3 Oracle Server X7-2 Platform Preparation

Oracle Communications produces a variety of software products that run on the Oracle Server X7-2 platform, including Oracle session delivery applications.

Use your Hardware documentation to install and establish system management via ILOM. Then use the steps below to prepare the Oracle X7-2 for session delivery software installation.

Note:

The ILOM Cable Connection procedure also displays ILOM cabling.

1. Confirm applicable firmware on the server.
   • To check the firmware versions installed in the server, go to the Oracle Integrated Lights Out Manager (ILOM) web interface, and navigate to System Information, Firmware.
   • Software and firmware versions qualified for use with Oracle Session Delivery products include:
     • ILOM—v4.0.2.20.b
     • BIOS— 41.02.13.00
2. Upgrade or downgrade the firmware on the server as necessary. Go to https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E81115_01/index.html for ILOM upgrade instructions.
3. Configure the BIOS settings. (Settings navigation may differ based on the BIOS version.)
   1. Observe the boot procedure, logged to the console during bootup, and use the documented key sequence to interrupt the boot and display the BIOS configuration dialogs. For example, pressing the F2 key is a common way to enter BIOS configuration from a terminal application that supports function keys.
   2. Navigate to the Boot menu and, depending on the software distribution you are using, set the USB or CD as the first device followed by the disk controller. (Navigation: Boot)
   3. Disable Hyper-Threading. (Navigation: Advanced, Processor Configuration, Hyper-Threading)

      Note:

      Refer to Hyperthreading and CPU Affinity for Oracle guidelines on the use of Hyper-threading.
   4. Disable CPU power limit. (Navigation: Advanced / CPU Power Management Configuration)
   5. Disable C6 Reporting. (Navigation: Advanced / CPU Power Management Configuration, CPU C6 report)
   6. Change Energy Performance to Performance. For example, set "ENERY_PERF_BIAS_CFG" mode to "PERF". (Navigation: Advanced / CPU Power Management Configuration, Energy Performance)
   7. To decrease boot up time, Oracle recommends disabling Intel PXE Boot Agent for both onboard and NIC ethernet ports. Press F2 and navigate to Advanced, Network Stack Configuration. Then disable IPv4 PXE support.

      Note:

      PXE boot is not supported in this release.
   8. Reboot the server.
4. Initialize the HDD.
   1. Open the ILOM remote system console to observe the system's boot cycle, and interrupt the boot cycle to enter the MegaRAID configuration utility.

      Figure 3-1 Selecting RAID Configuration

      
   2. Navigate the utility to establish your virtual drive's operation, initially including the Configure action.

      Figure 3-2 Begin RAID Configuration

      
   3. Clear the configuration, regardless of the initial state.

      Figure 3-3 Clear Any Existing RAID Configuration

      
   4. Access the menu from which you create a virtual drive.

      Figure 3-4 RAID - Create Virtual Drive

      
      

      

      
      
   5. Set the RAID level to RAID-1.

      Figure 3-5 Set Drive to RAID1

      
      

      

      
      
   6. Select your drives.

      Figure 3-6 RAID - Select Drives

      
      

      

      
      
   7. It is common to select all drives at this point.

      Figure 3-7 Select All Drives

      
      

      

      
      
   8. Save your RAID configuration.

      Figure 3-8 Save RAID Configuration

      
      

      

      
      
   9. The system allows you to Confirm your configuration and continue with initialization.

      Figure 3-9 Initialize RAID Configuration

      
      

      

      
      
   10. After initialization is complete, return to the Main Menu to Save and Exit.

       Figure 3-10 Exit RAID Configuration

       
       

       

       
       
5. Perform a cold shutdown by removing all system power.