User`s guide

24 007-5474-003
1: SGI Altix XE Cluster Quick-reference
Installing or Updating Software
Platform Manage offers a mechanism to upload and install software across the cluster. This upload
and installation process requires that the software installation be in RPM format. Tarball software
distributions can be installed across a cluster. Please see the Platform scarcp (cluster remote
copy) and the scash (cluster remote shell) commands in the Platform Manage User’s Guide.
Instructions for installing software options or uploading additional software for your cluster using
the Platform GUI are covered in Chapter 3 of the Platform Manage User’s Guide.
Your integrated cluster also comes with an NFS mounted filesystem. The head node exports a
/data1 directory. Each compute node mounts this exported filesystem on /cluster. This can
be used as a mechanism to install software across the cluster as well.
Customers with support contracts needing BIOS or Firmware updates should check the SGI
Supportfolio Web Page at:
https://support.sgi.com/login
Accessing BIOS Information
BIOS Setup Utility options are used to change server configuration defaults. You can run
BIOS
Setup with or without an operating system being present. You can enter and start the BIOS
Setup Utility after you apply power to a head node or compute node (with a console attached) and
the Power-On Self Test (POST) completes the memory test. During the POST, the following
prompt displays may be encountered:
SGI Altix XE270 Head or Compute Node:
Press <Del> to enter SETUP
SGI Altix XE340 Compute Node:
Press <Del> to enter SETUP
SGI Altix XE250 Head Node or Compute Node:
Press <Del> to enter SETUP
SGI Altix XE320 Compute Node:
Press <Del> to enter SETUP