Installing Virtual I/O Server on Power Systems servers

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Quick Start Guide for installing Virtual I/O Server on Power Systems servers

Version 1.0.1

This guide helps you install Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) and Integrated Virtualization Manager (IVM) on a Power Systems server that has a graphics card.

Note:

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Overview

Use this information to install VIOS on a Power Systems server that has a graphics card installed. When you install VIOS on a system that is not managed by an Hardware Management Console (HMC), IVM is automatically installed and available for use.

  1. Complete the prerequisites

    Before you install Linux® on your system, ensure that you have the following items:

    • USB keyboard and mouse
    • Monitor
    • Power cords and outlet for your system
    • Distribution media
  2. Prepare to power on
    Before you power on the system, follow these steps:
    • If your system belongs in a rack, install your system into that rack. For instructions, see the IBM Knowledge Center and search for your Power hardware model: IBM Knowledge Center.
    • Remove the shipping brackets from the power supplies. Ensure that the power supplies are fully seated in the system.
    • Connect the monitor, mouse, and keyboard.
    • Connect the power cords to the system and plug them into the outlets.

    After you connect the power cords, your firmware boots. Wait for a few minutes for this process to complete. Look for the green power LED on the control panel to start flashing, indicating that it is ready to use, and for the prompt 01 N V=N to display in the control panel window.

    For information about accessing and using the control panel, see the Control panel topic in the at https://ibm.biz/BdYjwz.

  3. Power® on the system
    After the firmware boots, you can power on the system. Press and hold the white power-on button on the front of the control panel for 3 seconds to start the server.

    As the system powers up, you might notice the following:

    • System reference codes display on the control panel while the system is being started.
    • The power LED continues to flash and might speed up.
    • The system cooling fans are activated after approximately 30 seconds and begin to accelerate to operating speed.
    • The power LED on the control panel stops flashing and remains on, indicating that system power is on.
    Note: If you system fails to start, verify that the prompt 01 N V=N is displaying in the control panel and and the green power LED is flashing green.

    When the system is powered on, the monitor activates and the Boot selection window is displayed.

    Note: You can also connect to your system using the Advanced System Management Interface (ASMI). For more information, see the IBM Knowledge Center and search for your Power hardware model: IBM Knowledge Center.
  4. Booting VIOS
    To set up your server to boot the Linux installer kernel, follow these steps:
    1. At the Boot selection window, enter 1 to select the SMS Menu. Enter 1 before the firmware boot screen is completely shown on the display, because it will disappear when complete. If you miss the screen, reboot the system.
    2. Insert the VIOS media disk into the disk drive.
    3. Enter 2 to Continue to password entry on the Language selection menu. Enter admin.
    4. On the main SMS menu, enter 5 to go to the Select Boot Options option.
    5. Enter 1 to select Install/Boot Device.
    6. Enter 7 to view all of the available boot devices.
    7. Enter the number corresponding to the device that you want to use. If your device is not displayed, you can enter N to display more.
    8. Enter 2 to perform a Normal Mode Boot.
    9. Enter 1 to leave the SMS menu and to start the boot process.
  5. Install VIOS
    1. Select the console by entering a 1 and pressing Enter.
    2. Select a language for the installation and press Enter.
    3. Select Change/Show Installation Settings and Install.
    4. Verify your settings. If your settings are correct, type 0 and then press Enter.

    The installation begins. After a while, you are prompted to insert the second disk. After the installation is complete, the system restarts and the login prompt is displayed.

  6. Configure IVM
    1. Log in to the management partition with the user ID: padmin.
    2. When prompted, change the login password to a secure password.
    3. Accept the Virtual I/O Server license agreement by using the license command: license -accept. For more information about using this command, see Virtual I/O Server and IVM commands.
    4. Configure the TCP/IP connection for the Virtual I/O Server management partition by using the mktcpip command. For example: mktcpip -hostname fred -inetaddr 9.5.4.40 -interface en0 -start -netmask 255.255.255.128 -gateway 9.5.4.1 -nsrvaddr 9.10.244.200 -nsrvdomain austin.century.com You must configure TCP/IP before you can perform any dynamic logical partitioning operations.
  7. Connecting to IVM Web-based interface
    1. Open a Web browser window, and connect using the HTTP or HTTPS protocol to the IP address that was assigned to the Integrated Virtualization Manager during the installation process. For example, enter https://123.456.7.890 in your Web browser, where 123.456.7.890 is the IP address assigned to the Integrated Virtualization Manager.
    2. Enter the default user ID of padmin, and enter the password that you defined during the installation process.
    3. In the Integrated Virtualization Manager interface, select View/Modify Virtual Ethernet.
    4. Click Initialize Virtual Ethernet. A virtual Ethernet provides Ethernet connectivity among the partitions.
    5. Click Apply.
    6. If your installation requires external networking, create a virtual Ethernet bridge:
      1. Select Virtual Ethernet Bridge.
      2. Select the physical adapter to bridge.
      3. Click Apply.
More information

For more information, see the following resources: