IBM x3650

[mtk]

Hey,
I have an IBM x3650 I'm going to use as my storage, but I can't get it to boot from USB (to have N4F embedded/install on it).

The server has an Hardware Raid, so I was thinking about creating a small RAID 10 from the 6 drives just to install the system on it.


Would this work?
is there a better alternative...?

[raulfg3]

Would this work?

yes, but is not recommended to have data in same disk ( raid disk) that you boot.

s there a better alternative...?

YES , DO not use Hardware RAID, use soft raid like ZFS use, and boot from an old IDE disk ( old & cheap, but in good state) to install N4F full on it.

PD: If do not have old IDE support, try to use one SATA port to boot from it, and google a bit to find why your IBM x3650 do not boot from USB ( Perhaps you need to change some values on BIOS)

[raulfg3]

some googlee search: https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/comm ... 0014877599

https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/comm ... 0014710727

see latest comments that certain brands do not boot, but others , yes, so you need to test several USB keys until find one that works.

[mtk]

some googlee search: https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/comm ... 0014877599

https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/comm ... 0014710727

see latest comments that certain brands do not boot, but others , yes, so you need to test several USB keys until find one that works.

Thanks, I already read those.
I tried another USB stick and now it seems to allow it to boot (although it cannot be set in the BIOS directly).


now I need to figure out it it really boots (currently, not )

[armandh]

some older bios do not boot USB sticks over 2 Gb
just dumb file handling limitations
try and reformat with a less than 2 Gb fat partition.

some larger USB sticks have non boot-able file drivers for non fat file systems

unless the hardware is free take a pass on PCI hardware in favor of PCI-e
PCI is at the bottom of my 3 performance wise

[mtk]

some older bios do not boot USB sticks over 2 Gb
just dumb file handling limitations
try and reformat with a less than 2 Gb fat partition.

some larger USB sticks have non boot-able file drivers for non fat file systems

different stick, seems to boot...

[armandh]

and lastly are you trying to boot the wrong ver [64 Vs 32]
see if the hardware will boot N4F from a small Hdd