[syslinux] Re: Install Red Hat AS 4 from iLO on a HP DL380?

H. Peter Anvin hpa at zytor.com
Fri Mar 10 11:03:28 PST 2006


Dag Wieers wrote:
> On Fri, 10 Mar 2006, Herta Van den Eynde wrote:
> 
> 
>>I'm trying to install Red Hat Advanced Server AS 4 on a HP Proliant DL380G4.
>>Unlike e.g. the DL360, the DL380 does not have the option to set the OS in the
>>BIOS.
>>As soon as the installation starts, i.e. even before you get to the point
>>where you can enter "boot" and whatever boot options you want to use, the
>>server switches to graphics mode, meaning I cannot access it from basic iLO.
>>Is there a way to overcome this?
> 
> Red Hat is using the 'display' directive in the syslinux config-file 
> (isolinux/isolinux.cfg) and provides a splash screen that enables graphics 
> mode (when this is supported).
> 
> See also: http://syslinux.zytor.com/faq.php
> 
> I see no other option to disable this splash-screen, other than somehow
> let the BIOS advertise only text-mode is supported.
> 
> If this is not possible, you might want to investigate into PXE 
> booting, or providing your own (custom) ISO image or floppy image without 
> this splash-screen.
> 
> I think it is a valid question to raise why text-mode is not the default, 
> as we have the same problem :) (and most remote consoles either are 
> text-based or require a stupid and slow java-interface)
> 
> I included the syslinux mailinglist to confirm there is no other way to 
> disable the graphical boot, other than changing the syslinux config.
> 

There is, actually; if you press Ctrl-X then syslinux/pxelinux/isolinux 
will drop out of graphics mode and go to text mode.  This assumes basic 
iLO won't squelsh the keyboard in graphics mode, which it very well 
might; the whole basic vs advanced iLO is such a completely stupid 
arrangement.

However, if it doesn't, you can let the screen go dead, wait a few 
seconds, and press Ctrl-X.  That should bring the machine back to text mode.

	-hpa




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