LAN Boot: Overview

Overview Systems and LAN Cards Shipping Since June 2005 HP LAN Cards Supporting LAN Boot with Needed Firmware Versions (Current as of June 6, 2005) Add-On Single-Technology Cards Add-On Combination Cards To Set Up and Run LAN Boot To Run LAN Boot on HP 9000 Systems To Run LAN Boot on HP Integrity Systems Legacy System and LAN Card Requirements (for Systems and LAN Cards that Shipped before June 2005) Additional Links (Including Required Minimum Firmware Versions and Available Downloads) List of systems supporting LAN Boot, the LAN cards supporting it, and the required minimum firmware versions for both HP 9000 and HP Integrity Systems: http://docs.hp.com/en/hw.html#System%20Firmware Firmware downloads for both HP 9000 and HP Integrity systems and applicable LAN card firmware for supporting LAN Boot. 1. Please check the versions needed according to the matrix listed in the previous bullet, 2. For downloading system firmware, go to: http://itrc.hp.com If you log in to the ITRC, select "patch database," then search for the needed patch number. If not already registered, you can register for free on the ITRC home page. 3. For getting LAN card firmware: for HP 9000-based LAN cards, get the latest LAN card bootcode (for updating firmware), on the June 2005 (or later) PA Offline Diagnostics media. for HP Integrity-based LAN cards, get the latest LAN card bootcode (for updating firmware) and EFI firmware, on the June 2005 (or later) IA Offline Diagnostics media. Instructions on using tools to update HP Integrity or HP 9000 Systems' firmware files and associated LAN cards' firmware files: http://docs.hp.com/en/diag.html#Offline%20Diagnostics

Overview
LAN Boot enables a system to load an HP-UX install kernel across a network via add-on LAN cards. The LAN Boot code resides in firmware. It establishes linkages that allow you to issue commands for booting up the HP-UX install kernel. This provides a foundation upon which you can then install the HP-UX Operating Environment (OE) and applications via the add-on LAN cards. HP Integrity Servers that run HP-UX Virtual Partitions (vPars) use LAN Boot to load and run their install kernel. LAN Boot is supported on HP Integrity systems running HP-UX 11i v2 and on select HP 9000 systems running HP-UX 11i v1 or 11i v2.

Systems and LAN Cards Shipping Since June 2005

HP systems and LAN cards shipping prior to June 2005 have special requirements in order for LAN Boot to work. For those "legacy" systems and LAN cards, see the special conditions to meet described in Legacy System and LAN Card Requirements (for Systems and LAN Cards that Shipped before June 2005)

in this document. As of June 2005, all of the shipping HP systems that support LAN boot have the required firmware for LAN Boot. As of June 2005, all of the shipping LAN cards that support LAN boot have the required firmware for LAN Boot.

HP Integrity Systems Supporting LAN Boot include:

rx1600 rx1620 rx2600 rx2620 rx4640 rx5670 rx7620 rx8620 HP Integrity Superdomes

HP 9000 Systems Supporting LAN Boot include:

rp3440 rp4440 rp7410 rp7420 rp8400 rp8420 HP 9000 (PA-RISC-based) Superdomes. Top of page

HP LAN Cards Supporting LAN Boot with Needed Firmware Versions (current as of June 6, 2005)
LAN boot is supported on all LAN cards shipped after June 6, 2005. Supported cards include the ones shown in the 2 tables that follow. LAN boot is also supported on the LAN cards mentioned in this document that were shipped before June 2005, but with a few special requirements. When using the older systems to provide LAN Boot or when using the A6847A, or the A9782A/A9784A, please see the special conditions to meet described in Legacy System and LAN Card Requirements (for Systems and LAN Cards that Shipped before June 2005) in this document. The following tables show the minimum firmware versions needed for LAN Boot (as of June 6, 2005).

Add-On Single-Technology Cards

Product Description Number PCI 1000B-T (Copper) Card A6825A for servers and workstations Network Boot EFI Notes Driver Code Driver igelan 2.4 N/A EFI is in system firmware; version varies from system to system. Card has no onboard EFI.

PCI 1000B-SX (Fiber) Card for A6847A igelan servers and workstations A7011A A7012A 2-port 1000Base-SX iether iether

2.19 N/A

EFI is in system firmware; version varies from system to system. Card has no onboard EFI. See the Requirements for legacy A6847A PCI 1000B-SX (Fiber) on HP 9000 in this document. EFI on the card. EFI on the card.

N/A 2.16 N/A 2.16

2-port 1000Base-T Top of page

Add-On Combination Cards

Product Description Number Network Boot EFI Notes Driver Code Driver A9782A & A9784A need different boot code due to differences on the 7.0.b cards (fiber vs copper). See the 2.30 (7.0.11) Requirements for legacy A9782A/A9784A combination cards on HP Integrity in this document. A9782A & A9784A need different boot code due to differences on the 7.0.b cards (fiber vs copper). See the 2.33 (7.0.11) Requirements for legacy A9782A/A9784A combination cards on HP Integrity in this document. 3.27 7.0.a EFI on the card. (7.0.10)

PCI/PCI-X 1000B-SX/FC A9782A igelan combo Card for servers

PCI/PCI-X 1000B-T/FC A9784A igelan combo Card for servers PCI/PCI-X 2port FC/2-port AB465A igelan Copper GigE combo card 2-port U320 SCSI / 2-port AB290A 1000Base-T combo 4-port 1000Base-T Top of page AB545A iether

N/A 2.16

EFI on the card.

iether

N/A 3.0.03

EFI on the card.

To Set Up and Run LAN Boot

To set up LAN boot on a LAN, the HP system that is to provide the install kernel is set up as a "bootp server." The system that is to receive the install kernel over the add-in LAN card is the client. For instructions on setting up an HP system as the "bootp server" to provide the install kernel, please see the instructions located in the bootp server README at: http://docs.hp.com/en/netcom.html#Internet%20Transport

To Run LAN Boot on HP 9000 Systems

This section describes how to use LAN Boot on HP 9000 (PA-RISC-based) systems. This procedure is run from the system that is to receive the new operating system -- the client. The procedure requires that the system be offline; and it will require a reboot. On PA platforms it is possible to perform a search at the BCH prompt to discover bootable media. The search command will look for valid bootp (bootpd(1M)) servers on the attached Ethernet network for supported LAN cards. It is also possible to perform a LAN Boot by using the boot command. These commands can be issued on add-in cards supporting LAN Boot in supported slots by using the directed variant of these commands. The directed variant is simply the same command with an extra parameter which is the hardware path. The syntax for a directed search is: BCH> search hardware_path lan The syntax for a directed boot is: BCH> boot hardware_path lan
Where: hardware_path is the hardware path of the desired interface.

The list of searchable and bootable slots varies according to system as shown in the following table The table assumes only LAN cards that support LAN Boot are being used.

Slots in HP 9000 that Support LAN Boot

HP 9000 System rp3440 rp4440 Supported Slots All slots All slots 2 slots; depending on what cells are in the PDE, the two slots can vary. Cell 0: slots 0_1 and 0_2 Cell 1: slots 1_7 and 1_8 Both Cell 0 and Cell 1: slots 0_1 and 1_8 All slots 2 slots; depending on what cells are in the PDE, the two slots can vary. Cell 0: slots 0_1 and 0_2 Cell 1: slots 1_7 and 1_8 Both Cell 0 and Cell 1: slots 0_1 and 1_8 All slots

rp7410

rp8400

rp7420

rp8420 rp8420 with I/O Expansion All slots Unit Top of page

To Run LAN Boot on HP Integrity Systems

This section describes how to use LAN Boot on HP Integrity (Itanium2-based) systems. This procedure is

run from the system that is to receive the new operating system -- the client. The procedure requires that the system be offline; and it will require a reboot. 1. Boot the Integrity system to the EFI shell prompt. On HP Integrity systems, an EFI driver enables the LAN card to find a bootp (bootpd(1M)) server on the network and perform data traffic at the EFI level. On HP Integrity Superdome, rx7620, and rx8620 servers not all EFI drivers are connected to the LAN cards they support--this helps to increase system boot-up speed. To use one of the Gigabit LAN cards that supports LAN boot on these systems, it is recommended that you first use the EFI shell command search." The search command then connects an EFI driver to the desired LAN card. It is not necessary to use the search command on any other systems before attempting a LAN Boot. More information can be found on the search command by using the EFI shell help command: shell> help search 2. Once you are ready to initiate a LAN Boot, at the EFI prompt, enter: shell> lanboot select This command will list the cards that support LAN Boot along with a 2-digit selector, and the MAC address of each card. You will then be prompted to enter the selector to choose the desired interface. Top of page

Legacy System and LAN Card Requirements (for Systems and LAN Cards that Shipped before June 2005)
HP systems and LAN cards that shipped before June 2005 have some special requirements in order for LAN Boot to work. There are special system requirements for LAN Boot for all systems shipped before June 2005, and special requirements for 3 LAN cards shipped before June 2005: Requirements for legacy systems: HP 9000 Requirements -- for systems shipped before June 2005: Ensure that the processor dependent code (PDC) on the HP 9000 system is at the correct version to support LAN Boot. HP 9000 (PA-RISC-based) systems shipped before June of 2005 may need to have their PDC updated to support LAN Boot on all the supported cards. See the latest HP 9000 system firmware matrix at: http://docs.hp.com/en/hw.html#System%20Firmware Download needed HP 9000 system firmware by going to: http://itrc.hp.com. Select "patch database," and search for the needed patch number. If not already registered, you can register for free on the ITRC home page. HP Integrity Superdome Requirements -- for systems shipped before June 2005: Ensure that the extensible firmware interface code (EFI) on the HP Integrity Superdome is at the correct version to support LAN Boot. HP Integrity Superdomes shipped before June of 2005 may need to have their EFI updated to support LAN Boot on all the supported cards. See the latest HP Integrity system firmware matrix at: http://docs.hp.com/en/hw.html#System%20Firmware Download needed HP Integrity system firmware by going to: http://itrc.hp.com. Select "patch database," and search for the needed patch number. If not already registered, you can register for free on the ITRC home page.

Requirements for legacy A9782A/A9784A combination cards on HP Integrity: Older A9782A cards (part number A9782-6x001) that were shipped before June 2005 require that the card bootcode is upgraded. Older A9782A cards and older A9784A cards (part number A9784-6x001) also need to have the card EFI driver updated (flashed). Newer cards shipped after June 2005 with the correct card bootcode and EFI are labelled A9782-6x002, A9784-6x002. For instructions on updating the EFI firmware on the A9782A and A9784A cards for LAN Boot, please refer to the EFI driver document for A9782A/A9784A on HP Integrity. To see that document: 1. Go to http://www.hp.com 2. Click on "Driver Downloads" 3. Enter the product number in the search box (either A9782A or A9784A), click the search button (>>), and 4. On the page that comes up, select the OS version (HP-UX 11.x is the only one listed). 5. Then you get to a page that lists the Fibre Channel & GigE drivers, Fibre Channel EFI driver, and the GigE EFI driver and download/install instructions. Scroll down to the part of the table marked "EFI (extensible firmware interface)" 6. Click on "EFI driver for Broadcom-based Gigabit Ethernet Interfaces (A9872A, A9874A)" but do not select the 'download' button yet. 7. Click on the "installation instructions" tab. Requirements for legacy A6847A PCI 1000B-SX (Fiber) on HP 9000: A6847A cards shipped before June of 2005 need to have their card bootcode updated to support LAN Boot. The older A6847A cards that need to have their bootcode updated (from bootcode 2.4) have part numbers of either A6847-60001 or A6847-67001. New cards with the correct bootcode (bootcode 2.19) have part number A6847-67101. Ensure that the bootcode residing on the A6847A card (card bootcode) is at the required level. To see the minimum required bootcode version that needs to be in the card to enable LAN Boot, please check the firmware table in this document: Add-On Single-Technology Cards Get the latest A6847A card bootcode (for updating firmware), on the June 2005 PA Offline Diagnostics media. For instructions on upgrading the A6847A card bootcode, please see the A6847A Upgrade Document at: http://docs.hp.com/en/netcom.html#Internet%20Transport

Top of page LAN Boot HOME URL: http://docs.hp.com/en/netcom.html#Internet%20Transport Last updated: 2:07 PM 5/24/2005