Creating an NWSD and a network-server storage space for a Linux logical partition

A network-server description (NWSD) is an IBM® i object that describes the storage resources that are used by an integrated operating environment. An NWSD can be linked to one or more network-server storage spaces. Create an NWSD to assign storage to a Linux® logical partition that uses IBM i resources.

About this task

To create an NWSD and a network-server storage space for a Linux logical partition that uses IBM i resources, follow these steps:

Procedure

  1. Determine the correct SCSI server resource name.
    • If there is only one SCSI server adapter corresponding to a given client logical partition, and that adapter has its remote logical partition and remote slot configured correctly, you can specify *AUTO as the RSRCNAME in your NWSD.
    • Otherwise, you must determine the actual resource name. At an IBM i command line, type WRKHDWRSC *CMN, and find a controller resource with type 290B and a converged location code that corresponds to the SCSI server adapter at the Hardware Management Console (HMC). This resource name will be used later to specify the SCSI server resource.
  2. At an IBM i command line on the logical partition that shares resources, type CRTNWSD and press F4 for prompts.
  3. Specify the following information.
    The default or suggested parameter values are provided within the parentheses. These settings are relevant only to a logical partition. After the installation, if your root file system (/) is not installed on the first partition of the first disk, you must set a root parameter.
    • NWSD (Provide a name for the NWSD)
    • RSRCNAME (*AUTO or the resource name of the SCSI server resource
    • TYPE(*GUEST)
    • ONLINE (*NO or *YES)
    • PARTITION ('Provide the name of your Linux logical partition')

      As an alternative to the Partition parameter, you can also specify a logical partition number by typing PTNNBR(integer) where integer is the number of the logical partition you are specifying.

    • CODEPAGE (437)
    • TCPPORTCFG (*NONE)
    • RSTDDEVRSC (for virtual CD and tape devices) (*NONE)
    • SYNCTIME (*TYPE)
    • IPLSRC (*NWSSTG)
      • You can store a kernel in a disk partition of a virtual disk (a network-server storage space (NWSSTG)). By specifying the IPLSRC (*NWSSTG) parameter, you are specifying that the Linux logical partition will start from a disk partition on that virtual disk. The disk partition on the virtual disk must be formatted as type PReP Boot (type 0x41) and marked as a device that starts. You can format a disk partition as type PReP Boot by using the Linux fdisk command with the -t option. You can specify that the disk partition starts by using the fdisk command with the -a option.
      • To start an NWSD with a kernel from a stream file, set the IPLSRC parameter to *STMF and set the IPLSTMF parameter to point to the kernel. You must have read access to the file and the path leading to the file to use the vary on command. This value only loads the kernel. After the kernel is running, it must find a root file system. In an initial installation, the root file system might be a RAM disk that is physically attached to the kernel.
    • IPLSTMF (*NONE)
    • IPLPARM (*NONE)
    • PWRCTL (*YES)
      • If you specify PWRCTL (*YES), perform the following steps:
        1. Ensure that the server adapter in the IBM i logical partition specifies the remote logical partition and remote slot in its configuration.
        2. Ensure that the client logical partition has the IBM i logical partition as the power-controlling logical partition in the profile.
        3. Ensure before you activate the NWSD that the client logical partition's profile has been saved to the server by activating the logical partition from the HMC, even if the client operating system does not activate correctly because of the absence of virtual devices.
      • If you specify PWRCTL(*NO), virtual devices will be available to the logical partition. You must shut down and restart the logical partition using the HMC.
  4. If you use IBM Navigator for i, create the network-server storage space by using IBM Navigator for i.
    1. Expand My Connections > your server > Network > Windows Administration.
    2. Right-click the Disk Drives and select New Disk.
    3. In the Disk drive name field, specify the name that you want to give to the disk drive.
    4. In the Description field, specify a meaningful description for the disk drive.
    5. In the Capacity field, specify the size of the new disk drive in megabytes.
      Refer to your preferred Linux distributor installation documentation to determine the size you want to use.
    6. Click OK.
    7. Continue with step 6.
  5. If you use a character-based interface, create the network-server storage space using the character-based interface:
    1. At an IBM i command line, type the command CRTNWSSTG and press F4.
      The Create NWS Storage Space (CRTNWSSTG) display opens.
    2. In the Network-server storage space field, specify the name you want to give to the storage space.
    3. In the Size field, specify the size in megabytes for the new storage space.
      Refer to your preferred Linux distributor installation documentation to determine the size you want to use.
    4. In the Text description field, specify a meaningful description for the storage space.
    5. Press Enter.
    6. Continue with step 7.
  6. If you use IBM Navigator for i, link the network-server storage space by using IBM Navigator for i:
    1. Expand My Connections > your server > Network > Windows Administration.
    2. Click Disk Drives, right-click an available network-server storage space, and select Add Link.
    3. Select the server to which you want to link the network-server storage space.
    4. Select the link sequence position you want to use.
    5. Select one of the available data access types.
    6. Click OK.
    The procedure is complete. Do not complete step 7.
  7. If you use a character-based interface, link the network-server storage space by using the character-based interface:
    1. At an IBM i command line, type the command ADDNWSSTGL and press F4.
      The Add Network-Server Storage Link (ADDNWSSTGL) display opens.
    2. In the Network server description field, specify the name of the network server description (NWSD).
    3. In the Dynamic storage link field, specify *YES to make the network-server storage space dynamically available to the logical partition (that is, available without rebooting the Linux logical partition).
    4. In the Drive sequence number field, specify the link sequence position you want to use. If you want the system to find the next available position for you, specify *CALC.
    5. Press Enter.