IBM pSeries Server User Manual


 
Chapter 2. Architecture and technical overview 17
2.5.1 Boot options and limitations
Information about boot options is included in the subsequent sections.
Boot support and limitations of storage adapters
At the time of writing, the following adapters support external boot for the Models 6C1 and
6E1:
PCI Dual Channel Ultra3 SCSI Adapter (# 6203)
PCI Universal Differential Ultra SCSI Adapter (# 6204)
PCI Single-Ended Ultra SCSI Adapter (# 6206)
Advanced SerialRAID Plus Adapter (# 6230)
The PCI 4-Channel Ultra3 SCSI RAID Adapter (# 2498) does not support boot from external
devices.
Internal devices
Boot support is available for every internal SCSI disk.
External devices
Table 2-3 provides a map that enables you to determine if boot is supported in external
storage devices.
Table 2-3 Boot support - external devices
Fast boot
The Models 6C1 and 6E1 offer a Fast Boot option. For more detailed information, refer to
Fast boot on page 23.
Does the PCI card have RAID functionality?
Yes N o
The PCI card is seen as a
controller and therefore we
have no boot support.
The PCI card is seen as a adapter.
Does the external devices have RAID functionality?
Yes N o
No boot support (except
Advanced SerialRAID Plus
adapter)
Boot support
Note: SSA boot is possible from an Advanced SerialRAID Plus Adapter, provided a
non-RAID SSA disk is included as part of the configuration. Other disks associated with
the adapter can be RAID, but at least one disk must be a non-RAID SSA disk. The
non-RAID SSA disk can be located under the covers of a processor unit or in an external
SSA storage unit. If your system is running with AIX 4.3.3 or later software, native boot
capability is supported.
For factory system orders with AIX preload requested, an internal SCSI disk drive will be
preloaded as the native boot disk, even if internal SSA disk drive(s) are present.