 0 (zero seconds).

Specify System Behavior at Boot Timeout

Specify system behavior at the completion of boottimeout:
-> set /HOST bootrestart=value
where value can be:
- none (the default)
- reset

Specify System Behavior if Restart Fails

Type:
-> set /HOST bootfailrecovery=value
where value can be:
- powercycle
- poweroff (the default)
This action takes effect if the host fails to reach the the Solaris running state.

Specify Maximum Restart Attempts

Type:
-> set /HOST maxbootfail=attempts
The default value of maxbootfail is 3 (three attempts).

If the host does not boot successfully within the number of tries indicated by maxbootfail, the host is powered off or powercycled (depending upon the setting of bootfailrecovery). In either case, boottimeout is set to 0 (zero seconds), disabling further attempts to restart the host.

View and Configure Host Control Information (Web Interface)

This procedure describes how to view and configure several kinds of host information.

ILOM enables you to view or configure several host control features. There are six aspects to host control:

Auto Run On Error
Auto Restart Policy
Boot timeout
Boot restart policy
Maximum boot failures allowed
Boot failure recovery

Select Remote Control -> Host Control.

View the MAC address.

View the Hypervisor version.

View the OpenBoot version.

View the POST version.

View the System Firmware version.

View the Host status.

Select a value for Auto Run On Error, if desired.

Select a value for Auto Restart Policy, if desired.

Select a value for Boot Timeout, if desired.

Select a value for Boot Restart Policy, if desired.

Select a value for Maximum Boot Failures Allowed, if desired.

Select a value for Boot Failure Recovery, if desired.

Click on Save.

Managing System User Interactions

The system user properties enable you to customize the way ILOM identifies and interacts with the host server.

Enable the System to Send a Break Signal or Force a Core Dump (CLI)

Use the set /HOST send_break_action command to bring the server to a menu from which you can choose to go to the OpenBoot PROM prompt (ok). If you have configured the kmdb debugger, then specifying the send_break_action=break command brings the server into debug mode.

Specify send_break_action=dumpcore to force a core dump.

Type:
-> set send_break_action=value
where value can be:
- break – Sends a break to the host.
- dumpcore – Forces a panic core dump of the managed system OS (not supported by all OS versions).

Display Host Status Information (CLI)

Use the show /HOST status command to display information about the host server’s platform ID and status.

Type:

-> show /HOST status

For example:

-> show /HOST status
  /HOST
   Properties:
       status = Solaris running
 
   Commands:
       cd
       set
       show
->

Managing the Host

Resetting the Host

Managing Host Boot Mode

Boot Mode

Viewing and Configuring Host Control Information

Managing Automatic Restart

Managing System User Interactions