Example of SAN Configuration

This appendix details the steps involved in moving to a command prompt in order to pre-partition a hard drive (as is needed for SAN installation).

First partition space on the SAN storage device, and then install the IBM® Guardium® OS. Choose one hard disk for this installation.

Note: Depending on what SAN hardware is used, specific instructions may be different. Installation on a SAN is supported; installation on a NAS is not supported.

Summary of steps

  1. Enter system setup (press F1 on IBM servers during initial boot) and modify the Start Options to select the appropriate PCI slot to boot from (where the QLogic Card is).
  2. Modify the BIOS for the QLogic card by pressing Ctrl-Q, when the QLogic BIOS is loading, to enable it to be a boot device. Then select the LUN (logical unit number) of the boot device.
  3. Boot from the RedHat 5.8 DVD and enter Rescue mode in order to run fdisk and create partitions on the SAN device using the specifications listed here:
    Table 1. Partitions on SAN device
    Partitions Space
    1 500 MB for /boot
    2 Amount of system memory + 4 GB
    3 25 GB for /
    4 All remaining space for /var
    Note: While the RedHat installation process would allow you to create the partitions and load the OS, the system does not boot properly after the installation unless the partitions are pre-created with fdisk.
  4. Proceed with the OS installation utilizing the previously defined partitions (use only the /dev/sda device).
  5. Reboot and finish the remaining installation steps (hostname, IP configuration, and so on).
Note:

In the SAN environment, the single LUN is presented to RedHat 5.8 as multiple devices due to redundant paths within the network switch(es) on the SAN. (The SDD storage was eight devices.)

This is a function of the SAN storage brand/type and how it is configured at each site.

It is very important to only edit the existing partitions that the IBM Guardium installation sees by adding the mount point and setting the file system (ext4 or swap,) and not changing other settings (such as size) and to unselect all devices other than /dev/sda when selecting which device to load the OS on.

Instructions for running fdisk

Follow these instructions for running fdisk to pre-partition the SAN storage from RedHat rescue mode:

  1. Assuming SAN is the only storage attached to the server, type fdisk /dev/sda. Type y if a warning appears regarding working on the whole device.
  2. Type n for a new partition.
  3. Type pfor a primary partition.
  4. Type 1for partition #1.
  5. Press Enter to accept the default start location.
  6. Type +512M to make partition 1 500MB in size (this will be the /boot partition).
  7. Type n for a new partition.
  8. Type p for a primary partition.
  9. Type 2 for partition #2.
  10. Press Enter to accept the default start location.
  11. Type +12288M to make partition 2 12GB in size (this assumes 8GB of physical RAM). The recommended size is physical RAM + 4GB (this will be the swap partition).
  12. Type n for a new partition.
  13. Type p for a primary partition.
  14. Type 3 for partition #3.
  15. Press Enter to accept the default start location.
  16. Type +10240M to make partition 3 10 GB in size (this will be the / partition).
  17. Type n for a new partition.
  18. Type p for a primary partition (will default to partition #4).
  19. Press Enter to accept the default start location.
  20. Press Enter to fill to maximum size (this will be the /var partition).
  21. Type w to write the partition table to the SAN.
  22. Type exit to exit rescue mode and reboot to begin the Custom Partition Installation (Step 3, Install the IBM Guardium image).

Examples of screenshots for QLogic setup

The Q-Logic screens used here are representative of the steps needed. Other Fiber Channel cards can be used.

  1. Modify the BIOS for the QLogic card by pressing CTRL-D. This is the first screen presented after pressing Ctrl-Q when prompted to enter the Configuration Setup Utility. This is a two-port card; select the appropriate port and press Enter.
    Screen 1- Select Host Adapter
  2. Press Enter to change Configuration Settings.
    Screen 2- Configuration Settings
  3. Press Enter to change Adapter Settings.
    Screen 3- Configuration, Adapter Settings
  4. Use your arrow keys to select Host Adapter BIOS and press Enter to toggle to Enabled.
    Screen 4- Host Adapter BIOS
  5. Press Esc to back up to the previous screen and use the down-arrow to select Selectable Boot Settings and press Enter.
    Screen 5- Configuration, Selectable boot settings
  6. Press Enter to change Selectable Boot to Enabled.
    Screen 6- Selectable Boot Settings, Enabled
  7. Select the first Boot Port Name, LUN and press Enter to display a list of LUNs. If you are configuring the proper card/port, the LUN number(s) appear here. Select the first one in the list.
  8. Press Esc until you have backed out to the screen that says Reboot and select it to reboot the system. You are now ready to proceed with the IBM Guardium installation.