Preparation

Download MLNX_OFED ISO

xCAT only supports installation using the ISO format.

Download the Mellanox OFED ISO file here (MLNX_OFED).

Prepare Installation Script

The mlnxofed_ib_install.v2 is a sample script intended to assist with the installation of the Mellanox OFED drivers. The following support matrix documents the limited number of scenarios that have been verified: support matrix.

1. Copy the mlnxofed_ib_install.v2 to /install/postscripts, renaming to mlnxofed_ib_install.

   cp /opt/xcat/share/xcat/ib/scripts/Mellanox/mlnxofed_ib_install.v2 \
      /install/postscripts/mlnxofed_ib_install
   
   # ensure the script has execute permission
   chmod +x /install/postscripts/mlnxofed_ib_install
   

2. Familarize the options available for the xCAT mlnxofed_ib_install script.

   Option	Required	Description
   -p	Yes	The full path to the MLNX_OFED ISO image
   -m	No	Use this option to pass arguments to the Mellanox OFED installation script mlnxofedinstall. The special keyword -end- must be added to the end of the string to mark the completion of the option list option list. If nothing is specified, xCAT passes the the following --without-32bit --with out-fw-update --force
   -i	For diskless	The image root path of the diskless image
   -n	For diskless	nodeset status, value is genimage

   A very basic usage of the install script:

   /install/postscripts/mlnxofed_ib_install -p /install/<path-to>/<MLNX_OFED_LINUX.iso>
   

   To pass the --add-kernel-support option to mlnxofedinstall, use the following command:

   /install/postscripts/mlnxofed_ib_install -p /install/<path-to>/<MLNX_OFED_LINUX.iso> \
       -m --without-32bit --without-fw-update --add-kernel-support --force -end-