Getting the Latest Software and Firmware
Preparing the Site for Installation
About the Installation Procedure
Installation Procedure Overview
About Server Features and Components
Front Panel Status Indicators, Connectors, and Drives
Front Panel With Four 3.5-inch Drives
Front Panel With Eight 2.5-inch Drives
Front Panel With Four 2.5-inch Drives and SATA DVD Drive
Back Panel Status Indicators, Connectors, and PCIe Slots
Server Management Software Overview
Preparing for Server Installation
Tools and Equipment Needed for Installation
Optional Component Installation
Installing the Server Into a Rack
Safety Precautions When Rackmounting the Server
Stabilize the Rack for Installation
Attach Tool-less Slide-Rail Assemblies
Install the Server Into the Slide-Rail Assemblies
Install the Second-Generation Cable Management Arm
Remove the Second-Generation Cable Management Arm
Install the First-Generation Cable Management Arm
Rear Cable Connections and Ports
Attaching Data Cables and Power Cords to the Server
Oracle ILOM Hardware and Interfaces
Logging In to Oracle ILOM Using a Local Serial Connection
Logging In to Oracle ILOM Using a Remote Ethernet Connection
Accessing the Host Console Through Oracle ILOM
Troubleshooting the Service Processor Connection
Setting Up Software and Firmware Using Oracle System Assistant
Setting Up an Operating System and Drivers
Configuring Server Drives for OS Installation
RAID Configuration Requirements
Configuring Storage Drives Into RAID Volumes Using Oracle System Assistant
Configuring RAID Using the BIOS RAID Configuration Utilities
Configuring the Preinstalled Oracle Solaris 11 Operating System
Preinstalled Operating System RAID Limitations
Oracle Solaris Configuration Worksheet
Configure the Preinstalled Oracle Solaris 11 Operating System
Oracle Solaris 11 Operating System Documentation
Configuring the Preinstalled Oracle Linux 6.x Operating System
Oracle Linux 6.x Configuration Worksheet
Configure the Preinstalled Oracle Linux 6 Operating System
Register and Update Your Linux Operating System
Oracle Linux Operating System Documentation
Configuring the Preinstalled Oracle VM 3.x Software
Preinstalled Oracle VM Server and Oracle VM Manager Compatibility Requirements
Oracle VM Server Configuration Worksheet
Configure the Preinstalled Oracle VM
Controlling System Power and Troubleshooting Installation Issues
Power Off the Server for Orderly Shutdown
Power Off the Server for Immediate Shutdown
Technical Support Information Worksheet
Locating the System Serial Number
Getting Server Firmware and Software
Firmware and Software Access Options
Getting Firmware and Software from MOS or PMR
Installing Updates Using Other Methods
About Oracle Solaris Operating System Installs
Oracle Solaris OS Installation Task Map
Selecting the Console Display Option
Selecting the Boot Media Option
Selecting the Installation Target Option
Oracle Solaris OS Installation Options
Preparing to Install the Operating System
Installing the Oracle Solaris Operating System
Installing Oracle Solaris 10 or 11 Operating System on a Single System Using Media
Getting Server Firmware and Software
Firmware and Software Access Options
Getting Firmware and Software From MOS or PMR
Installing Updates Using Other Methods
Oracle VM Installation Task Map
Selecting the Console Display Option
Selecting the Boot Media Option
Selecting the Installation Target Option
Oracle VM Installation Options
Single-Server Installation Methods
Assisted Oracle VM Installation
Oracle System Assistant Overview
Oracle System Assistant Install OS Task
Obtaining Oracle System Assistant
Preparing to Install Oracle VM
Verify the BIOS Factory Defaults
Installing Oracle VM on a Single System Using Oracle System Assistant
Installing Oracle VM on a Single System Using Media
Post Installation Tasks for Oracle VM
Configuring Network Interfaces
Getting Server Firmware and Software
Firmware and Software Access Options
Getting Firmware and Software From MOS or PMR
Installing Updates Using Other Methods
About Linux Operating System Installs
Supported Linux Operating Systems
Oracle Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel for Linux
Selecting the Console Display Option
Selecting the Boot Media Option
Selecting the Installation Target Option
Oracle System Assistant Overview
Preparing to Install the Operating System
Configuring the SLES 11 SP1 Operating System Software to Support Network Connections
Installing the Linux Operating System
Installing a Linux OS on a Single System Using Oracle System Assistant
Installing Oracle Linux on a Single System Using Media
Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux on a Single System Using Media
Installing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server on a Single System Using Media
Configuring Network Interfaces
Getting Server Firmware and Software
Firmware and Software Access Options
Getting Firmware and Software From MOS or PMR
Installing Updates Using Other Methods
About Microsoft Windows Server Operating System Installs
Windows OS Installation Task Map
Supported Windows Operating Systems
SAS PCIe HBAs Requiring LSI Mass Storage Driver for Windows Server 2008 SP2
Selecting the Console Display Option
Selecting the Boot Media Option
Selecting the Installation Target Option
Windows OS Installation Options
Oracle System Assistant Overview
Preparing to Install the Operating System
Installing Windows Server Operating System
Installing Windows Server on a Single System Using Oracle System Assistant
Installing Windows Server on a Single System Using Media
Post Installation Tasks for Windows Server
Supplemental Software Component Options
Installing Device Drivers and Supplemental Software
Getting Server Firmware and Software
Firmware and Software Access Options
Getting Firmware and Software from MOS or PMR
Installing Updates Using Other Methods
VMware ESXi Installation Task Map
Supported VMware ESXi Software
Selecting the Console Display Option
Selecting the Boot Media Option
Selecting the Installation Target Option
VMware ESXi Installation Options
Preparing to Install VMware ESXi
Configuring the VMware ESXi 5.0 Software or the Server Hardware to Support Network Connections
Installing VMware ESXi on a Single System Using Media
Post Installation Tasks for VMware ESXi
Configure Network Adapter Settings
Determine the MAC Address of a Connected Server Network Port
Update the VMware ESXi Software
Configuring Network Interfaces
Getting Server Firmware and Software
Firmware and Software Access Options
Getting Firmware and Software from MOS or PMR
Installing Updates Using Other Methods
About Server and Component Status Indicators
Service Troubleshooting Task List
Locate the Server Serial Number
Electrostatic Discharge Safety
Preparing the Server for Component Replacement
Servicing CRUs That Do Not Require Server Power Off
Servicing Storage Drives (CRU)
Servicing Power Supplies (CRU)
Servicing CRUs That Require Server Power Off
Servicing the Internal USB Flash Drives (CRU)
Servicing the Disk Backplane (FRU)
Servicing the Front Indicator Module (FRU)
Servicing the Motherboard (FRU)
Servicing the SAS Cables (FRUs)
Returning the Server to Operation
Removing and Installing Server Filler Panels
Reinstall the Server Chassis Into the Rack
Return the Server to the Normal Rack Position
Reconnect Data Cables and Power Cords
Getting Server Firmware and Software
Firmware and Software Access Options
Getting Firmware and Software From MOS or PMR
Installing Updates Using Other Methods
Planning the System Management Environment
Choosing Tools for Single System Management
Choosing Tools for Multiple System Management
System Management Tools Overview
Common System Management Tasks
Common System Administrative Tasks
Evaluating the Server Environment
Installing System Management Tools
System Management Documentation
Accessing System Management Tools
Accessing Oracle System Assistant
Accessing Oracle Hardware Management Pack
Setting Up Software and Firmware
Set Up Software and Firmware Using Oracle System Assistant
Set Up Software and Firmware Using Oracle ILOM
Set Up Software and Firmware Using Oracle Hardware Management Pack
Setting Up the Server Using Oracle System Assistant
Organization of Oracle System Assistant
Configure the Server Using Oracle System Assistant
Mounting the Oracle System Assistant USB Flash Drive
Troubleshooting Oracle System Assistant
Accessing the Oracle System Assistant Filesystem
Managing the Server Using Oracle ILOM
Oracle ILOM Features for Oracle x86 Servers
Supported HBA Disk Controllers
Creating a RAID Volume Before Installing an Operating System
Creating a RAID Volume After Installing an Operating System
Using Oracle ILOM to Monitor Storage Devices
Setting Up BIOS Configuration Parameters
Managing the BIOS Configuration
Accessing the BIOS Setup Utility
Using BIOS for Resource Allocation
Common BIOS Setup Utility Tasks
BIOS Setup Utility Menu Options
UEFI Driver Control Menu Selections
BIOS Save & Exit Menu Selections
Monitoring Components and Identifying SNMP Messages
Monitoring Component Health and Faults Using Oracle ILOM
Identifying SNMP Trap Messages
Getting Server Firmware and Software
Firmware and Software Access Options
Getting Firmware and Software from MOS or PMR
The Sun Server X3-2 contains a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)-compatible BIOS that provides more boot options and configuration capability for adapter cards than previous versions of the BIOS.
The server also supports a legacy version of the BIOS for use with software or adapters that do not have UEFI drivers. The legacy version is the default.
The following sections provide more information on the UEFI BIOS modes:
Refer to the Administration, Using Legacy BIOS or UEFI for more information about UEFI BIOS.
Two boot modes are available for BIOS: Legacy BIOS Boot Mode and UEFI BIOS Boot Mode. UEFI BIOS can be configured to support either UEFI or Legacy BIOS Boot Mode. However, some devices and operating systems do not yet support UEFI BIOS and can boot only from Legacy BIOS Boot Mode.
If you change boot modes, the boot candidates from the previous mode disappear. The boot candidates from the new mode appear after you issue the BIOS command Save Changes and Reset. Use the Oracle ILOM BIOS Backup and Restore function to preserve the configuration in case you want to switch back. For information about Oracle ILOM, refer to the Oracle Integrated Lights Out Manager (ILOM) 3.1 Documentation Library at http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=ilom31.
Choose Legacy BIOS Boot Mode to allow host bus adapters (HBAs) to use option ROMs. Select Legacy BIOS Boot Mode when software or adapters do not have UEFI drivers, or the system is using option ROM. Legacy BIOS Boot Mode is the default boot mode.In Legacy BIOS Boot Mode, only boot candidates that support Legacy BIOS Boot Mode appear in the BIOS Setup Utility screens in the Boot Options Priority list.
Choose UEFI BIOS Boot Mode to use UEFI drivers when software and adapters have UEFI drivers. UEFI BIOS Boot Mode is manually selected during setup. For instructions for making the selection, refer to the Administration, Using Legacy BIOS or UEFI.
In UEFI BIOS Boot Mode, only boot candidates that support UEFI BIOS Boot Mode appear on the BIOS Setup Utility screens in the Boot Options Priority list.
Currently, the following operating systems support UEFI BIOS Boot Mode. For updates to this list, refer to Sun Server X3-2 Product Notes at http://www.oracle.com/pls/topic/lookup?ctx=SunServerX3-2.
Oracle Solaris 11.1
Oracle Linux 6.x
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.x
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP2
Microsoft Windows Server 2008
VMware ESXi 5.x
These operating systems can use either UEFI BIOS Boot Mode or Legacy BIOS Boot Mode. All other operating systems must use Legacy BIOS Boot Mode. However, once you choose a boot mode and install an operating system, if you reboot the server and select a different boot mode, the installed image is not accessible and cannot be used.