Bios and bios configuration utilities, Bootloader – Sun Microsystems X6450 User Manual
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Sun Blade X6450 Server Module Installation Guide • May 2009
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BIOS – Allows you to select a hardware device to boot from, and to configure
other aspects of system operation
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Bootloader– After the BIOS exits, the bootloader offers a selection of configured
operating systems
BIOS and BIOS Configuration Utilities
When you power on your server module, it completes its self-test and then displays
a series of messages that offer a chance to access and configure the BIOS.
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If you do nothing, the server module boots from the default device.
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If you enter a keystroke,the server module does one of the following:
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F2 – Enters BIOS configuration mode. This allows you to configure a wide
range of BIOS options, including the default boot device. When you are done,
the system re-boots using the settings you configured.
See the Sun Blade X6450 Server Service Manual for details.
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F8 – Displays a list of configured hardware boot options, and continues
booting from the selected device.
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F12 – Boots from the network (netboot). See
“To Load an OS Over the Network
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BIOS Configuration Utilities – Many option cards have BIOS configuration
utilities that can also be used to configure such things as disk volumes and
RAID arrays.
Note –
Many configurations require you to configure your option card(s) with their
respective BIOS configuration utilities before installing your operating system. See
“Accessing BIOS Configuration Utilities and Selecting a Boot Device” on page 14
for
additional instructions.
Bootloader
When the BIOS Power-On Self Test (POST) is finished, an operating system boots.
Most operating systems start by opening a bootloader. Like the BIOS, a bootloader
offers a menu of boot selections, and if you do nothing, it boots the default selection.
However, unlike the BIOS, the bootloader offers a choice of installed operating
systems, not a selection of bootable hardware devices.
After you make a selection or accept the default, the bootloader boots the indicated
selection.