HP XC System Software Installation Guide Version 3.2

1.3 Task 3: Prepare Existing HP XC Systems
This task applies to anyone who is installing HP XC System Software Version 3.2 on an HP XC
system that is already installed with an older version of the HP XC System Software. Omit this
task if you are installing HP XC System Software Version 3.2 on new hardware for the first time.
Before using the procedures described in this document to install and configure HP XC System
Software Version 3.2, HP recommends that you perform the following tasks on existing HP XC
systems running older versions of the HP XC System Software:
1. Use your preferred backup solution to perform a full backup of the head node, which you
can do while the head node is up and when jobs are running.
If the /hptc_cluster file system is located on an HP StorageWorks Scalable File Server
(SFS), back up the SFS server as well.
2. Preserve local user accounts.
3. If your hardware configuration has an HP Integrity head node, prepare all client nodes to
network boot rather than boot from local disk:
# setnode --resync --all
4. Follow the software installation and configuration procedures outlined in the remainder of
this document. Because you already have a running HP XC system, some preparation tasks
might not apply to your situation. Regardless, HP recommends that you read through every
task described in this document and perform those that apply to your system configuration.
1.4 Task 4: Prepare the Hardware
Use the information in the HP XC Hardware Preparation Guide to prepare the hardware. The
connection of nodes to ProCurve switch ports is important for the automatic discovery process.
The HP XC Hardware Preparation Guide describes these connections in detail.
Do not proceed with the software installation process until all hardware preparation tasks are
complete.
IMPORTANT: The only exception to preparing hardware in advance of the installation is if the
hardware configuration contains HP server blades and enclosures. Setting the Onboard
Administrator password and making BIOS settings on the client server blade nodes cannot be
done until the switches have been discovered, a task that is documented as part of the installation
process.
The installation instructions in this document assumes that all enclosures have been physically
set up and populated with nodes, all components have been cabled together as described in the
HP XC Hardware Preparation Guide, and you have prepared the head node and the non-blade
server nodes according to the instructions in the HP XC Hardware Preparation Guide.
You are instructed at the appropriate place in this document to go to the HP XC Hardware
Preparation Guide and set the Onboard Administrator password and make BIOS settings on the
server blade nodes.
1.5 Task 5: Verify Firmware Versions
Follow the instructions in the accompanying hardware documentation to ensure that all hardware
components are running the latest qualified firmware versions. Upgrade the firmware versions,
if necessary.
The master firmware list for this release of the HP XC System Software is available at the following
website:
http://www.docs.hp.com/en/linuxhpc.html
26 Preparing for a New Installation