Configuring a Lenovo server involves a systematic process, beginning with the physical setup and extending through hardware installation, remote management configuration, and operating system deployment. This ensures your server is ready for its intended workload, optimized for performance, and easily manageable.
1. Initial Physical Setup: Unpacking and Installation
The first step in bringing your Lenovo server to life is handling its physical components.
- Unpack the Server: Carefully unpack the server package, ensuring all components and accessories listed in the Server package contents are present. This includes the server unit, power cords, rail kits, and any documentation.
- Rack Installation: Install the server into its designated rack enclosure using the provided rail kits. Ensure proper spacing for airflow and maintenance access.
- Connect Peripherals: Connect the necessary power cords, Ethernet cables, and, if required for local setup, a KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) to the server.
2. Hardware Configuration and Options Installation
After the server is physically in place, the next phase involves installing or upgrading internal hardware components to meet your specific requirements.
- Install Required Hardware Options: This is a crucial step where you install any additional hardware or server options. This might include:
- Memory (RAM): Install or upgrade DIMMs following the server's memory population rules for optimal performance.
- Storage Drives: Install hard disk drives (HDDs) or solid-state drives (SSDs) into their bays.
- PCIe Adapter Cards: Insert network interface cards (NICs), Host Bus Adapters (HBAs), RAID controllers, or GPU accelerators into available PCIe slots.
- Central Processing Units (CPUs): If not pre-installed or if upgrading, install CPUs and their respective heat sinks.
- Cabling: Ensure all internal cables (power, data, signal) are properly connected and routed to avoid obstructing airflow.
- Verification: Double-check that all components are securely seated before proceeding. Consult the Install server hardware options section in your server's documentation for specific instructions.
3. Configure the System: BIOS/UEFI and XCC
With the hardware in place, attention shifts to the server's core system settings and remote management capabilities.
3.1 BIOS/UEFI Configuration
Access the server's Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) setup utility (often referred to as BIOS) to configure fundamental system settings:
- Accessing UEFI: Power on the server and press the designated key (e.g., F1, Del, or F2 depending on the model) during POST (Power-On Self-Test) to enter the UEFI setup.
- Key Settings:
- Date and Time: Set the correct system date and time.
- Boot Order: Prioritize boot devices (e.g., USB, network, internal storage) for operating system installation.
- RAID Configuration: If using a hardware RAID controller, configure RAID arrays (e.g., RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10) for your storage drives. This creates logical drives for the operating system to recognize.
- Virtualization Settings: Enable features like Intel VT-x/AMD-V and IOMMU (Intel VT-d/AMD-Vi) if you plan to use virtualization software.
- Power Management: Adjust power-saving settings based on your performance and efficiency needs.
- Security: Set supervisor and user passwords for UEFI access.
3.2 Lenovo XClarity Controller (XCC) Setup
The Lenovo XClarity Controller (XCC) is an integrated management module that provides comprehensive remote management capabilities, regardless of the server's operating system status.
- Connect to Management Network: Crucially, connect the dedicated XCC management port on the server to your management network.
- Accessing XCC:
- Default IP/DHCP: If configured for DHCP, the XCC will obtain an IP address automatically. You can find this IP via the server's front panel display, UEFI settings, or a network scanner. If DHCP is not available or preferred, XCC typically has a default static IP address (e.g., 192.168.70.125).
- Web Browser: Open a web browser and navigate to the XCC's IP address.
- Initial Configuration:
- Login: Use the default credentials (often
USERID: lenovo,PASSWORD: l3n0vOor found in documentation) and change them immediately for security. - Network Settings: Configure a static IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS servers for the XCC to ensure reliable network access.
- Firmware Update: Update the XCC firmware to the latest version to ensure stability, security, and access to new features.
- User Management: Create additional user accounts with appropriate roles and permissions.
- Alerts and Monitoring: Configure email or SNMP alerts for hardware failures, temperature thresholds, or other critical events.
- Login: Use the default credentials (often
Example XCC Network Configuration:
| Setting | Recommended Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| IP Address | 192.168.1.100 |
Unique static IP on your management network. |
| Subnet Mask | 255.255.255.0 |
Matches your network's subnet. |
| Gateway | 192.168.1.1 |
Your network's default gateway. |
| DNS Server 1 | 8.8.8.8 (or internal) |
Primary DNS server for hostname resolution. |
| VLAN ID | (Optional) 100 |
If using VLANs for management traffic. |
| Login Timeout | 600 seconds |
Session timeout for security. |
For detailed guidance on XCC, refer to the official Lenovo XClarity Controller User Guide.
4. Operating System and Software Installation
With the hardware and XCC configured, you can proceed with installing the operating system and necessary drivers.
- Operating System Installation:
- Virtual Media via XCC: The most common method is using the XCC's virtual media feature to mount an ISO image from your local machine or a network share, simulating a local DVD drive or USB stick.
- USB Drive: Create a bootable USB drive with the OS installer.
- Network Boot (PXE): If you have a PXE server, you can boot the server over the network to install the OS.
- Driver Installation: After the OS is installed, download and install the latest drivers for all server components (chipset, network adapters, RAID controller, graphics) from the Lenovo Support Website.
- Firmware Updates (Server Components): Beyond the XCC, ensure that firmware for other components like the BIOS/UEFI, RAID controllers, and network adapters are also up-to-date. This can often be done through the XCC or using bootable update media.
5. Network and Storage Optimization
Finalize the server's integration into your infrastructure.
- Network Adapter Configuration:
- Configure IP addresses, subnet masks, and gateways for each network interface.
- Set up VLANs if required.
- Consider NIC teaming or bonding for redundancy and increased bandwidth.
- Storage Configuration:
- If you haven't already, complete any partitioning and formatting of your logical drives within the operating system.
- Configure shared storage protocols (e.g., iSCSI, Fibre Channel) if the server will connect to a Storage Area Network (SAN).
6. Ongoing Management and Monitoring
Once configured, the server requires ongoing management to maintain optimal performance and reliability.
- Lenovo XClarity Administrator: For environments with multiple Lenovo servers, consider deploying Lenovo XClarity Administrator, which provides centralized management, monitoring, and firmware updates for your entire Lenovo infrastructure.
- Monitoring Tools: Integrate the server with your existing monitoring solutions (e.g., Nagios, Zabbix, PRTG) using SNMP or other protocols to track performance metrics, hardware health, and receive alerts.
- Regular Updates: Establish a routine for applying operating system patches, driver updates, and firmware updates to ensure security and stability.
By following these structured steps, you can effectively configure your Lenovo server, preparing it for high performance, reliability, and ease of management within your IT environment.
