
Issue 11
© Solarflare Communications 2014
344
Solarflare Server Adapter
User Guide
Chapter 10: Solarflare Boot ROM Agent
Solarflare adapters support PXE and iSCSI booting, enabling diskless systems to boot from a remote
target operating system. Solarflare adapters comply with PXE 2.1. This chapter covers the following
topics:
Solarflare adapters are shipped with boot Rom support ’exposed’, that is the Boot ROM Agent runs
during the machine bootup stage allowing the user to enter the setup screens (via Ctrl+B) and
enable PXE support when this is required. The Boot ROM Agent can also be invoked using the
Solarflare supplied sfboot utility - For instructions on the sfboot method refer to the sfboot
commands in the relevant OS section of this user guide. PXE boot is supported on all Solarflare
adapters.
Some Solarflare distributors are able to ship Solarflare adapters with PXE boot enabled. Customers
should contact their distributor for further information.
PXE and iSCSI network boot is not supported for Solarflare adapters on IBM System p servers.
• Configuring the Solarflare Boot ROM Agent...Page 344
• Configuring the iSCSI Target...Page 349
• Configuring the Boot ROM...Page 349
• DHCP Server Setup...Page 356
• Installing an Operating System to an iSCSI target...Page 358
• Default Adapter Settings...Page 367
10.1 Configuring the Solarflare Boot ROM Agent
Updating Firmware
Before configuring the Boot ROM Agent, Solarflare recommend that servers are running the latest
adapter firmware which can be updated as follows:
• From a Windows environment you can use the supplied Command Line Tool sfupdate.exe. See
Sfupdate: Firmware Update Tool on page 189
for more details.
• From a Linux environment, you can update the firmware via sfupdate. See
Firmware with Sfupdate on page 70
.
• From a VMware environment, you can update the firmware via sfupdate. See
Adapter Firmware with Sfupdate on page 252
.
NOTE:
The Solarflare firmware supports both PXE and iSCSI.