Before you beginThe BladeCenter unit must be correctly configured before you can use thecommand-line interface and SOL. Hardware and firmware required for thecommand-line interface and SOL are as follows:Hardware:SOL operation has the following hardware requirements:v An SOL-capable blade server. You can use the console command tocontrol a blade server through SOL only on blade server types thatsupport SOL functionality and that have an integrated systemmanagement processor firmware level of version 1.00 or later.v An SOL-capable Ethernet I/O module installed in I/O-module bay 1. Thefollowing I/O modules support SOL operation:– IBM 4-Port Gb Ethernet Switch Module for BladeCenter– Nortel Networks Layer 2-7 GbE Switch Module for IBM EserverBladeCenterv For the BladeCenter JS20 Type 8842, SOL uses the first networkinterface (Ethernet 1) of the blade server to communicate.Firmware:Make sure that you are using the latest versions of device drivers andfirmware code for your blade server, the management module, and otherBladeCenter components. Also, make sure that you are using the latestversions of basic input/output system (BIOS) code for the managementmodule and other BladeCenter components. Go to the IBM Support Website, http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/, for the latest information aboutupgrading the device drivers, firmware code, and BIOS code forBladeCenter components. The latest instructions are in the documentationthat come with the updates.The following table lists the minimum firmware levels that are required forBladeCenter components to support SOL operation. Go to the IBM SupportWeb site, http://www.ibm.com/pc/support/, for the latest firmwareinformation. For additional information, see “Updating the firmware code foryour blade server and the service processor” on page 55.Table 1. Minimum firmware levels required for SOLComponent Firmware levelIBM Eserver BladeCenter Management Module 1.09 or later ( BRET57G)IBM Eserver BladeCenter JS20 Type 8842 BroadcomEthernet Controller Diagnostic Utility1.06 or laterIBM Eserver BladeCenter JS20 Type 8842 BroadcomEthernet Controller Linux Device Driver7.1.22 or laterIBM 4-Port Gb Ethernet Switch Module for BladeCenter 81 or laterNortel Networks Layer 2-7 GbE Switch Module for IBMEserver BladeCenter20.0.1.3 or laterChapter 5. Configuring your blade server 43
