PowerEdge 1950 Debian install

BIOS Settings

• Turn on virtualization, IOMMU
• Lots of options regarding console redirection over serial. Need to investigate.

IPMI

Watch for IPMI setup message during boot. Press Ctrl-E when prompted. Settings as follows:

Static IP: 172.16.0.241
Netmask:   255.255.255.0
Gateway:   0.0.0.0

Reset user credentials.

TODO: Investigate crypto key stuff, alerts, other settings.

Updating firmware

Should be doable using the PXE boot firmware update procedure found elsewhere in this wiki. (Replace with a real link.)

Debian Install image locations

http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/6.0.3/amd64/iso-cd/debian-6.0.3-amd64-netinst.iso

non-Free firmware for Ethernet cards

PowerEdge 1950 machines have 2 on-board Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme II BCM5708 Gigabit Ethernet adapters. Firmware for adapters is non-free and must be loaded to perform the Debian installation.

An ISO image is available at http://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/6.0.3/amd64/iso-cd/ which should include the bits necessary to use these adapters during the OS installation. This is the Netinst ISO but it includes the non-free firmware. Saves on getting the non-free firmware installed using USB keys, floppies, or other media.

http://wiki.debian.org/Firmware has a discussion of issues surrounding the non-free firmware needed by these systems and its use in Debian.