Boot Exadata Compute Node With Diagnostic Image Using ILOM Console Remotely

Introduction

Exadata Compute nodes and storage cells come with an Integrated Lights Out Manager or simply ILOM. ILOM is an adapter card in each compute node and storage cell that operates independently of the operating system. The ILOM boots up as soon as power is applied to the server and provides web and SSH access through the management network. Using ILOM you can perform several tasks remotely that would otherwise require physical access to the servers, this includes access to the remote console, attach diag.iso image, power server on and off, and rebooting or resetting the server. Also ILOM monitors the configuration and server internal hardware components.

In this article I will demonstrate step by step procedure on how to boot Exadata Compute node with the diagnostic ISO image using Web ILOM Remotely.

Steps to Mount diag.iso On An Exadata Compute Node Using ILOM Console:

• Copy/Download diag.iso to desktop machine

You can copy the diag.iso image from a good working compute node or storage cell to the desktop as shown below. You have an option to download image file from MOS note as well. See the MOS note 2001454.1 for more details.

Locate the diag.iso image on a good working server

Using WinScp copy the diag.iso image to the desktop/laptop

• Connect to the WEB ILOM as shown below

Open a web browser and enter the ILOM Hostname or ILOM IP address you want to attached diag.iso image

Enter the root user credentials

This is the ILOM home page which brief information about the server. On the left pane you have different options that you can use to manage the server remotely.

• Launch Remote Console by following the steps below

On the left pane Expand "Remote Control" and Click on "Redirection"

Click on "Launch Remote Console" button

Click Ok

Click Ok

Click Continue

Click Run

Now we can access the server remotely.

• Attach the diag.iso to Remote Console as follows

Click "KVMS" and Click on "Storage"

Click "Add" Button

Select the "diag.iso" image file on the local desktop/laptop

Click Ok

• Reboot the Server to boot from ISO image as follows

On the left pane expand "Host Management", Click on "Host Control" and Select "CDROM" as Next Boot Device and Click Save button

On the left pane expand "Host Management", Click on "Power Control" and Select "Power Cycle" and Click Save button

Click Ok

• Now the System is booting from diag.iso image

• Perform the desired action

Enter 'e' to enter into interactive mode or

Enter 'r' to perform a system restore from NFS backup

At this stage the server booted from diag.iso, enter into interactive mode, restore/recovery the machine or correct the OS configuration that you have and when you are done, disable redirection.

Conclusion

In this article we have learned how to mount diag.iso on Exadata compute node and boot Exadata Compute node. Using ILOM you can perform several tasks remotely that would otherwise require physical access to the servers, this includes access to the console, power server on and off, and rebooting or resetting the server.