Index


Overview

This document details the requirements and process used to prepare your environment for a Statseeker High-Availability (HA) installation via Dell's iDRAC server management platform.

This document does not address the Statseeker client installation or configuration to be used when creating a Statseeker HA installation.

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Requirements

Hardware Requirements

This installation method requires two iDRAC 8 monitored Dell PowerEdge Servers. The two servers must have an identical specification and reflect the requirements of the size of the network to be monitored, see Version 5 System Requirements for details.

Statseeker runs on FreeBSD, so it is important to know if the raid controller supports the MegaRAID Firmware Interface (mfi) or MegaRAID SAS HBA (mrsas) driver under FreeBSD before configuring your drives.

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Statseeker Requirements

Each Statseeker installation must be:

  • A Statseeker High-Availability server installation
  • Licensed as a Statseeker High-Availability installation
  • The same version

Contact Customer Service for assistance with acquiring the correct Statseeker installation media/file and license details appropriate for your installation.

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Network Configuration Requirements

Each server must feature two NICs for Statseeker's use:

  • 1Gb NIC for managing your Statseeker installation
  • 10Gb NIC for the Statseeker HA Data-Sync
  • The IP addresses for these two NICs should be on separate subnets

The connection between the servers must be a high-speed dedicated connection. If this link is to be shared among tenants, then the link must have Quality of Service policies in place ensuring that a minimum of 1GB/s is reserved for Statseeker Data-Sync traffic.

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iDRAC Configuration

Configure iDRAC on both servers but assigning iDRAC IP addresses and login credentials. Instructions for doing this may vary across hardware so refer to the Dell Knowledge Base for detailed instruction relevant to your environment.

Note: generally, you can access your iDRAC Settings by:

  • Booting the server and pressing F2 while on the system boot screen to access System Setup
  • Select iDRAC Settings from the System Setup menu

From your remote computer:

  • Login in to one of the servers using a web browser with the IP address and credentials that you just created
  • Select Server from the side navigator
  • Ensure that you are on the Properties > Summary tab
  • In the Virtual Console Preview panel, select Launch


This will download the iDRAC Remote Console client, a file called viewer.jnlp.

  • Once downloaded, run viewer.jnlp

Depending on your local system, you may be prompted for a Java installation or update, proceed with these as required to be able to run viewer.jnlp.

Note: some Linux users will need to have the IcedTea plugin installed to be able execute java web applets (such as viewer.jnlp) in your browser. This can be achieved via the command:

sudo apt-get install icedtea-plugin
  • When prompted, select Trust the connection to proceed

The console will be displayed in a new window.

  • From the Virtual Media menu, select Map CD/DVD

  • Click Browse, then locate and select your Statseeker HA ISO file

You can confirm that you have successfully mapped the drive and mounted the image by returning to the Virtual Media menu.

  • From the Next Boot menu, select Virtual CD/DVD/ISO

  • Reboot the server by selecting Reset System (warm boot) from the Power menu

When the system loading screen is displayed:

  • Press F2 to enter the System Settings
  • Select System BIOS Settings > Boot Settings
  • Ensure that Boot Mode is set to BIOS

  • Select Back and then Finish and Finish once again
  • Click Yes to confirm that you want to exit the System Settings

Depending on your server you may need to force the use of a specific raid controller driver by FreeBSD. While many cards are supported by the default FreeBSD driver, mfi, some are only supported by the mrsas driver. If you need to specify the use of the mrsas driver then, when the FreeBSD boot screen is displayed:

  • Press 3 Escape to loader prompt
  • Enter set hw.mfi.mrsas_enable="1"
  • Then enter boot

Note: to avoid having to reassign the raid driver on each subsequent boot, add set hw.mfi.mrsas_enable="1" to the /boot/loader.conf file and save your changes.

Once the server boots from the Statseeker HA Installation ISO, the installation process will begin.

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Install Statseeker High-Availability

Install Statseeker High-Availability on each of the servers by following the directions in the Statseeker High-Availability Installation Guide.