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added to the platform and the firmware is modified to recognize it, the operating system can immediately boot. Although EFI was originally introduced with the Itanium architecture, it is not restricted to 64-bit platforms. The EFI architecture is modular, extensible, and offers backward compatibility for the older systems by default. This means that it is possible for non-EFI-aware operating systems to communicate directly with system BIOS/firmware; however, this depends on how a particular manufacturer implements the EFI on its products. The x455 has a small portion of legacy BIOS code used only for running the IA-32 video driver; however, it will only support EFI-aware operating systems. From a long-term perspective, for IA-32 systems there is expected to be a gradual transition from BIOS to the EFI. EFI does offer an extensive development interface that enables it to be customized to load additional drivers, provide corporate identity, or provide authentication and security features. Tools are available from Intel's Web site to assist with this. If you have not used an EFI system before you will come across a number of new acronyms. These are listed in the table below with a brief description. Table 1-7 EFI acronyms and descriptions Acronym Description ACPI Advanced Configuration and Power Interface - This is an industry standard interface for OS-directed configuration and power management for servers, desktops, and laptops. EFI Extensible Firmware Interface - A new interface between the system firmware and operating system. PAL Processor Abstraction Layer - This provides various processor functions that vary between different implementations of a particular platform. SAL System Abstraction Layer - This is a firmware layer and provides various system functions that vary between different implementations of a particular platform. SMBIOS Systems Management BIOS - A specification that defines how systems management information is presented in a standard format on Intel architecture systems. 1.10.1 GUID Partition Table disk The GUID Partition Table (GPT) was introduced as part of the EFI initiative. Every disk is assigned a global unique identifier (GUID) to allow self-identification Chapter 1. Technical description 31

Section	Page
Front cover	1
Contents	5
Notices	9
Trademarks	10
Preface	11
The team that wrote this redbook	11
Become a published author	13
Comments welcome	14
Chapter 1. Technical description	15
1.1 Features	16
1.1.1 Comparing the x455 with the x450	16
1.1.2 Features not supported	17
1.2 The x455 base models	18
1.2.1 Front and rear views	18
1.3 System assembly	20
1.4 IBM XA-64 chipset	21
1.4.1 The processor-board assembly	23
1.4.2 The memory-board assembly	27
1.4.3 PCI-X board assembly	31
1.5 Remote Supervisor Adapter	33
1.6 RXE-100 Expansion Enclosure	35
1.7 Multinode scalable partitions	36
1.7.1 RXE-100 connectivity	38
1.7.2 Multinode configuration	39
1.7.3 Integrated I/O function support	40
1.7.4 Error recovery	40
1.8 Redundancy	41
1.9 Light path diagnostics	41
1.10 Extensible Firmware Interface	43
1.10.1 GUID Partition Table disk	45
1.10.2 EFI System Partition	47
1.10.3 EFI and the reduced-legacy concept	48
1.11 Operating system support	49
1.12 Enterprise X-Architecture	49
1.12.1 NUMA architecture	50
Chapter 2. Positioning	53
2.1 Migrating to a 64-bit platform	54
2.2 Scalable system partitioning	55
2.2.1 RXE-100 Expansion Enclosure	56
2.3 Operating system support	56
2.4 Server consolidation	57
2.5 ServerProven®	58
2.6 IBM Datacenter Solution Program	59
2.7 Application solutions	60
2.7.1 Database applications	60
2.7.2 Business logic	62
2.7.3 e-Business and security transactions	64
2.7.4 In-house developed compute-intensive applications	65
2.7.5 Science and technology industries	65
2.8 Why choose x455	66
Chapter 3. Planning	69
3.1 System hardware	70
3.1.1 Processors	70
3.1.2 Memory	71
3.1.3 PCI-X slot configuration	75
3.1.4 Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet controller	78
3.2 Cabling and connectivity	79
3.2.1 SMP Expansion connectivity	81
3.2.2 Remote Expansion Enclosure connectivity	84
3.2.3 Remote Supervisor Adapter connectivity	90
3.2.4 Serial connectivity	92
3.3 Storage considerations	93
3.3.1 xSeries storage solutions	93
3.3.2 Tape backup	98
3.4 Rack installation	99
3.5 Power considerations	101
3.6 Operating system support	101
3.6.1 Clustering	102
3.7 IBM Director support	103
3.8 Solution Assurance Review	104
3.8.1 Trigger Tool	104
3.8.2 Electronic Solution Assurance Review (eSAR)	104
Chapter 4. Installation	105
4.1 Using The Extensible Firmware Interface	106
4.1.1 EFI Firmware Boot Manager	107
4.1.2 The EFI shell	109
4.1.3 Driver Setup	117
4.1.4 Flash update	126
4.1.5 Configuration/Setup utility	132
4.1.6 Diagnostic utility	135
4.1.7 Boot Option Maintenance	136
4.2 Configuring scalable partitions	145
4.2.1 Creating a scalable partition	145
4.2.2 Booting a scalable partition	148
4.2.3 Multiple Monitors	149
4.2.4 Deleting a scalable partition	150
4.3 Installing Windows Server 2003	150
4.3.1 Important information	150
4.3.2 Preparing to install	152
4.3.3 Installation	153
4.3.4 Post-setup phase	158
4.4 Installing Linux	165
4.4.1 Linux IA-64 kernel overview	166
4.4.2 Choosing a Linux distribution	167
4.4.3 Installing SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8.0	170
4.4.4 Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS	174
4.4.5 Linux boot process	176
4.4.6 Information about the installed system	177
4.4.7 Using the serial port for the Linux console	185
4.4.8 RXE-100 Expansion Enclosure	186
4.4.9 Upgrading drivers	187
Chapter 5. Management	189
5.1 IBM Director	190
5.1.1 Scalable Systems Manager	191
5.2 The Remote Supervisor Adapter	191
5.2.1 Connecting via a Web browser	193
5.2.2 Connecting via the ASM interconnect	198
5.2.3 Installing the device driver	199
5.2.4 Configuring the remote control password	200
5.3 Management using the Remote Supervisor Adapter	201
5.3.1 Configuring which alerts to monitor	202
5.3.2 Configuring SNMP	204
5.3.3 Sending alerts directly to IBM Director	205
5.3.4 Creating a test event action plan in IBM Director	207
5.4 Windows System Resource Manager	210
5.4.1 WSRM description	211
5.4.2 WSRM features	212
5.4.3 WSRM in the x455	213
Abbreviations and acronyms	215
Related publications	217
IBM Redbooks	217
Other publications	217
Online resources	218
How to get IBM Redbooks	222
Help from IBM	222
Index	223

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Chapter 1. Technical description

added to the platform and the firmware is modified to recognize it, the operating

system can immediately boot.

Although EFI was originally introduced with the Itanium architecture, it is not

restricted to 64-bit platforms. The EFI architecture is modular, extensible, and

offers backward compatibility for the older systems by default. This means that it

is possible for non-EFI-aware operating systems to communicate directly with

system BIOS/firmware; however, this depends on how a particular manufacturer

implements the EFI on its products. The x455 has a small portion of legacy BIOS

code used only for running the IA-32 video driver; however, it will only support

EFI-aware operating systems. From a long-term perspective, for IA-32 systems

there is expected to be a gradual transition from BIOS to the EFI.

EFI does offer an extensive development interface that enables it to be

customized to load additional drivers, provide corporate identity, or provide

authentication and security features. Tools are available from Intel’s Web site to

assist with this.

If you have not used an EFI system before you will come across a number of new

acronyms. These are listed in the table below with a brief description.

Table 1-7

EFI acronyms and descriptions

1.10.1

GUID Partition Table disk

The

GUID Partition Table

(GPT) was introduced as part of the EFI initiative.

Every disk is assigned a global unique identifier (GUID) to allow self-identification

Acronym

Description

ACPI

Advanced Configuration and Power Interface - This is an industry

standard interface for OS-directed configuration and power

management for servers, desktops, and laptops.

EFI

Extensible Firmware Interface - A new interface between the system

firmware and operating system.

PAL

Processor Abstraction Layer - This provides various processor

functions that vary between different implementations of a particular

platform.

SAL

System Abstraction Layer - This is a firmware layer and provides

various system functions that vary between different implementations of

a particular platform.

SMBIOS

Systems Management BIOS - A specification that defines how systems

management information is presented in a standard format on Intel

architecture systems.