2
Getting Started
2 Getting Started
2.1 Product Overview
Intel
®
Deployment Assistant reduces the complexity and the time associated with setting up Intel servers. Server deployment time is often cut by an hour or more per system, and even more time can be saved when using the cloning feature to deploy identical servers. The wizard automatically locates and retrieves the latest drivers, BIOS, and firmware updates. It guides you through questions to help quickly configure the server through automatic recognition of server hardware with minimal reboots. Intel
®
Deployment Assistant helps a system administrator do the following:
Update an Intel server with the latest system software.
Updates can be got from a set URL (
http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support
which can be customized by OEM), a network drive, or removable media. The firmware components that can be updated using Intel
®
Deployment Assistant are: BIOS, Integrated BMC, ME, and FRUSDRs.
Configure the most common options of the BIOS and firmware.
Configure a RAID volume on attached hard drives.
Clone all deployment work from one server to multi-servers.
Intel
®
Deployment Assistant is a browser-based graphical application that provides an easy-to-use, wizard style interface to the system administrator for performing all the tasks above. It is packaged onto a single CD which contains its own operating system (Linux*), a GUI, Intel
®
Deployment
Assistant core, and supporting files for setup and deployment. Intel
®
Deployment Assistant boots automatically from a CD-ROM/USB drive and runs completely in a RAMDISK.
2.2 Supported Platforms
Intel
®
Server Boards based on Intel
®
Xeon
®
Processor E3-1200 V3 family.
2.3 Hardware Requirements
CD-ROM Drive
A USB, IDE, or SATA CD/DVD-ROM drive is required to be able to boot and run Intel
®
Deployment Assistant. The CD/DVD-ROM drive is mandatory for the OS installation.
Mouse
Some functions of the IDA require a standard mouse for navigation.
USB Disk on Key device
Some functions of the IDA require a USB disk on key. For example, update system firmware from USB key; save PXE image to USB key.
RAM
IDA requires a minimum of 1GB RAM. If available RAM is less than the minimum recommended value, IDA cannot function properly. To use thermal throttling feature for close loop, CLTT enable DIMMS are required.
Network Adapter
Intel
®
Deployment Assistant v5.2 User Guide
Getting Started
Some optional functions of the IDA require network access. Any single on-board Intel
®
NIC adapter connection is supported.
RAID Cards
RAID Configuration is supported on the selected controllers.
Intel
®
Deployment Assistant v5.2 User Guide 3
