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2. Prepare for the hardware installation
2.1. Verify or obtain BladeCenter hardware
If you have already purchased a BladeCenter chassis, verify it is supported for IBM i on a Power
blade by consulting the supported environments document:
http://www.ibm.com/systems/i/advantages/v6r1/blades/index.html.
If you have not already obtained a BladeCenter chassis, work with your local sales channel or
use the IBM BladeCenter chassis Web site at
http://www.ibm.com/systems/bladecenter/hardware/chassis/.
2.2. Verify or obtain I/O switch modules
If you have already obtained the BladeCenter switch modules, verify that:
•
They are supported for IBM i on Power blade
•
They meet the requirements of the minimum configuration for IBM i on Power blade
Consult the supported environments document at
http://www.ibm.com/systems/i/advantages/v6r1/blades/index.html.
NOTE:
If the Power blade(s) is/are going to co-exist with another type of blade server, such as
Intel-based blades, verify that the I/O switch module configuration of the chassis meets the I/O
requirements of all blades.
3. Hardware installation and BladeCenter firmware updates
3.1. Assemble the BladeCenter and blade server hardware
The first step in preparing the BladeCenter is to install the BladeCenter and blade server
hardware. This may include installing any management modules, power modules, and I/O
modules in the BladeCenter. The BladeCenter might have these components already installed if
an additional blade server is being added to an already functioning BladeCenter. Before installing
the blade servers in the BladeCenter, any blade server options must be installed. This may
include additional processors (if x86 blades), additional memory and I/O expansion cards. For
Power blade servers, any required CFFh, CIOv and/or CFFv expansion adapters are installed at
this time, depending on the chassis and storage used. Refer to the blade server and expansion
card documentation that came with the option for details on installing each one. Once the blade
server options have been installed, the blade server can be installed in the BladeCenter. Refer to
BladeCenter and blade server documentation for details on how to install the BladeCenter and
blade server components. After installing all the blade server options, installing the blade servers
into the BladeCenter, and installing the BladeCenter modules, the BladeCenter can be connected
to the Power outlets.
