Preparing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for server upgrade

If your SUSE Linux Enterprise Server installation is hosted by IBM® i, complete these steps to upgrade and prepare your SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for the upgrade.

1. Ensure that your IBM i is running the latest level. For the latest level of IBM i, see the IBM Prerequisite.
2. Upgrade to the currently supported level of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server before migrating to your target server. To upgrade to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, complete the following steps:
   1. Obtain a copy of the currently supported level of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server installation CDs or DVDs.
   2. Vary off the Linux server by completing the following steps:
      1. Type WRKCFGSTS *NWS and press Enter.
      2. Type 2 next to the NWSD that you want to shut down, and then press Enter.
   3. Place the first CD or DVD into the optical drive of the IBM i logical partition that is sharing its resources.
   4. Change the NWSD of the Linux server to point to the installation stream file of the CD or DVD by completing the following steps:
      1. Enter CHGNWSD
      2. Specify the following information:

         NWSD (servername)
         IPLSRC (*STMF)
         IPLSTMF ('/QOPT/SU90.001/ISERIES64')
         IPLPARM (*NONE)

   5. Open a virtual console session to the Linux server.
   6. Vary on your NWSD. Complete the following steps to vary on your NWSD:
      1. Type WRKCFGSTS *NWS, and then press Enter.
      2. Type 1 next to the NWSD that you want to start, and then press Enter.
   7. Follow the distribution documentation to complete the steps in YaST.
3. After you have upgraded to the currently supported level of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, vary off your NWSD by completing the following steps:
   1. Type WRKCFGSTS *NWS, and then press Enter.
   2. Type 2 next to the NWSD that you want to shut down, and then press Enter.
4. Change the NWSD of the Linux server to point to the NWSSTG. Enter CHGNWSD and specify the following information:

   NWSD (servername)
   IPLSRC (*NWSSTG)
   IPLSTMF (*NONE)
   IPLPARM ('/root=/dev/iseries/vda')

5. Complete the following steps to vary on your NWSD:
   1. Type WRKCFGSTS *NWS, and then press Enter.
   2. Type 1 next to the NWSD that you want to start, and then press Enter.
6. Locate a Linux distribution kernel that is compatible with a Power Systems™ model.
7. Obtain access to an installation kernel through either of the following methods:
   1. Linux installation CDs or DVDs
   2. Network-based installation source
8. Mount the CD or DVD by entering the following command:

   mount /dev/iseries/vcda /mnt/cdrom

   Note: Enter in the appropriate name for your virtual device in the previous command.
9. Download the latest POWER® Linux kernel to your partition's virtual disk.

   A POWER Linux kernel is required to ensure the compatibility with the IBM Power Systems model. If you have upgraded your Linux server to the currently supported level of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, you are still running the IBM i kernel and must obtain the POWER Linux kernel. For SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, this kernel might be on the second installation CD or DVD under the /suse/ppc directory. The following example shows how to download this kernel. Enter the first command, and then the second command to retrieve the name of your Linux kernel. Enter the last command to copy the kernel.

   cd /media/
   find . -name "kernel*ppc64*" 
   cp cdrom/suse/ppc/(name of your POWER Linux kernel) /root/

10. Shut down your Linux logical partition.
11. Save the entire server using option 21 of the GO SAVE command. For more information, see the GO SAVE topic. Specify the following options:
    1. Vary off the network server...*ALL
    2. Unmount file systems..........Y
    Note: Create two 8204-E8A copies of the backup media.
12. Using Linux backup tools, save any critical data contained within the virtual disk.