How to mass deploy 500nodes of x86 servers without BMC ip pre-configured by using xCAT ?

[poshanchang]

We are trying to deploy 500 nodes of x86 servers shipped from manufacture without pre-assigned BMC ip addresses. Is there a way to leverage XCAT to dynamically assign IP address based on the MAC Address of the BMC, so we can follow up the process to configure names of BMC, import the configuration of BIOS, deploy the OS, etc. ?

We expect to configure the Static IP of the BMC based on the MAC address of the BMC, but not thru DHCP.

Please help. Thanks a lot.

Po-Shan.

[immarvin]

hi @zet809 , would you please help to answer this? thanks

[zet809]

hi, @poshanchang, in order to give precise suggestion, I need some more information:

1. dynamically assign IP address based on the MAC Address of the BMC, how do you define the mapping of MAC address with its desired IP address?
2. what about the IP address for the host NIC?
3. We expect to configure the Static IP of the BMC based on the MAC address of the BMC, but not thru DHCP., I suppose you mean to have DHCP assign desired IP to BMC, rather temporary IP address. right?

[besawn]

Closing this issue due to lack of activity.

[poshanchang]

@besawn @zet809

hi, @poshanchang, in order to give precise suggestion, I need some more information:

1. dynamically assign IP address based on the MAC Address of the BMC, how do you define the mapping of MAC address with its desired IP address?

For example: (bar code scan the Mac Address on each physical x86 server and pre-defined the associated IP addresses)

2B-2F-AC-05-2B-E3 10.10.1.1 255.255.255.0 10.10.1.254 2B-2F-AC-05-2B-E4 10.10.1.2 255.255.255.0 10.10.1.254 2B-2F-AC-05-2B-E5 10.10.1.3 255.255.255.0 10.10.1.254 2B-2F-AC-05-2B-E6 10.10.1.4 255.255.255.0 10.10.1.254 2B-2F-AC-05-2B-E7 10.10.1.5 255.255.255.0 10.10.1.254

2. what about the IP address for the host NIC?

This is actually not part of this question. I'm not very familiar with this, but it is being taken care by the linux PXE boot solution.

3. We expect to configure the Static IP of the BMC based on the MAC address of the BMC, but not thru DHCP., I suppose you mean to have DHCP assign desired IP to BMC, rather temporary IP address. right?

Not using DHCP, but using the IP addresses to Mac Address pre-defined mapping table answered in Q1, if possible. I'm not sure if DHCP can leverage MAC address to assign the IP. If yes, we need to fix / input the permanent static IP address (without DHCP) after it's being assigned.

Thanks a lot helping.

Po Shan.

[besawn]

This document describes a process that is similar to what you are trying to achieve: https://xcat-docs.readthedocs.io/en/stable/guides/admin-guides/manage_clusters/ppc64le/discovery/mtms/discovery_using_defined.html

I think you can modify the process slightly to meet your needs. I don't have access to the specific x86 hardware you are using, so you will have to work through those details on your own.