Installation Manual

This feature enables you to use a common preconfiguration for your ProLiant Gen9 servers. For
example, if you have several servers, some might be installed in a data center where iLO is
contacted through the iLO Dedicated Network Port. Other servers might be installed in a data
center where iLO is contacted through the Shared Network Port. When you use iLO NIC
auto-selection, you can install a server in either data center and iLO will select the correct network
port.
By default, NIC auto-selection is disabled. For information about configuring this feature, see
“Enabling iLO NIC auto-selection” (page 110).
NIC auto-selection support
• ProLiant Gen9 nonblade servers with iLO 4 2.00 or later support NIC auto-selection.
• iLO 4 2.40 and later can be configured to search both Shared Network Ports on servers that
support this configuration.
• iLO 4 2.40 and later supports NIC failover. When enabled, iLO automatically begins searching
for a NIC connection when the current connection fails. NIC auto-selection must be enabled
to use this feature.
iLO startup behavior with NIC auto-selection enabled
When NIC auto-selection is enabled:
• If iLO was just connected to power, it tests the iLO Dedicated Network Port first.
• If iLO was just reset, it tests the last used iLO network port first.
• When testing a network port, if iLO detects network activity, then that port is selected for
use. If network activity is not found after approximately 100 seconds, iLO switches to the
opposite network port and begins testing there. iLO alternates testing between the iLO
Dedicated Network Port and the iLO Shared Network Port until network activity is detected.
An iLO reset occurs each time iLO switches between network ports for testing purposes.
CAUTION: If any of the physical NICs are connected to an unsecured network,
unauthorized access attempts might occur when iLO is alternating between the iLO network
ports. Hewlett Packard Enterprise strongly recommends that whenever iLO is connected to
any network:
◦ Use strong passwords for iLO access.
◦ Never connect the iLO Dedicated Network Port to an unsecured network.
◦ If the iLO Shared Network Port is connected to an unsecured network, use VLAN tagging
on the iLO portion of the shared NIC, and make sure that the VLAN is connected to a
secure network.
• When iLO searches for an active network port, the server UID LED is illuminated. If iLO is
reset during the search, the UID LED flashes for 5 seconds and then is illuminated until an
active port is selected or iLO is reset.
• When a server supports both LOM and FlexibleLOM Shared Network Port connections to
iLO, iLO will test only the option that was selected during configuration. It will not alternate
testing between LOM and FlexibleLOM options.
For information about configuring the Shared Network Port options, see “Enabling the iLO
Shared Network Port through the iLO web interface (nonblade servers only)” (page 100).
• If NIC auto-selection is configured to search for DHCP address assignment activity, but only
one of the iLO network ports has DHCP enabled, iLO tests for received data packet activity
on the port that is not configured for DHCP.
iLO NIC auto-selection 109