[OpenIndiana-discuss] booting HP xw8600 from ISO

[Harry Putnam]

Setup: 

   Hardware: HP xw8600 2x Xeon (5470) 3.3 Ghz - 32 GB ram
   (goal was to get past whatever prevents oi iso from working when
   hdw is in default settings.)

I've already posted a lament about not being able to boot this
hardware from install ISO and instead being dropped into a maintenance
mode where key commands such as `format' are not available.

I didn't know enough to try to `fix' whatever was the problem from the
maintenance mode.

I resorted to diddling around with the HP xw8600 bios.

I discovered that changing the sata emulation mode at 

(on the bios initial screen)

Storage >
      Device configuration << NOT HERE >>
      storage options << under this heading>>
        
   [...]
   Sata emulation
   [...]

That option offers three ways to setup the sata controller
It is defaulted to `RAID+AHCI'.  But on that setting or trusty ISO will
not boot into a usable situation.  Dropping instead into a lame
maintenance mode. 

So, turning that option off by selecting either of the other two (below)

[...]

  [Note: copy past from HP xw8600 manual -ed HP]

,----
|   SATA Emulation—Sets the SATA emulation mode with the following options:
| 
|    RAID + AHCI–both the RAID and AHCI OPROMs execute. This emulation
|    mode is the default and offers the best performance and most
|    functionality.
| 
|    Separate IDE Controller–offers standard SATA supports (four ports
|    only).
| 
|    Combined IDE Controller–makes the SATA controller look like an IDE
|    controller and offers best IDE compatibility (two ports only).
`----

[...]

I have some misgivings about either of the other two but discovered
that the installation ISO will boot normally under either.

I've currently set it to `Separate IDE Controller' but could use some
advice as to what is best to do here. 

I'll continue the install assuming, that bios setting can be changed
if necessary without having to install all over again.

Hopefully someone experienced with this server (HP xw8600) will be
able to advise me about this item.