HP Xw460c Administrator's Guide for Microsoft Windows on HP ProLiant Blade Wor - Page 14

Blade workstation video subsystem

14

2 Blade workstation video subsystem

This chapter describes the blade workstation video subsystem. Because the blade workstation contains two types

of video controllers, it is important to understand their functionality and operating modes. The two types of video

controllers are:

•

ATI RN50 video controller

(“ATI video controller”)—The ATI Video controller is built-into the blade

workstation.

•

NVIDIA Quadro FX graphics adapter

(“NVIDIA graphics adapter”)—The xw460c blade workstation

supports a number of NVIDIA graphics adapters, either in single-card configurations or dual-card

configurations. See the document

Hardware and Software Supported by HP ProLiant Blade Workstations

for a description of the NVIDIA graphics adapters supported by the xw460c blade workstation, as well as

whether they are supported in single-card or dual-card configurations.

The xw2x220c blade workstation supports only a single type of NVIDIA graphics adapter; again, see the

document


for a description of the

NVIDIA graphics adapter supported by the xw2x220c blade workstation

In September 2008, HP began offering the HP Graphics Expansion Blade (“expansion blade”), which attaches to

the xw460c blade workstation only. The expansion blade supports the installation of certain PCI-Express NVIDIA

Quadro FX graphics adapters. Again, see


for a description of the PCI-Express NVIDIA graphics adapters that can be installed in the expansion blade (as

well as the NVIDIA graphics adapters that can be installed internal to the blade workstation). Note that the

expansion blade does not currently support dual graphics—that is, only one PCI-Express graphics adapter can be

installed in the expansion blade.

NOTE:

NVIDIA graphics adapters are installed internal to the xw460c blade workstation if an expansion

blade is not attached to the blade workstation. If an expansion blade is attached, graphics adapters can only

be installed in the expansion blade, not internal to the blade workstation. Unless otherwise noted, no

distinction is made in this chapter based on where the graphics adapter(s) are installed—internal to the

xw460c blade workstation or in the expansion blade—because their installation location is invisible to

Windows.

Figure 2-1 shows the blade workstation video subsystem architecture, and lists the three operating modes.

Figure 2-1

Video subsystem architecture and operating modes

Dual Broadcom

5708s Ethernet

controllers

iLO 2

management

processor

ATI RN50

video controller

(1280 x 1024)

NIC 1

NIC 2

iLO 2

Admin Mode

User Mode

Setup Mode

video

USB x 2

serial

Local I/O Connector

NVIDIA Quadro

FX graphics

adapter

NVIDIA Quadro

FX graphics

adapter

Boot console

Windows desktop

in Admin Mode

and Setup Mode

Windows desktop

in User Mode

One or two

graphics

adapters

Section	Page
Introduction	8
Nomenclature	8
Administrator’s Guide organization	10
Blade workstation solution documents	11
Obtaining HP technical support	12
Customer Self Repair	12
Ordering Windows recovery media	12
Microsoft Windows licensing	12
Blade workstation video subsystem	14
Setting Remote Console Mode	16
Admin Mode	17
Setup Mode	18
User Mode	19
Summary of Remote Console Modes	20
Installing, powering on, booting, and validating the blade w	21
Setting up the client computer	22
Installing and turning on the blade workstation	22
Preparing the blade workstation infrastructure	22
Configuring the blade workstation hardware	23
Connecting media to the blade workstation	24
Powering on the blade workstation	25
Blade workstation sleep states	26
The OOBE screens	26
Verifying networking	27
NIC1 and NIC2 verification	27
iLO 2 network verification	28
Installing, configuring, and verifying RGS	29
Installing RGS	29
Setting the RGS NIC binding order	29
Setting User Mode	31
Verifying RGS operation	31
Installing applications	31
Validating the solution	32
Integrate additional blade workstations and client computers	32
Optional: Configure network teaming	32
Creating a custom Windows XP-32 image	34
Components in the factory-installed Windows XP-32 image	34
Creating a custom Windows XP-32 image	35
Required components	35
Optional software components	36
Creating the Windows XP-32 image	36
Configuring the operating system	45
Verifying the network connections	47
Installing and verifying RGS	47
Installing the applications	47
Validating the solution	47
Deploying the Windows image	47
Restoring Windows XP-32	48
Hardware configuration	48
Restoring Windows XP-32 from the RestorePlus! CD	48
Using Windows XP-64 on the blade workstation	49
Windows XP-64 processes	49
Using Windows Vista on the blade workstation	50
Acquiring Windows Vista	50
Installing Windows Vista	50
Hardware configuration	50
Windows Vista installation steps	51
Viewing the Windows Vista desktop	51
Capturing a blade workstation image using HP RDP	52
Deploying a blade workstation image using HP RDP	55
Performing an unattended installation of Windows XP-32 and W	58
Assumptions	58
Unattended installation procedure	59
User Information	68
Introduction	68
Powering on the HP blade workstation client	68
Changing the behavior of RGS	68
Connecting from the client to the blade	69
Using Enterprise Directory	69
Using a local directory file	70
Using manual entry	70
Sending Ctrl+Alt+Delete to the blade workstation	71
Accessing blade workstation desktop windows	71
Moving desktop windows between monitors	72
Spanning multiple displays with a desktop window	72
Maximizing a window to a single display	72
Supported USB devices	73
Synchronizing a PDA	73
Adjusting audio volume on the client and blade	73
Disconnecting the client from the blade workstations	74
Reconnecting to disconnected sessions	74
Managing the blade workstation	75
Onboard Administrator	76
Integrated Lights-Out 2 (iLO 2)	78
Accessing iLO 2	78
iLO 2 Remote Console	79
Viewing the Windows desktop	81
iLO 2 virtual media	82
Remote Desktop Connection	84
System Management Homepage	86
Local access to SMH	87
HP Systems Insight Manager	87
HP Rapid Deployment Pack	88
Introduction	88
HP RDP content	88
Infrastructure requirements	88
HP RDP-specific differences between server blades and blade	88
Operating system	88
Preinstalled operating system	89
Booting	89
Software tools	89
Use Rip-n-Replace and Virtual Bay features to replace failed	89
HP Insight Diagnostics	90
Key features and benefits	90
Theory of operation	90
Accessing HP Insight Diagnostics	90
Survey tab	91
Test tab	91
Status tab	92
Log tab	92
Help tab	92
Saving and printing information in HP Insight Diagnostics	92
Downloading the latest version of HP Insight Diagnostics	93
ROM-Based Setup Utility	93
Power-on Self Test	93
BIOS Serial Console	93
BIOS programming	93
Troubleshooting the blade workstation solution	94
Troubleshooting SMH problems	94
Troubleshooting HP SIM problems	94
Troubleshooting RGS problems	95
Troubleshooting Windows problems	96
APPENDIX A: Downloading and installing SoftPaqs and Smart Co	97
A-1 Downloading and installing SoftPaqs	97
A-2 Downloading and installing Smart Components	101
A-2-1 Installing Smart Components using their graphical user	101
A-2-2 Command line installation of Smart Components	103

HP Xw460c Administrator's Guide for Microsoft Windows on HP ProLiant Blade Wor - Page 14

Blade workstation video subsystem, Admin Mode, User Mode, Setup Mode - proliant blade workstation processor

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