Onsite Server Configuration Guide

BIOS Settings

We need the servers to always turn on whenever they receive power.

  • Start the machine, and at the first GNU GRUB boot menu, hit the down arrow to select 'System setup' hit Enter.
  • Hit the right arrow to select 'Advanced' and down to select 'ACPI Settings' hit Enter.
  • Down arrow to 'PWRON After PWR-Fail' set it to 'Always On'
  • Hit F4 to Save & Reset, save configuration.
  • Test that the configuration worked by pulling power to the server, and reconnecting it. It should turn on immediately.

Configuring IPMI/iDRAC

Plug ethernet into iDRAC moving Hit F2 to enter System Setup Select iDRAC Settings Select Network Scroll down to IPV4 Settings Change Static IP Address to something in the correct IP range. e.g. 192.168.50.100 Change Static Gateway to the correct range. e.g. 192.168.50.1 Scroll down to IPMI Settings Set Enable IPMI Over LAN to Enabled Hit ESC Scroll down to and Select User Configuration Enter a password into Change Password field Hit ESC Select Yes to save the changes. Hit OK Hit ESC Select Yes to Confirm Exit Open a browser and navigate to the Static IP Address that you entered above. e.g. http://192.168.50.101

Ubuntu Install

  • Create a Linux Server USB key if one isn't available.

Language: English Location: United States Detect Keyboard Layout: No Country of origin for keyboard: English (US) Keyboard Layout: English (US) Network Interfaces: First One

Hostname: dr-onsite (note: this will often come from the DHCP server) Username: grownetics Create a unique password

Encrypt Home Directory: No

HWE = false

Software RAID5 Setup with 3 disks

note: never do this on a server with dedicated raid card/hardware. This is for that BS FakeRaid that came on the logic supply ASRock mobos.

Choose manual partitioning Make sure disks for software RAID are empty and have no partitions Choose Configure Software RAID Make new MD Device Choose 3 (autofills) disks (also the minimum for RAID 5) Choose 0 backup disks Use space bar to 'select' the 3 disks to put in the SW RAID vol Enter Should end back at Configure Software Raid screen, continue.

Partioning method: Guided - use entire disk and set up LVM Select disk to partition: first RAID5 Device Write changes to disk: Yes Amount of volume group to use for guided partioning: Just hit enter Write changes to disk: Yes

HTTP Proxy: Just hit enter

How do you want to manage upgrades on this system?: Install Security Updates Automatically

Software Selection standard system utilities OpenSSH server

Login to the system, and execute

sudo su
(enter password)
echo "grownetics ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL" >> /etc/sudoers
apt update
apt upgrade -y
exit