Sun Microsystems Sun Fire X4250 User manual

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Sun Fire™ X4250
Volume Configuration Guide
Part No. 820-6890-10
March 2009 Revision A

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1
How to Add Components to Your
Limited Configuration Server
Test the Current Configuration
Always test the current configuration before upgrading the server.
Adding Components to the Server
The component installation procedures in this document contain important
installation and validation information that can assist you in successfully
configuring the server.
Testing the Current Configuration
1Ensure that all internal components are properly seated and install the
cover.
2Boot the server using the server’s Tools and Drivers CD/DVD.
3The server should pass POST and boot to the Tools and Drivers CD’s
main menu.
4Troubleshoot any front panel fault indicators before customizing the
server.

2Sun Fire X4250 Volume Configuration Guide • March 2009
How to Add Memory (DIMMs)
Note – Sun-approved memory is the only memory guaranteed to meet the reliability
and quality levels required for optimal performance of Sun Fire servers. Use only
DIMMs approved and supported by Sun.
Install DIMMs in Matched Part Number Pairs Only.
DIMMs must be installed in matched part number pairs. Matched part number pair
DIMMs have the same size, the same speed, and the same manufacturer.
Install Larger Capacity DIMMs in Lower-Numbered Slots
Larger capacity DIMMs must be installed in lower-numbered slots. If the DIMMs
that you are installing are larger capacity than the DIMMs already installed in the
server, do the following:
Installing DIMMs in Matched Part Number Pairs
• Inspect the label on the DIMMs to ensure the following:
• Same manufacturer
• Same part number
Installing Larger Capacity DIMMs in Lower-Numbered Slots
1Remove smaller capacity DIMMs from lower-numbered slots and replace
with larger capacity DIMMs.
2Install smaller capacity DIMMs in the next available higher-numbered
slots.
For example:
If the server is configured with two 2 GB DIMMs in slots A0/B0 and you
want to install two additional 4 GB DIMMs:
• Remove the two 2 GB DIMMs from slots A0/B0
• Install the two 4 GB DIMMs in slots A0/B0
• Install the two 2 GB DIMMs in slots C0/D0

How to Add Components to Your Limited Configuration Server 3
Install DIMMs According to the Following Map
Insure DIMMs are Properly Seated and Locked
DIMMs that are not properly seated and locked are easily dislodged when shipped
or moved.
Seating and Locking DIMMs
• Insert DIMMs into the DIMM slots and lock the DIMMs using the two
locking levers.

4Sun Fire X4250 Volume Configuration Guide • March 2009
Fill All Unused DIMM Slots With DIMM Slot Fillers
All unused DIMM slots must contain DIMM slot fillers.
Filling DIMM Slots With Slot Fillers
• Insert and lock DIMM fillers into each unused DIMM slot.

How to Add Components to Your Limited Configuration Server 5
Test Installed DIMMs
Verify that the server can see all installed DIMMs.
How to Add a DVD/USB Drive
■The server ships with filler panels for a vacant DVD drive slot and each vacant
HD slot.
■You must install the DVD drive/USB hub before you install the hard drives.
Note – If the DVD drive hangs, during testing, contact Sun service. The issue might
be a low-level inter-operability issue between the USB translation device and the
system. The issue is usually resolved by replacing an internal board.
How to Add SAS Hard Drives
See the Sun Intel Adaptec BIOS RAID Utility User’s Manual (820-4708) at:
http://docs.sun.com
Testing Installed Memory
• Reassemble the server and use one of the following methods to verify the
DIMMs:
• Boot from the Tools and Drivers DVD and access the diagnostics by selecting
the option to run hardware diagnostics (option 1).
• Log in to the service processor’s (SP) ILOM using ssh or a browser and the IP
address of the SP.
Adding a DVD/USB Drive Unit
1Eject all hard drives and HD filler panels.
2Remove the DVD filler panel.
3Slide the DVD/USB drive*unit into the DVD slot and engage the connector on
the backplane.
* Use the -09 (or later) revision of the DVD/USB drive unit.
4Populate the HD slots with hard drives or hard drive filler panels.
5Test the DVD drive by booting the server using the Tools and Drivers DVD and
accessing the Pc-Check diagnostics.

6Sun Fire X4250 Volume Configuration Guide • March 2009
SAS HD Installation Rules
■Do not mix SAS and SATA drives in the same volume.
■SATA hard drives are not supported on the Sun Fire X4250.
■Supported HBA cards:
■Sun StorageTek PCIe SAS 8-Port Internal HBA, SGXPCIE8SAS-I-Z, LSI SAS
1068E (hardware RAID support)
■Sun StorageTek SAS RAID 8-Port Internal HBA, SG-XPCIESAS-R-INT-Z,
Adaptec/Intel-based (hardware RAID support)
■If you are also adding a DVD/USB unit, install the unit before installing hard
drives (see “How to Add a DVD/USB Drive” on page 5).
■Hard drives must be initialized before the drives can be seen by the HBA and
before an OS can access the disks.
Adding SAS Hard Drives
1 Install drives according to the following drive map:
HD12 HD13 HD14 HD15
HD8 HD9 HD10 HD11
HD5 HD6 HD7 DVD/USB Drive
HD0 HD1 HD2 HD3 HD4
2 Remove protective covers from the connectors on the card and install the HBA
(PCIe SAS 8-port internal disk controller)*
3 Take the free end of the cable that is attached to the disk backplane on the left-
hand side (disks 0-3) and connect it to the Mini-SAS x4 connector on the card
labeled Port 0, 0-3.
4 Take the free end of the cable that is attached to the disk backplane on the right-
hand side (disks 4-7) and connect it to the Mini-SAS x4 connector on the card
labeled Port 1, 4-7.

How to Add Components to Your Limited Configuration Server 7
Verify Hard Drives
Use the PCIe HBA’s BIOS utility to verify that the card sees the hard drives.
■When using the Sun StorageTek (Adaptec) HBA card, you must first initialize the
hard drives using the card’s BIOS (even for single-disk configurations) so the OS
can see the drives (use the Adaptec-based procedure below). The LSI card
automatically manages this step and does not require manual initialization of
drives (use the LSI-based procedure below).
■After installation, if you see inconsistent or non-illuminated HD LEDs, you might
need to update the backplane and the controller firmware using the server’s Tools
and Drivers DVD.
* Supported HBAs: Sun StorageTek PCIe SAS 8-Port Internal HBA, SGXPCIE8SAS-I-Z, LSI SAS 1068E and Sun
StorageTek SAS RAID 8-Port Internal HBA, SG-XPCIESAS-R-INT-Z, Adaptec/Intel-based
Verifying Hard Drives Using the LSI-Based Sun StorageTek PCIe SAS 8-port Internal HBA
1 Power on the server and watch the output for the prompt to press Ctrl-C.
2 When the prompt appears, press Ctrl-C.
3 From the main menu, select SAS Topology.
4 Verify that all installed drives are seen by the HBA, and replace any drives that
are not seen.
Verifying Hard Drives Using the Adaptec-based Sun StorageTek PCIe SAS 8-port Internal HBA
1Boot the server and watch the output for the prompt to press Ctrl-A to enter the
Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility (ARCU).
2When the prompt appears, press Ctrl-A. The Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility
main menu appears.
Initializing the Disks
1From the Adaptec RAID Configuration Utility main menu, select Create Array.
2Select Initialize Disks. A list appears showing disks seen by the HBA card.
If an installed disk does not appear in the list, replace it.
3Use the Insert key to add each disk to the list on the right.
4When done adding disks to the list, press Enter.
5To verify the drives, press the ESC key to exit to the main menu.
Verify the Hard Disks
1Select Disk Utilities.

8Sun Fire X4250 Volume Configuration Guide • March 2009
Test Hard Drives
Note – To expedite hard drive testing. use the 1% test coverage.
How to Add and Test PCIe Cards
■The disk controller HBA card must be inserted into slot 1 (the slot nearest the
power supply).
2Highlight a drive in the list by using the up or down arrow key, press enter and,
from the menu that appears, select Identify Drive and press Enter. This action
blinks the HD LED.
3Verify that the selected HD LED blinks.
4Select Identify Drive for each HD.
5When done, press ESC to exit to the main menu. The main menu appears.
Creating a Volume for Each Drive
1From the utility’s main menu, Select Array Configuration Utility.
2From the main menu, select Create Array to create a volume for each disk.
3Use the arrow key to highlight drive 0.
4Use the insert key to add drive 0 to the Selected Drives list on the right and press
enter.
5Label the volume (you can use the drive volume number) and press Enter
6Accept the defaults for Read Caching and Write Caching and press Enter.
7Select Build for the Create RAID Via option and press Enter
8Press Enter to build the volume.
9Repeat the steps to create a volume for each drive.
Testing Hard Drives Using Pc-Check
1Boot the server with the Tools and Drivers CD to access the diagnostics.
2Select the option to Run Hardware Diagnostics.
3Select the option to test hard drives.
Verifying Hard Drives Using the Adaptec-based Sun StorageTek PCIe SAS 8-port Internal HBA

How to Add Components to Your Limited Configuration Server 9
■After installation, update the firmware level for each card as specified by the
manufacturer.
How to Check and Update Your Firmware
Sun frequently provides new firmware updates, so it is possible that a newer version
of firmware is available for your server. Sun recommends that you update to the latest
version of firmware. Firmware versions for your server are described in the Sun Fire
X4250 Server Product Notes.
Firmware Update Notes
■The BIOS and SP firmware are matched and, unless specified, should always be
updated in unison.
■There are two types of SP firmware, ELOM (Embedded Lights Out Manager) and
ILOM (Integrated Lights Out Manager).
■Before updating your server, you must know the type of firmware (ELOM or
ILOM) installed on the SP.
■Do not update an ELOM-based SP using ILOM firmware. If you need to convert
an ELOM-based SP to an ILOM-based SP, use the ELOM-to-ILOM migration
process, which is described in the ELOM-to-ILOM Migration Guide.
■Downgrading firmware is not recommended, because downgrading firmware
might eliminate important security and functionality updates.
Adding PCIe Cards
1Connect PCIe cards to a riser assembly.
2Insert the PCIe card and riser assembly into a PCIe slot on the motherboard.
3Update the firmware level for each card as specified by the manufacturer.
Testing PCIe Cards
1If the self-test option exists, invoke the cards built in self-test.
2Test the card by performing basic rudimentary activities. For example, establish
network connectivity (for a GigabitEthernet card).

10 Sun Fire X4250 Volume Configuration Guide • March 2009
■Recovery procedures for failed updates are described in the product’s Service
Manual.
Checking and Updating Your Firmware
1Reboot the server and watch the screen for the prompt to press F2 to enter the
BIOS Setup Utility.
2When the prompt appears, press F2. The BIOS Setup Utility main menu appears.
3From the main menu, make note of the BIOS Version and the SP Firmware
Version
4Exit the BIOS setup utility.
5Access the Sun Fire X4250 server download site at:
http://www.sun.com/servers/x64/x4250/downloads.jsp
6Compare the most recent BIOS and SP version numbers to the firmware versions
of the server.
7If necessary, download the firmware and update the server using the ILOM.