Installing the Hardware
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Legacy BIOS issues - many tweaks and patches have been added over the years to resolve
various issues, and not all were done with the larger ecosystem (many different types of
servers, HBAs, OSes, and so on) in mind.
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Secure Boot (a UEFI-specific feature) can help you control the boot process, preventing
unauthorized code from running.
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Larger devices (>2TB) require the use of a GUID Partition Table (GPT) instead of a Master
Boot Record (MBR). GPT is the standard for EFI; it can be implemented in legacy BIOSes,
but it is more difficult to set up. So, while you might be able to boot from a >2TB device
in the legacy BIOS, it might not be seamless. If you are dual-booting with an OS that is
already installed in one mode or the other, however, it is good practice to boot in the same
boot mode as the one that is already in use.
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Disable OpROM and BIOS for all HBA cards except the one connected to the boot device.
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When installing a Boot From SAN (BFS) HBA, configure a single connection to a single
SAN target/LUN, install the boot OS, and get that working before installing other HBAs
and storage. If the configuration is complex, finding the root cause for any BFS issues
becomes far more complicated.
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Once BFS is installed and working, make sure the HBA driver and firmware are at the latest
revision levels. If required, configure a multipath connection, and perhaps one or more
alternate boot LUNs.
Best Practices For Testing the Environment
Test the storage environment by doing the following:
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Boot the OS on the host server, and then disable the primary path to the SAN boot device to
validate the multipath connection.
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Physically pull the cable from the system.
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Intentionally disrupt zoning at the FC switch that you plan to attach to the HBA.
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If you have installed any alternate boot LUNs, try to boot from those (after disrupting the
primary connection(s)).
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Make sure the boot LUN is set as the first boot device in the system BIOS/UEFI settings.
Installing the Hardware
The hardware installation process involves the following general steps, described in this
section:
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“To Install the HBA” on page 21
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StorageTek Dual 8Gb FC Dual GbE HBA, ExpressModule, Emulex Installation Guide For HBA Models SG-
XPCIEFCGBE-E8-Z, SG-PCIEFCGBE-E8-Z, SG-XPCIEFCGBE-E8-N, SG-PCIEFCGBE-E8-N and 7105393 • August
2018
