Configuration overview

This topic provides an overview of the steps to perform a typical IFM configuration.

To configure the typical IFM installation, complete the following steps.
  1. Define the hardware in the configuration on the Hardware Devices panel.
  2. Turn off all servers in the configuration.
  3. Create hardware pools on the Hardware Pools panel. Hardware pools define the available hardware.
  4. Create address pools or use the predefined address pools on the Address Pools panel. Address pools define the range of available MAC addresses.
  5. Create a template or use the predefined templates on the Templates panel. A template is a set of data designed to describe a specific configuration within IFM. This data is generic in format and aids IFM in the configuration of the hardware endpoints. Templates are reusable across multiple profiles and deployments.
  6. Create a profile on the Profiles panel. A profile groups generic data into a single entity. The profile associates templates, hardware pools, and address pools for the purpose of creating a deployment.
  7. Deploy a profile through the Profiles panel. A deployment is specific information related to the chassis, servers, and ports included in the hardware pool. The generic information associated through the profile is reused as needed and assigned during the deployment process.
  8. Edit the deployment (if necessary) through the Deployments panel.
  9. Push the deployment to the hardware through the Deployments panel.
  10. Turn on the servers.
  11. View the results (it takes a few minutes for the results to become available after power on).
  12. Create failover monitors. Failover monitors define the server events to be monitored and the criteria for selecting the standby hardware to activate in case of a failure.
Notes:
  1. All servers must be powered off and IFM mode enabled from the Hardware Devices panel before an IFM template or data can be pushed.
  2. For failover to occur to a standby server, the standby server must be powered off and IFM mode disabled from the Hardware Devices panel.