Specifications

Chapter 1
1 - 6
Installing the BIG-IP software
Once you have properly installed the blade server system hardware, you are
ready to install the BIG-IP software. To install the BIG-IP software on the
Dell PowerEdge 1655MC, you use the network boot procedure known as a
Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE). The BIG-IP software installation
disk supports configuring a host to act as a PXE server. Complete the
following tasks to install the BIG-IP software:
• Select a host to act as a PXE server.
• Configure the host as a PXE server.
• Connect to the blade server system.
• Perform a PXE boot.
Note
The BIG-IP software does not currently support booting from a CD-ROM
drive connected directly to the Dell PowerEdge 1655MC.
Selecting a host to act as a PXE server
To begin the installation process, select a host machine that can act as a PXE
server. The machine you select must:
• Have a CD-ROM drive
• Support booting from the CD-ROM drive
• Reside on the same network as the target blade server system
Connect the host to any of the RJ-45 10/100/1000 ports located on the
applicable blade server system network switch module.
Configuring the host as a PXE server
After you have connected the host to the blade server system, insert the CD
into the host, and reboot the system from the CD-ROM drive, as
appropriate. You can now reconfigure the host as a PXE server.
To configure the host as a PXE server
1. To select an installation option, at the initial prompt select 2, Set up
server to provide network installation.
2. From the list of available network interfaces on the machine, select
an interface as the PXE server interface.
3. When prompted, select a DHCP server, based on whether you are
using an existing DHCP server, or setting up the host as the DHCP
server.