Sun Server X4-4 Product Notes

Linux Operating Systems Might Not Install When Using Oracle System Assistant (19232280)

If you have BIOS set to UEFI Boot mode and want to install a Linux OS (including Oracle Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, and Red Hat Enterprise) using Oracle System Assistant, an error might be displayed while the user-selected disk is being prepared for OS installation and the boot order is being updated in NVRAM. This error is due to a limitation with Linux Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel 3 3.1.8.3 in that it can only address up to half of the system NVRAM space. This error will cause the OS installation to fail.

To mitigate this problem, you need to flush NVRAM. Resetting the BIOS to factory defaults flushes NVRAM. Note that when you reset BIOS to the factory defaults, the system is set to Legacy BIOS Boot Mode (the factory default). In order to utilize UEFI Boot Mode for your Linux OS installation, you need to reset the boot mode in BIOS to UEFI.

Workaround

Reset the system BIOS to the factory defaults and re-enable UEFI Boot Mode (if desired) before attempting to install Linux using Oracle System Assistant.

Before you begin, you need access to an Oracle ILOM user account on the system with Reset and Host Control (r), Console (c), and Admin (a) role privileges.

1. Log into Oracle ILOM for the system.

2. Navigate to System Management > BIOS.

3. Go to the Settings section on the System Management > BIOS page and choose "factory" in the Reset to Defaults option.

4. Click Save.

   The BIOS will be set to factory defaults on the next boot.

5. If you want to set the BIOS to UEFI Boot Mode (instead of using the factory default Legacy BIOS Boot Mode), initiate a remote console session (otherwise, skip to step 6).

   1. Navigate to the Remote Control > Redirection page.

   2. Select the Use video redirection option.

   3. Click Launch Remote Console.

      The remote console session window should open.

6. Navigate to Host Management > Power Control and reset (or power on) the system.

   This resets the system and loads the BIOS factory defaults.

7. If you started a remote console session to reset the BIOS to UEFI Boot Mode, enter the BIOS Setup Utility (otherwise, skip to step 8).

   1. Watch the boot process from the remote console window and press F2 when prompted to enter the BIOS Setup Utility.

   2. Once in the BIOS Setup Utility, select the Boot menu.

   3. Highlight the UEFI/BIOS Boot Mode option and press Enter.

   4. Use the arrow keys to select "UEFI" and press Enter.

   5. Save the configuration and exit the BIOS Setup Utility by pressing the F10 key.

   6. Close your remote console session.

8. Once your system reboots, you can launch Oracle System Assistant to use the assisted OS installation feature for your Linux OS.

   1. Navigate to the System Information > Summary page.

   2. Click the Launch button for Oracle System Assistant.