On the HMC lpar_netboot command allows you to collect Mac-Addresses and initiate a network boot without going to SMS or OpenFirmware screens.

Get Mac Address

1. Lpar-Name -> op720-1-Client3-Debian-3.1
2. Profile-Name -> normal
3. Machine Name -> op720-1

To get the MAC Address of a partition do the following:

(if you are not sure about the Machine and LPAR name, runs "lssyscfg -r sys -F name" command to get the machine names of all connected systems. Afterwards run "lssyscfg -m MACHINE-NAME -r lpar -F name" to get the LPAR names. And finally you can run "lssyscfg -m MACHINE-NAME -r prof --filter lpar_names=LPAR-NAME" to get a list of all profiles defined for a LPAR with name LPAR-NAME and all resources assigned to the partition - and if you are not interested in all details (e.g. just need the profile names) you can run "lssyscfg -m MACHINE-NAME -r prof --filter lpar_names=LPAR-NAME -F name" to get only the profile names specified for a specific partition)

• Attention: this command will immediately shutdown your partition !
• Make sure you have closed all vterm connections to the partition

 
 hscroot@hmc-op:~> lpar_netboot -M -n -t ent "op720-1-Client3-Debian-3.1" "normal" "op720-1"
 # Connecting to op720-1-Client3-Debian-3.1
 # Connected
 # Checking for power off.
 # Power off complete.
 # Power on op720-1-Client3-Debian-3.1 to Open Firmware.
 # Power on complete.
 # Getting adapter location codes.
 # Type  Location Code   MAC Address
 ent U9124.720.100486A-V5-C2-T1 bad3f0005002

As an alternative to the mentioned method you can use the lshwres command:

1. Log into the HMC as user "hscroot"
2. Run "lssyscfg -r sys -F name" command to get all system names attached to the HMC.
3. Run "lshwres -r virtualio --rsubtype eth --level lpar -m <System-Name> -F lpar_name,mac_addr" which lists all logical partitions and the MAC addresses of the virtual Ethernet adapters per LPAR. Note that the output of the command shows one line per LPAR per virtual LAN adapter (e.g. two lines for a LPAR which has two defined virtual Etherent adapter).
   Note that this is not possible for physical Ethernet adapters! In order to make a netboot over a virtual Ethernet adapter possible this adapter must be connected to the rest of the world over an Ethernet bridge!

 
hscroot@hmc-op:~> lshwres -r virtualio --rsubtype eth --level lpar -m op720-3-SN1002C5A -F lpar_name,mac_addr
op720-3-VIO1-SLES9SP3,52CB00001002
op720-3-VIO2-SLES9SP3,52CB00002002
op720-3-Client1-Debian-3.1,52CB00003002
op720-3-Client1-Debian-3.1,52CB00003003
...
hscroot@hmc-op:~>

Initiate netboot

Directed bootp request (for bootp server)

-S Serveradress (AIX running bootp): 9.156.175.8
-G Gateway
-C Client IP

 
 lpar_netboot -t ent -m bad3f0005002 -s auto -d auto -S 9.156.175.8 -G 9.156.175.1 -C 9.156.175.247 "op720-1-Client3-Debian-3.1" "normal" "op720-1"
 # Connecting to op720-1-Client3-Debian-3.1
 # Connected
 # Checking for power off.
 # Power off complete.
 # Power on op720-1-Client3-Debian-3.1 to Open Firmware.
 # Power on complete.
 # Network booting install adapter.
 # bootp sent over network.
 # Network boot proceeding, lpar_netboot is exiting.
 # Finished.

Broadcast bootp request (for DHCP)

If you are installing from DHCP server make a broadcast request:

 
 hscroot@hmc-op:~> lpar_netboot -t ent -m bad3f0005002 -s auto -d auto "op720-1-Client3-Debian-3.1" "normal" "op720-1-SN100486A"
 # Connecting to op720-1-Client3-Debian-3.1
 # Connected
 # Checking for power off. 
 # Power off the node
 # Wait for power off.
 # Power off complete.
 # Power on op720-1-Client3-Debian-3.1 to Open Firmware.
 # Power on complete.
 # Network booting install adapter.
 # bootp sent over network.

You can see installation starting in vterm, but be patient, do not open vterm session before the lpar_netboot command returns.

 
 mkvterm -m "op720-1-SN100486A" -p op720-1-Client3-Debian-3.1