IBM N Series - Basics of the Boot Process

242 IBM System Storage N series Hardware Guide
Deploy Microsoft Cluster Services on a Windows Server 2003 platform by using STORport
drivers. With this configuration, the boot disks and shared cluster disks can be accessed
through the same HBA, as shown in Figure 18-1. A registry entry is required to enable a
single HBA to connect to shared and non-shared disks in an MSCS environment.
Figure 18-1 Windows Server 2003 platform that uses STORport drivers
For more information, see the “Server Clusters: Storage Area Networks - For Windows 2000
and Windows Server 2003” topic at this website:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=13153
18.2.3 Basics of the boot process
The boot process of the IA32 architecture has not changed significantly since the early days
of the personal computer. Before the actual loading of the operating system from disk takes
place, the following pre-boot process is completed by the host BIOS routines:
1. Power on self test: The BIOS starts a diagnostic test of all hardware devices for which a
routine exists. Devices for which the system BIOS does not have direct knowledge, such
as installed HBAs, run their own routines after the system tests complete.
2. Initialize: The BIOS routines clear system memory and processor registers, and initialize
all devices.
3. Set the boot device: Although multiple devices can be bootable (CD, disk drive, network
adapter, storage HBA, and so on), only one can be the actual boot device. The BIOS
determine the correct boot device order that is based on each device’s ready status and
the stored configuration.