How to Configure Qlogic FC HBA BIOS Settings to Boot from SAN for x86 Server

Asset ID:	1-71-2242560.1
Update Date:	2018-03-07
Keywords:

Solution Type Technical Instruction Sure

Solution 2242560.1 : How to Configure Qlogic FC HBA BIOS Settings to Boot from SAN for x86 Server

Applies to:

Sun Server X2-4 - Version All Versions and later
Qlogic FC HBA - Version All Versions and later
Information in this document applies to any platform.

Goal

The goal is to configure a Qlogic FC HBA on an x86 server, so that it is able to Boot from a LUN presented to it via the SAN using the Qlogic BIOS settings.

Before continuing, you must know the WWN of the the Storage Controller (where the disk/volume is presented/mapped to the server) and the the LUN number (of that disk/volume) you want to boot from.

This WWN and LUN should be visible to the FC HBA port we will use to boot.

This document applies to any OS image installed on that LUN (Solaris, Linux, Windows)

Solution

When the system is booting, from BIOS you should be able to enter into the FC HBA menu , that should allow you to boot from a SAN device.

1. The PCI slot must be enabled on the x86 server BIOS, under PCIPnP menu

- Reboot the server and enter into server BIOS (usually F12 or CTRL-E), and go to the PCIPnP menu , then make sure the PCI slot where the Qlogic FC HBA is located is Enabled

In this example, Qlogic FC HBA was installed on PCI-E Slot 4 and the Qlogic utility Fast!UTIL was not available on the boot sequence.

The reason was the PCI slot was disabled, see this picture:

Server BIOS PCIPnP Menu

We had to select the PCI Slot 4 an change status to Enabled by pressing Enter

2. Enter into the Qlogic utility Fast!UTIL (provided by FC HBA BIOS)

When the server is booting , you will see a message from PCI Fibre Channel ROM BIOS

Press <CTRL-Q> or <ALT-Q> for Fast!UTIL

You will have just a few secs to enter CTRL-Q to enter into Fast!UTIL

Note. There is a nice 4 min video in youtube from Qlogic called "QLogic KnowHow: Boot from SAN Configuration using Fast!UTIL" that explains the following steps
I make this link internal until I get some response on this KM thread about publishing links to youtube videos http://myforums.oracle.com/jive3/thread.jspa?threadID=2309075

QLogic KnowHow: Boot from SAN Configuration using Fast!UTIL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--afdH7kIfk

Once you are into Fast!UTIL , here are the steps to boot from LUN "X" mapped on Storage Controller WWN "WWN_A"

1. On initial menu "Select Host Adapter", select the port of the FC HBA you are going to use to boot (where you know the LUN "X" from Storage Controller "WWN_A" is present)

2. Select "Configuration Settings" menu

3. Select "Adapter Setting"

4. Change status of "Host Adapter BIOS" to Enabled by pressing Enter

5. ESC (to go back to previous menu)

6. Select "Selectable Boot Settings"

7. Change status of "Selectable Boot" to Enabled by pressing Enter

8. Select "Boot Port Name,Lun"

9. Select the FC Device "WWW_A" of your storage

10. Select the LUN number "X" where the OS image is stored to boot from

11. ESC (to go back to previous menu)

12. ESC (to go back to previous menu)

13. Save Changes

14. Select "Exit Fast!UTIL"

15. Select "Reboot"

Note1. If your question is related to a SPARC server, see this doc:
Cannot Boot from SAN LUN (Doc ID 1504570.1)

Note2. If your question is related to a x86 server with an Emulex FC HBA, see this other doc as an example
How to Configure Emulex HBA BIOS settings to boot from SAN for Solaris x86 (Doc ID 2138228.1)

References

<NOTE:1504570.1> - Cannot Boot from SAN LUN
<NOTE:2138228.1> - How to Configure Emulex HBA BIOS settings to boot from SAN for Solaris x86

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