Configuring Boot from SAN

Boot from SAN has become a de facto description for the capability of having a server boot its 

operating system from SAN. The HBA ROM provides this functionality. Once HBAs are configured 

to boot from the disk device on the SAN, the server boots as if it were a local disk. 

More than one HBA can be configured for the redundant boot path for the High Availability of the 

Boot device. The Failover feature during boot time is provided by the HBA ROM configuration. 

Note: Device Mapper Multipathing features are available after the kernel loads the multipathing 

modules from the initial RAM disk image. 

Configuring the HBA/NIC ROM for High Availability of Boot device 

To set up your Linux server to boot from a SAN device, complete the following steps: 

Setting up the storage arrays 

1. Create two Logical units for Boot and Root devices 

2. Present the Logical units to the Linux server 

Note: For more information on configuring the Logical units, refer to the HP StorageWorks array 

User Guide. 

Setting up the host systems 

To configure the host boot order for HP ProLiant servers with Multifunctional Gigabit Ethernet 

Server Adapter, complete the following steps: 

1. While the system is booting, press F9 to start the BIOS Setup Utility. 

2. Select Boot Controller Order. 

1. Select the HBA configured to provide the boot device and move it to Controller Order 1. 

2. In case of multiple HBAs, set to the higher Controller Order. 

3. Press Escape, and press F10 to save your configuration and exit the utility. 

To enable the iSCSI boot option ROM for HP ProLiant Gigabit Ethernet Multifunction server 

adapter in your server, complete the following steps: 

1. While the system is booting, press F9 to start the BIOS Setup Utility. 

2. Select System Options. 

a. Select Embedded NICs. 

b. Select the NIC to which the boot option is to be set and press Enter twice. 

c. Select iSCSI Boot and press Enter. 

d. iSCSI Boot must be displayed as the boot option for the NIC you selected. 

4. Press Escape, and then press F10 to save your configuration and exit the utility.