Hp Proliant dl170h g6 User manual

HP ProLiant DL170h G6 Server

Software Configuration Guide

Part number 531484-003

Third Edition March 2010

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Contents 3

Contents

System BIOS configuration ......................................................................................................................4

System BIOS overview.............................................................................................................................. 4

BIOS software ......................................................................................................................................... 4

BIOS Setup Utility .................................................................................................................................... 4

Accessing the Setup Utility.................................................................................................................... 5

Navigating through the Setup Utility ...................................................................................................... 5

Setup Utility menus.............................................................................................................................. 7

Loading system defaults ..................................................................................................................... 35

Power-On Self-Test (POST)....................................................................................................................... 35

POST error indicators ........................................................................................................................ 36

POST-related troubleshooting.............................................................................................................. 38

OS installation .....................................................................................................................................39

Supported OSes .................................................................................................................................... 39

OS pre-installation procedure .................................................................................................................. 39

Hardware setup................................................................................................................................ 39

BIOS update .................................................................................................................................... 39

Easy Set-up CD Instruction....................................................................................................................... 40

Server management..............................................................................................................................41

Pre- and post-installation procedures......................................................................................................... 41

Pre-installation procedures.................................................................................................................. 41

Post-installation procedures................................................................................................................. 41

Configuring the BMC ............................................................................................................................. 41

Index ..................................................................................................................................................44

System BIOS configuration 4

System BIOS configuration

This chapter describes the basic functions of the System BIOS.

System BIOS overview

A Basic Input/Output System, or BIOS, is a set of programs permanently stored in an EEPROM chip

(U21) located on the system board. These programs serve as an interface between the server’s

hardware components and its operating system. This ProLiant server features a ROM BIOS-based

diagnostic tool that monitors system activity and performs constant hardware testing to ensure proper

system operation.

BIOS software

The BIOS software serves three functions:

•Configure the system settings via the BIOS Setup Utility

Using the Setup Utility, you can install, configure, and optimize the hardware devices on your

system (such as CPU, memory, and hard drives).

•Initialize hardware at boot via POST routines

At power-on or reset, the software performs Power-On Self-Test (POST) routines to test system

resources and run the operating system.

•Perform run-time routines

Using the software, perform basic hardware routines that can be called from DOS and Windows

applications.

BIOS Setup Utility

NOTE: For ease of reading, the BIOS Setup Utility will be referred to as “Setup” or “Setup Utility” in

this guide. Also, the screenshots used in this guide display default system values. These values may

not be the same as those in your server.

The BIOS Setup Utility is a hardware configuration program built into the server BIOS. Because most

systems are already properly configured and optimized, there is normally no need to run this utility.

You need to run this utility under the following conditions:

•When changing the system configuration, including:

○Setting the system time and date

○Configuring the hard drives

○Specifying the boot device sequence

○Configuring the power management modes

○Setting up system passwords or making other changes to the security setup

•When a configuration error is detected by the system and you are prompted by a "Run Setup"

message to make changes to the BIOS settings.

System BIOS configuration 5

NOTE: If you repeatedly receive “Run Setup” messages, the battery located on the system board

(XBAT1) may be defective. In this case, the system cannot retain configuration values in CMOS. Ask

a qualified technician for assistance.

The Setup Utility loads the configuration values in a battery-backed nonvolatile memory called CMOS

RAM. This memory area is not part of the system RAM, which allows configuration data to be

retained when power is turned off. The values take effect when the system is booted. POST uses these

values to configure the hardware. If the values and the actual hardware do not agree, POST

generates an error message. You must run the Setup Utility to change the BIOS settings from the

default or current configuration.

Accessing the Setup Utility

1. Turn on the monitor and the server.

If the server is already turned on, save your data and exit all open applications, then restart the

server.

2. During POST, press F10. If you fail to press F10 before POST is completed, you need to restart

the server and repeat this step. The first page displayed is the Main menu. Use the left (←) and

right (→) arrow keys to move between selections on the menu bar.

Figure 1 Main menu

NOTE: System Serial Number and Asset Tag are not updated even when CMOS defaults are

loaded or CMOS is cleared.

Navigating through the Setup Utility

Use the keys listed in the legend bar on the bottom of the Setup screen to access the various menu

and submenu screens of the Setup Utility. Figure 1in the previous section shows the legend bar at the

bottom of the Main menu. Table 1 lists these legend keys and their respective functions.

System BIOS configuration 6

Table 1 Setup Utility navigation keys

Key Function

←and →Move between selections on the menu bar.

↑and ↓Move the cursor to the field you want.

The currently selected field is highlighted. The right side of each menu screen displays the

Item Specific Help panel. This panel displays the help text for the selected field. It updates as

you move the cursor to each field.

<+>, <–> Select a value for the currently selected field if it is user-configurable.

Press the (+) or (-) keys repeatedly to scroll through each value one at a time, or press the

Enter key to choose from a pop-up menu that displays all possible values at once.

A parameter that is enclosed in square brackets [ ] is user-configurable.

Grayed-out parameters are not user-configurable for one of the following reasons:

•The field value is auto-configured or auto-detected.

•The field value is informational only.

•The field is password-protected.

Enter Select a field value or display a submenu screen.

Tab Use [ENTER], [TAB] or [SHIFT-TAB] to select a field

Esc When you press this key:

•On a primary menu screen, the Exit menu displays.

•On a submenu screen, the previous screen displays.

•On a pop-up menu, closes the pop-up without making a selection.

F1 Displays the General Help window. See Figure 2.

The General Help window describes other Setup navigation keys that are not displayed on

the legend bar.

F10 Saves all changes to settings and closes the Setup Utility.

System BIOS configuration 7

Figure 2 General Help Screen

Setup Utility menus

The Setup Utility menu bar displays the five primary menu selections. For detailed information and

screenshots of these Setup menus and their related submenus, refer to the following sections.

Main Menu

Figure 3 Main Menu

NOTE: The time is in 24-hour format. For example, 5:30 A.M. appears as 05:30:00, and 5:30,

P.M. as 17:30:00. If you unplug the battery, setup time values will be 00:00:00.

System BIOS configuration 8

Table 2Main menu fields

Field Description

System Overview Displays the system ROM Version, the date when the Setup utility was created and

identification number.

Processor Displays the CPU version, speed and count.

System Memory Displays the amount of system memory detected during POST.

System Serial

Number

Displays the server serial number. The serial number is indicated on the serial number

label pull tab on the front panel.

Asset Tag Enter the server asset tag.

System Time Adjusts the system time.

System Date Adjusts the system date.

Boot Settings

Configuration

Sets which options to run during system boot up. Press Enter to access the related

submenu. For details on the submenu options, see the “Boot Settings Configuration

submenu” section.

Boot Settings Configuration submenu

Figure 4 Boot Settings Configuration submenu

Table 3Boot Settings Configuration submenu fields

Field Description Options

Post Speed Up Set this value to display hardware summary screen before booting the

OS.

Disabled

Set this value not to display hardware summary screen before booting the

OS. This is the default setting.

Enabled

Splash Screen Display HP Splash Screen during POST. It is the default setting. Enabled

System BIOS configuration 9

Table 3Boot Settings Configuration submenu fields

Field Description Options

Do not display any splash screen during POST. For HP OEM business. Disabled

NUMLOCK Set this value to allow the Number Lock on the keyboard to be enabled

automatically when the computer system is boot up. This allows the

immediate use of 10-keys numeric keypad located on the right side of the

keyboard. To confirm this, the Number Lock LED light on the keyboard

Will be lit. This is the default setting.

Enabled

This option does not enable the keyboard Number Lock automatically. To

use the 10-keys on the keyboard, press the Number Lock key located on

the upper left-hand corner of the 10-key pad. The Number Lock LED on

the keyboard will light up when the Number Lock is engaged.

Disabled

Restore after AC

Power Loss Set this value to restore previous power state before loss occurred. The

setting default value is Last State. Last State

Set this value to always boot when AC power is restored. On

Set this value to keep power off until the power button is pressed. Off

POST F1 Prompt Set this value to allow wait up to 15 seconds for press F1. The setting

default value is Delayed.

Delayed

Set this value to allow waiting indefinitely for press F1. Enabled

Set this value. Do not wait for F1. Continue booting. Disabled

System BIOS configuration 10

Advanced menu

Figure 5 Advanced menu

NOTE: The CPU Configuration setup screen varies depending on the installed processor.

Table 4Advanced menu fields

Field Description

CPU Configuration You can use this screen to select options for the CPU Configuration Settings. Use the up

and down <Arrow> keys to select an item. Use the <Plus> and <Minus> keys to change

the value of the selected option. A description of the selected item appears on the right

side of the screen. The settings are described on the following pages.

IDE Configuration You can use this screen to select options for the IDE Configuration Settings. Use the up

and down <Arrow> keys to select an item. Use the <Plus> and <Minus> keys to change

the value of the selected option. A description of the selected item appears on the right

side of the screen. The settings are described on the following pages.

IO Device

Configuration

You can use this screen to select options for the IO device configuration settings. Use the

up and down <Arrow> keys to select an item. Use the <Plus> and <Minus> keys to

change the value of the selected option. The settings are described on the following

pages.

ACPI

Configuration Use this screen to select options for the ACPI Configuration settings.

IPMI Configuration Select this option and press <Enter> to access the submenu. You can use the submenu to

view the contents of IPMI .A delay may be noticed when selecting IPMI. This is due to the

retrieval of sensor data .In the submenu, use the up and down <Arrow> keys to select an

item. Use the <Plus> and <Minus>keys to change the value of the selected option.

USB Configuration These items control various USB devices. From the USB configuration screen, press

<Enter> to access the submenu for the USB BIOS Support. Use the up and down <Arrow>

keys to select an item. Use the <plus>and <minus> keys to change the value of the

selected option. The settings are described on the following pages.

System BIOS configuration 11

Table 4Advanced menu fields

Field Description

Remote Access

Configuration

You can select console redirection in the left frame of the screen to go to the sub menu for

that item. You can display a console redirection by highlighting it using the <Arrow>

keys .Console redirection Setup options are described in this section. The settings are

described on the following pages.

PCI BUS

Configuration You can use this screen to select options for PCI Express Devices. For Gen 1, the data

transfer rate for PCI Express Devices is 2.5 GHz and for Gen 2 the data transfer rate for

PCI Express Devices is 5 GHz.

Power

Configuration

You can use this screen to select options for the Power Configuration. Use the up and

down <Arrow> keys to select an item. Use the <Plus> and <Minus> keys to change the

value of the selected option. A description of the selected item appears on the right side of

the screen. The settings are described on the following pages. Please note in order to

change each individual option the user must select custom.

CPU Configuration submenu

Figure 6 CPU Configuration submenu

NOTE: Data Reuse option is for Intel®Xeon®5600 Series Processors only. It will not display when

Intel®Xeon®5500 Series Processors are installed.

Table 5CPU Configuration submenu fields

Field Description Options

Data Reuse Data transfers between cache levels are optimized. Set according to

observed system. It is the default value. Enabled

Data transfers between cache levels are not optimized. Disabled

System BIOS configuration 12

Table 5CPU Configuration submenu fields

Field Description Options

Intel(R)

Virtualization

Tec

A VMM can utilize the additional HW Caps. A full reset is required to

change the setting. The setting default value is enabled.

Enabled

A VMM can not utilize the additional HW Caps. Disabled

Intel(R) HT

Technology (If

processor

supports Hyper-

Threading, this

option will

appear)

Enabled for Windows XP and Linux4, OS optimized for Hyper Threading

Technology. It is the default value.

Enabled

Disabled for other OS, OS not optimized for Hyper-Threading Technology. Disabled

Active Processor

Cores Enabled all cores of the processor. All

Enabled half of the processor cores. Half

Enabled only one core of the processor. One

Advanced

Memory

Protection

Provides the greatest memory capacity for a given DIMM size, while

providing up to 4-bit error correction. This mode is the default option for

this server. Always enabled for all modes.

Advanced ECC

Only

Provides maximum protection against failed DIMMs. Uncorrectable errors in

one channel are corrected by the mirror channel.

Mirrored

Memory

Lockstep between channel 0 and 1. Provides enhanced protection while

making all installed memory available to the operating system. The server

can continue to function if a single- or multi-bit memory failure within a

single DRAM device occurs.

Lockstep Mode

2DPC @1333 The system will operate at a maximum of 1066MHz when 2 DIMMs are

installed on any memory channel. It is default setting.

Disable

Allow configuring the system to run DIMMs (1Rank or 2Ranks) at

1333MHz when up to 2 DIMMs are installed on a memory channel.

Enable

Intel VT-d Disabled the Intel Processors feature which called Virtualization Technology

for Directed I/O. Disabled

Enabled the Intel Processors feature which called Virtualization Technology

for Directed I/O. It is the default value. Enabled

QPI

Optimization RTID allocation is set to 24-16-24. This is default value. Balanced

RTID allocation is set to 32-8-24. Optimized for

Memory

1GB PCI

Memory Gap Allocated 1GB of space (3GB – 4GB) for PCI mapped memory. It is the

default setting.

Enabled

Not allocated 1GB of space (3GB – 4GB) for PCI mapped memory Disabled

System BIOS configuration 13

IDE Configuration submenu

Figure 7 IDE Configuration submenu

Table 6IDE Configuration submenu fields

Field Description Options

SATA Controller

Mode

Legacy Native mode, supports up to 4 drivers. Compatible

Only available on systems with an embedded software RAID option

ROM.

RAID

This is the DEFAULT if NCQ Mode requires that AHCI also be Enabled.

Otherwise, legacy SATA Native Mode is the DEFAULT as previously

specified. This is the default value.

AHCI

SATA controller is Disabled and does not appear in the standard boot

order list. Disabled

Drive Write

Cache

Drive Write Cache feature disabled on all dumb SATA drives. This avoids

the possibility of data loss due to a power failure. The default setting is

Disabled.

Disabled

Drive Write Cache feature on all dumb SATA drives to be enabled

System BIOS or SATA option ROM during POST. This improves

performance, but at a risk of data loss on a power failure.

NOTE: Besides enabling the drive write cache in the BIOS, it is also

necessary to set it in the Linux OS as follows:

# /sbin/hdparm -W 1 /dev/sda

You can confirm by running:

# /sbin/hdparm -i /dev/sda | grep -i write

Linux calls DWC as WCE (write cache enabled):

DWC is enabled => WCE is enabled

DWC is disabled => WCE is 0.

Enabled

System BIOS configuration 14

Table 6IDE Configuration submenu fields

Field Description Options

IDE Detect Time

Out(Sec)

This value is the best setting to use if the onboard IDE controllers are set

to a specific IDE disk drive in the BIOS. 0