Installing only the PXE server (Linux and UNIX)

The PXE and TFTP servers are functional components required for the BMC Server Automation provisioning solution. This topic provides instructions for installing the PXE and TFTP servers on UNIX or Linux computers.

To use silent mode to install the PXE server, follow the steps in Using silent mode to install BMC Server Automation components.

Before you begin

• If you are installing on Linux, be aware of the following precautions. If you are installing on:
  • Red Hat Linux, the compat-libstdc++ RPMs must be installed. Also, the XFree86-libs or xorg-x11-libs RPMs must be installed.
  • SUSE 9.x, either the compat or compat-32bit RPM must be installed and the xf86 RPM must be installed.
  • SUSE 10.x, either the compat or compat-32bit RPM must be installed and the xorg-x11 RPM must be installed.
• If the PXE and DHCP servers are running on separate host computers, the PXE server must be able to receive the initial DHCP packet broadcast from the target server being provisioned. If the PXE server is on a different subnet than the target server, an IP helper address must be added to the network router in order to forward broadcasts from the target server to the PXE server.

To install the PXE server

1. Navigate to the directory containing installation files and run the installation script for BMC Server Automation. (Script names follow the convention: BBSAversion-platform.) You must execute the installation from a root shell. Do not execute the installation script from a non-root account.
   The following message is displayed:
   Please choose the installation directory. [/opt/bmc/bladelogic]
2. To install BMC Server Automation in /opt/bmc/bladelogic, press Enter. Or enter another directory path.
   A message prompts you to choose a language for the installation program.
3. Enter the number representing the language that you want to use for the installation.
4. A welcome message is displayed, followed by a prompt to read the third-party software license agreements.
5. Press Enter.
   An acknowledgment is displayed listing the third-party software that BMC Server Automation uses.
6. Press Enter.
   A message prompts you to review text about terms and conditions for using this software.
7. Press Enter.
   The following message is displayed:
   Do you agree to the terms of the license agreement (y for Yes)?

8. Enter y.
   The following message is displayed:

   ============== Select Installation Components =============
   Server Utilities
   1 - RSCD Agent
   2 - Application Server
   P - PXE Server
   T - TFTP Server
   Client Utilities
   3 - Network Shell
   9 - Start the installation
   A - Select all components

9. Enter 13pt.

   Note

   For successful provisioning, the RSCD agent must be installed on the same host computer as the PXE server. Therefore, in this step, you must enter 13pt.

   A plus sign (+) appears next to RSCD agent, PXE server, and TFTP server, indicating you have chosen to install them.

10. Enter 9.
    A message lists the components you have chosen to install and asks if you want to continue.

11. Enter y.

    Note

    The following steps describe only how to install the PXE and TFTP Servers. Additional steps are necessary for installation of the RSCD agent. For information you must provide for installation of the RSCD agent, see Worksheet for installing BMC Server Automation on Linux and UNIX.

12. For the self-signed certificate for the Application Server to use the TLS protocol, enter a password. The password must be 6 characters.

13. Specify the max heap size for the Application Server JVM. Specify a size between 512 - 2048 megabytes.
    A series of messages indicate the progress of the installation.

    Note

    If you are installing on Linux and one of the following conditions is not satisfied, the installer warns that some BMC Server Automation components do not function until the appropriate RPM is installed. If you are installing on:

    • Red Hat Linux, the compat-libstdc++ RPMs must be installed. Also, the XFree86-libs or xorg-x11-libs RPMs must be installed.
    • SUSE 9.x, either the compat or compat-32bit RPM must be installed and the xf86 RPM must be installed.
    • SUSE 10.x, either the compat or compat-32bit RPM must be installed and the xorg-x11 RPM must be installed.

    A message lists the host name and IP address of this server. This information is needed to configure a connection with the TFTP server and the data store.

14. If the information identifying this server is correct, press y.
    The following message is displayed:
    Is your DHCP server configured to run on this server (y/n)?:
    If the DHCP server is located on another server, the installation program automatically configures this server to function as a DHCP proxy.

    Note

    You must configure the DHCP server differently, depending on whether it is installed on the same host computer as the PXE Server. For more information on configuring the DHCP server, see Configuring the DHCP server.

15. Answer the question about the location of the DHCP server.
    Installation is complete.

Where to go from here

Configure the PXE and TFTP servers. See Configuring the PXE and TFTP servers.