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Overview

SmartStart Scripting Toolkit

As businesses are faced with the need to deploy hundreds of servers in a quick and reliable fashion, HP offers the SmartStart Scripting Toolkit (SSSTK). Using SmartStart technology, the Scripting Toolkit provides a flexible way to create standard server configuration scripts. These scripts are used to automate many of the manual steps in the server configuration process. This automated server configuration process cuts time from each server deployed, making it possible to scale server deployments to high volumes in rapid fashion. The SmartStart Scripting Toolkit is designed for IT experts with experience in scripting operating system installations and configuring ProLiant server hardware.

The SmartStart Scripting Toolkit supports ProLiant ML/DL 300, 500 and 700 series, and BL servers in both Windows and Linux environments and now includes limited ProLiant 100 series support. The Scripting Toolkit includes a modular set of utilities and important documentation that describe how to apply these new tools to build an automated server deployment process. For the latest features, visit: http://www.hp.com/go/foundation.


What's New

Added the following:

  • SmartStart Scripting Toolkit version 2.2 includes support for the HP ProLiant 100 Server series servers. Not all the SSSTK utilities support ProLiant 100 series, so review the SSSTK Users Manual at http://www.hp.com/go/foundation for the latest information.

Models
Ordering Information
Download the SmartStart Scripting Toolkit from the HP web site at: http://www.hp.com/servers/sstoolkit or from the downloads tab at http://www.hp.com/go/foundation. Subscribe to Subscriber's Choice for proactive notification of new releases of server support software http://www.hp.com/united-states/subscribe/.

Server Support The Linux and Microsoft® Windows® editions of the HP SmartStart Scripting Toolkit provide a collection of tools that assist with configuring HP ProLiant server hardware and installing your operating system. The HP SmartStart Scripting Toolkit supports the servers found at the following support matrix: ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/c-products/servers/management/smartstart/ServerSupportMatrix_2.20.pdf

Key Features
  • SmartStart Technology - Utilizes proven technology to provide a consistent and reliable server configuration
  • Replication Utilities - Provide an easy way to create and apply server hardware, array, and iLO configuration script files
  • Configuration Files - Provide a flexible way to edit standard hardware configuration files.
  • Scripting - Enables the IT administrator to script server configuration files and link to the unattended installation tools of the operating system

SmartStart Scripting Toolkit Advantage
  • Extends leadership for enterprises looking for fast and effective server deployment
  • Lowers server deployment cost
  • Scales to support high volume server deployment
  • Provides easy to understand documentation with how-to information and sample scripts
  • Builds automated server deployment solution

SmartStart Scripting Toolkit Benefits
  • "Rack and Go" unattended installation frees up scarce IT resources
  • Scales to support high volume server deployments lowering cost/server as more are deployed
  • Delivers consistent server configurations across multiple servers
  • Integrates into popular methods for operating system deployment
  • User guide provides valuable examples on how to build scripts for high volume server deployment

Operating Systems and Virtualization Software Support for ProLiant Servers

Microsoft Windows Server
Microsoft Windows Server Hyper-V
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)
Oracle Enterprise Linux (OEL)
Solaris
NetWare
VMware
Citrix XenServer

NOTE: For more information on HP's Certified and Supported ProLiant Servers for OS and Virtualization Software and latest listing of software drivers available for your server, please visit our Support Matrix at: http://www.hp.com/go/ossupport. MicroSoft Windows Server support includes support for multiple Windows OSes (Windows R2, Windows 2008, Windows SBS, etc) and the support matrixes show specific OSes for specific servers supported.


Rack and Go Deployment Rack the server, provide power and network connection, insert the boot media and go. By combining scripts for server configuration and operating system installation, IT administrators can rapidly configure a new server and install the operating system in a hands-off unattended manner.

Virtual Presence Server Deployment Integrated Lights Out (iLO) and the Scripting Toolkit are key components of HP's management strategy to deliver "Virtual Presence" -controlling your IT assets anywhere on the network. iLO provides powerful remote access to your server. Using the "Virtual Media" feature, system administrators can remotely power on a new server, boot up from the network boot image, run the server configuration scripts and launch the OS installation across the network, providing an efficient way to deploy new servers at remote locations without local IT staff.

Insight Control Rapid Deployment Capability The SmartStart Scripting Toolkit is an exclusive feature of Insight Control Rapid Deployment. With the Scripting Toolkit providing the technology to script server deployments, HP has extended our offerings for multi-server deployment tools with Rapid Deployment Pack. For more information, visit http://www.hp.com/go/rdp.

Tools and Utilities

The section below describes the various tools and utilities supported by the SmartStart Scripting Toolkit (SSSTK). Not all of these tools and utilities function on ProLiant 100 series servers. Detailed descriptions of the utilities are described later:

  • BOOTEXTRACT
  • CONREP
  • CPQACUXE / HPACUCLI
  • DMIDECODE (ships with Linux distributions)
  • HPDISCOVERY
  • HRCONF
  • HWQUERY
  • IFHW
  • IPMITOOL (any ProLiant that supports IMPI; ships with Linux distributions)
  • LO100CFG
  • REBOOT
  • RBSURESET
  • SETBOOTORDER

BOOTEXTRACT The BOOTEXTRACT utility captures NTLDR and windows boot sectors
CONREP
The Configuration Replication Utility (CONREP) can be used to capture or replicate server configuration settings, but basically it configures system BIOS settings. This utility works across all ProLiant servers but certain requirements exist for ProLiant 100 series servers, please refer to user manuals.
HPACUCLI
HP Array Configuration Utility Command Line Interface utility (HPACUCLI) is a scripting command for ProLiant servers with a HP Smart Array Controller installed.
DMIDECODE Desk Top Management Interface Decode (DMIDECODE) utility is a standard Linux tool that is included in the toolkit kernel that helps display your hardware inventory. This utility works across all ProLiant servers
HPDISCOVERY

The HPDISCOVERY utility provides an inventory of the server being configured and captures the following information:

  • System ID
  • System name
  • ROM information
  • Processor information
  • PCI devices present in the system
  • Storage configuration information
  • NIC information
HPONCFG
The HP On Configuration (HPONCFG) utility is an online configuration tool used to setup and reconfigure iLO and iLO 2 without requiring a reboot of the server operating system. The utility runs in a command line mode and must be executed from an operating system command line.
HRCONF
HRCONF is a command line interface (CLI) for Adaptec/Intel Embedded SATA RAID controllers.
HWQUERY
The Hardware Query Utility (HWQUERY) is used with output of HPDISCOVERY. HWQUERY files can be used to gather data from the hardware discovery file to set or define environment variables
IFHW The IF Hardware Utility (IFHW) is used with output of HPDISCOVERY and can be used to query the output file of HPDISCOVERY, enabling you to add conditional tests to a script so that it performs different operations based on the outcome of the tests.
IPMITOOL
The IPMITOOL is a standard Linux tool that is included in the toolkit kernel. This utility will work on all ProLiant servers that support IPMI.
LO100CFG
The LO100CFG is a tool for Onboard Administrator Powered by Lights-Out 100i and the LO100i Advanced Licenses. LO100CFG enables you to configure Lights-Out 100 on the ProLiant 100 series servers similar to HPONCFG for other ProLiant servers.
RBSURESET
The RRSU Reset (RBSURESET) utility resets the BIOS settings for a server by reapplying the default factory setting at the next reboot. RBSURESET does not erase array configurations or logical storage volumes.
This utility only works on ProLiant 300 series and above.
REBOOT
The REBOOT utility enables the user to reboot the server, controlling which device is the boot device. In conjunction with other utilities, the REBOOT utility controls server reboots from a batch file.
SETBOOTORDER The SETBOOTORDER utility enables you to set the order in which devices are booted, including diskette drives, CD-ROM drives, hard drives, PXE, and USB devices. This utility sets the boot order only for devices that exist for a server and can be set to boot in any order. SETBOOTORDER cannot be used to set the storage controller order. This utility can only set one boot device on ProLiant100 series servers.
STATEMGR STATEMGR Keeps track of the execution state during system reboots and saves persistent state information across reboots of the system. This utility only works on ProLiant 300 series servers and above.

Register and Download SmartStart Scripting Toolkit is available at no cost following a simple registration from http://www.hp.com/servers/sstoolkit or http://www.hp.com/go/foundation.

Services and Support

HP offers a complete choice of services to ensure the success of your ProLiant Server deployment program using the SmartStart Scripting Toolkit. For more information on any of these below, go to http://www.hp.com/servers/sstoolkit or http://www.hp.com/go/foundation.

E-mail Based Support - HP offers standard email support for the SmartStart Scripting Toolkit. Technical support specialists provide the following services:

  • Diagnosis of problems related to the functionality of the utilities in the Toolkit
  • Advice about proper installation and setup of the software configuration parameters
  • Solutions to known Toolkit problems

To obtain assistance with any topic that is not provided by the technical support specialists, consider connecting with other users in the support forum. View details on the support forum by following the URL provided above.


© Copyright 2009 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
The information contained herein is subject to change without notice.

Microsoft and Windows NT are US registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Linux is a registered trademark or trademark of Linux Torvalds in the U.S.

The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.


   DA-11532 17 - Version 17 - November 24, 2009