Installing Red Hat Linux v6.1 - Netfinity 1000

Steps

Revision Level: 1.1
Updated: 04/21/2000

Supported systems
8477

Follow the network operating system (NOS) installation instructions provided in this document sequentially unless you are instructed differently. The windows and messages might differ from those in this document. Throughout this document the term "select" is used to mean, use the arrow keys to highlight a selection on a menu. Press Enter to complete the selection.

Sections within this document
1.0 What you will need
2.0 Where to download drivers/files
3.0 Quick installation instructions for experienced users
4.0 Detailed installation instructions
4.1 Setting up the hardware for Red Hat Linux v6.1 installation
4.2 Setting up the basic input/output system (BIOS)
4.3 Configuring hard disk drives using the Integrated SCSI controller
4.4 Configuring arrays using the IBM ServeRAID adapter
4.5 Installing Red Hat Linux v6.1
Appendix A: Installing the VESA/Frame Buffer Server

• A copy of the Red Hat Linux 6.1
• Supported hard disk drives (Click here to view a list of the supported options and part numbers for your server .)
• A supported adapter (Click here to view a list of the supported options and part numbers for your server .)
• One blank diskette to create a boot disk (Label it "Boot Disk".)
• If you use an IBM ServeRAID adapter on the Netfinity 1000 system, you need the following compact disk (CD) and diskettes:
  • An IBM ServeRAID Support CD version 3.60 (part number 00N9126) or later
  • An IBM ServeRAID 4.0 Driver Update Diskette for Red Hat Linux 6.1 (available at Red Hat's website)

2.0 Where to Download Drivers/Files

• IBM U.S. Web site: http://www.ibm.com/systems/support
• Red Hat Web site: http://www.redhat.com/support/

1. If you are use an IBM ServeRAID adapter on the Netfinity 1000 system, click here to obtain the IBM ServeRAID 4.0 Driver Update Diskette for Red Hat Linux 6.1 .
2. Insert the "Red Hat Linux 6.1 Operating System for Intel Computers CD" and startup the server.
3. At the "Welcome to Red Hat Linux 6.1" window, if you are use the IBM ServeRAID adapter on the Netfinity 1000 system, type text dd and proceed to step 4; otherwise, type text and press Enter to perform a text mode installation.
4. At the "Devices" screen, insert the IBM ServeRAID 4.0 Driver Update Diskette and select OK.
5. Follow the instructions that will guide you through the installation process.
6. At the "Starting X" window, select Skip to defer the Xconfigurator from starting X. Refer to "Appendix A: Installing the VESA/Frame Buffer Server for post-install instructions".

4.0 Detailed installation instructions
You may install and configure the network adapter devices during or after the installation process.


4.1 Setting up the hardware for Red Hat Linux v6.1 installation

1. Unplug the server and remove the cover.
2. For the initial installation, install the microprocessor that you plan to use and remove all the adapters and devices that are not required to get the base operating system installed. For example, if you plan to install the multiple network adapters, only install one now. If you plan to use a tape drive or external SCSI devices, disconnect them temporarily. After the operating system is starting without errors, reinstall the removed adapters and devices one at a time. This procedure simplifies the installation process.

NOTE : If you plan to use an external DASD enclosure, the following instructions do not apply. Refer to the documentation provided with the external enclosure for the correct setup, and continue to reference "4.2 Setting up the BIOS".

3. Install the desired number of hard disk drives into the drive bays.
4. Reinstall the cover.
5. Plug in the server.

1. Start the server, and when the IBM logo appears, press F1 to enter the Configuration/Setup Utility.
2. Click here to verify that you are at the latest level of BIOS . To determine the version of BIOS that is running on your server, select System Information and select Product Data. The BIOS Build Level field contains the BIOS version. The numbers in position 5, 6, and 7 of the level represent the current BIOS level. For example, MWE109AUS is BOS level 09A, U.S. English.
3. Press Esc twice to return to the "Configuration/Setup Utility" menu.
4. If you determine that your BIOS does not need to be updated, continue with step 7.
5. If your BIOS does need to be updated, download the appropriate image. The image is a self-extracting, executable file (under DOS or OS/2) that creates a startable system BIOS flash diskette. Build the diskette image by running the .exe file (under DOS or OS/2) and answering Y on the last page of the licensing agreement.
6. Restart the server with the BIOS diskette in the diskette driver and answer the questions appropriately. After the BIOS update is complete, you might receive an "162 Configuration has changed" error on startup (boot); ignore this message. Setup will start and you can continue with step 5.

NOTE : If you do not see the "162 Configuration has changed" message at startup (boot) time, when the IBM logo appears, you need to press F1 to enter Setup.

7. From the "Configuration/Setup Utility" menu, select Load Default Settings and press Enter.
8. Select Exit Setup and press Enter.
9. At the Exit Setup menu, select the menu option Yes, save and exit the Setup Utility and press Enter.
10. If you have added an IBM ServeRAID adapter to the Netfinity 1000 system, continue to reference section "4.4 Configuring arrays using the IBM ServeRAID adapter"; otherwise, continue to reference "4.3 Configuring hard disk drives using the Integrated SCSI controller".

1. Start the server and press Ctrl+A when you are prompted.
2. Select the Bus:Device:Channel that you want to configure.

NOTE : The channel A is attached to the internally connected drives. If you use both channels of the integrated Adaptec disk controller, be sure to repeat steps 2 through 8 for both channels.

3. Select Configure/View Host Adapter Settings.
4. Select Boot Device Options.
5. Verify that the boot channel and the boot SCSI ID match the SCSI channel and drive ID that you plan to use for the Red Hat Linux boot partition.
6. Press Esc twice to confirm the changes that you made.
7. Select SCSI Disk Utilities.
8. Complete the following steps to format each hard disk drive individually:
   • Highlight the hard disk drive.
   • Press Enter.
   • Select Format Disk.
   • Click Yes twice (The formatting process might take up to 30 minutes depending on the drive size. When the formatting process is complete, exit the SCSISelect Utility.)

1. Upon initial startup, an error message that relates to the drive configuration and that is similar to the following message might be encountered, "Following drives not responding (oldstate:newstate:ch:bay) (ONL:DDD:2:1)(ONL:DDD:2:2) - Identifiers for the following drives do not match configuration..." Press F10 (Exit without change).
2. Insert the IBM ServeRAID Support CD version 3.60 and restart the server.
3. If you are prompted, update the ServeRAID BIOS and Firmware. Restart the server and repeat step 1 if it is necessary.
4. At the "ServeRAID Manager" window, highlight Controller 1.
5. In the "Menu" bar, select Actions and select Restore to factory default settings.
6. At the "Confirmation" window, select Yes.
7. Under "Actions", select Create arrays.
8. Click Custom configuration for controller 1 and select Next.
9. Double-click each ID that you wish to add to the array and select Next.
10. Specify the RAID level and select Next.
11. Select Apply.
12. At the "Confirmation" window, select Yes.
13. At the "Ready drives confirmation" window, select Yes.
14. In the "Menu" bar, select File and click Exit.
15. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete at the exit screen.

NOTE : The procedure outlined in steps 16 through 23 causes the integrated Adaptec controller startup (boot) capability to be disabled. You can still access the devices that are attached to it if you have the proper device drivers loaded.

16. After the system has restarted, when the system prompts you, press and hold Ctrl+A.
17. Select the channel that you want to configure.
18. Select Configure/View Host Adapter Settings.
19. Select Advanced Configuration Options.
20. If there is a non-boot device that is attached to the internal Adaptec controller, such as a CD-ROM or tape drive, set the "Host Adapter BIOS" to Disabled:scan bus. If no devices are attached, set the "Host Adapter BIOS" to Disabled:NOT scan.
21. Press Esc twice to confirm the changes that you made.
22. Press Esc a third time to return to the "Bus:Device:Channel selection" window.
23. If you use both channels of the integrated Adaptec controller, be sure to repeat steps 17 through 22 for both channels. To exit the "SCSISelect Utility", press Esc and click Yes.

1. If you use an IBM ServeRAID adapter on the Netfinity 1000 system, you need to obtain the "IBM ServeRAID 4.0 Driver Update Diskette" for Red Hat Linux 6.1. Click here to obtain the diskette image .
2. Insert the "Red Hat Linux 6.1 Operating System for Intel Computers CD" and startup the server.
3. At the "Welcome to Red Hat Linux 6.1" window, if you use an IBM ServeRAID adapter on the Netfinity 1000 system, type text dd and proceed to step 4; otherwise, type text and press Enter to perform a text mode installation process. Proceed to step 5.
4. At the "Devices" screen, insert the IBM ServeRAID 4.0 Driver Update Diskette and select OK.
5. At the "Language Selection" window, select the language you prefer.
6. At the "Keyboard Selection" window, select the correct model keyboard.
7. At the "Red Hat Linux" window, press Enter.
8. At the "Installation Type" window, select Install Custom System.
9. At the "Bad Partition Table" window, press Enter to Initialize.
10. At the "Current Disk Partition" window, press Enter to Add. At the "Edit New Partition" window, specify the mount point, the size, the physical drive on which to create the partition, and the type.

• Mount Point "/" of a size greater than 500 MB (1 GB is required for everything), and "Type" "Linux Native" must be selected
• Mount Point "/boot" which has a maximum size of 25 MB (minimum 10 MB)
• A Swap partition of at least the size of RAM and preferably twice the size of system memory (The mount point information for the swap partition is left blank, and "Type" "Linux Swap" must be selected)

11. Once the drive is configured correctly, tab to OK and press Enter.
12. Press Enter to save changes.
13. At the "Choose Partitions to Format" window, tab to OK and press Enter. This step formats all the partitions.
14. At the "LILO Configuration" screen, tab to OK and press Enter.
15. Answer the question, "Where do you want to install the bootloader?" by highlighting the Master Boot Record, tabbing to OK, and pressing Enter.
16. At the "Boot manager" screen, tab to OK and press Enter.
17. Enter the hostname for your server, tab to OK, and press Enter.
18. At the "Network Configuration" window, you can complete the following steps:
    • Choose to "Use bootp/dhcp" by tabbing to OK and pressing Enter.
    • Specify an IP address, press the Space bar to deselect it, tab to the address information, and complete it. Tab to OK and press Enter.
19. At the "Mouse Selection" window, highlight Generic - 2 Button Mouse (PS/2), tab to emulate 3 buttons, and press the Space bar to select it. Tab to OK and press Enter.
20. At the "Time Zone Selection" window, highlight the correct time zone, tab to OK, and press Enter.
21. For the root password, type and confirm your password, tab to OK, and press Enter.
22. At the "Add user" window, type the information for your user account, tab to OK , and press Enter.
23. At the "User Account Setup" window, to accept the default, tab to OK and press Enter. You can set up additional user accounts after the installation process is finished.
24. At the "Authentication Configuration" window, tab to OK and press Enter. For more information about the types of passwords, refer to the "Red Hat Linux Installation Guide".
25. At the "Package Group Selection" window, press the Space bar to select or de-select the packages. Tab to OK and press Enter.

NOTE : Be sure to leave the X Window System highlighted if you intend to use any of the desktops. It is not recommended that you select everything. If any of the packages you selected have dependencies that you have not selected, a "Package Dependencies" window allows you to install the packages to satisfy the dependencies.

26. At the "X probe results" window, press Enter.
27. Press Enter to create a boot disk.
28. Press Enter to begin the installation process.
29. At the "Bootdisk" window, follow the instructions on the screen to create the boot disk and remove the diskette when you are finished.
30. At the "Monitor Setup" window, highlight the type of monitor that you have, tab to OK, and press Enter.
31. At the "Screen Configuration" window, select Don't Probe.
32. At the "Video Memory" window, select the amount of video memory in your system.
33. At the "Clockchip Configuration" window, select No Clockchip Setting (recommended.)
34. At the "Probe for Clocks" window, select Skip.
35. At the "Select Video Modes" window, press the Space bar three times and select OK. These settings do not matter, but you must select something to continue.
36. At the "Xconfigurator" window, select Skip.
37. Currently, there is no support other than VESA/Frame Buffer. Refer to "Appendix A: Installing the VESA/Frame Buffer Server for post-install instructions".
38. After the installation process is complete, select OK to restart the server and remove the CD from the CD-ROM.

Appendix A: Installing the VESA/Frame Buffer Server

1. With the system started in command mode, login as root.
2. Mount the "Red Hat Linux 6.1 CD" and install the frame buffer server package as follows # mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom # cd /mnt/cdrom/RedHat/RPMS # rpm -ivh XFree86-FBDev-3.3.5-3.i386.rpm.
3. Save the current symbolic link by running # mv /etc/X11/X /etc/X11/X.old.
4. Create a new symbolic link by running # ln -s ../../usr/X11R6/bin/XF86_FBDev /etc/X11/X 5 . Edit /etc/lilo.conf . Scroll to the first image= entry in the file and copy the entire block. Use the copied lines to make a new entry for the frame buffer. Add vga=773 to the new entry as the second line. Change the label on line 3 of the new entry to linux-fb . The image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.2.12-20smp vga=773 label=linux-fb initrd=/boot/initrd-2.2.12-20smp.img read-only root=/dev/sdxx is an example of a SMP kernel entry with frame buffer server installed.

NOTE: Do not remove the existing entry. Do not make any changes to the root line in the new entry. The default line in /etc/lilo.conf contains the label of the kernel that is loaded by default. If there is no default specified, then the first kernel entry in /etc/lilo.conf is loaded by default. 773 indicates 1024 x 768 pixel density with 8 bit color depth. For more information, refer to /usr/src/linux/Documentation/fb/vesafb.txt (kernel-source-2.2.12-6.i386.rpm package.)

5. Update the master boot record and the LILO boot loader by running # lilo -v.
6. Edit /etc/X11/XF86Config to create a new section entry for the frame buffer server under the "Screen" section. Copy the following example of a screen entry and make the necessary changes.

NOTE: "xxxx" and "yyyy" depend on predefined strings in XF86Config. Replace "xxxx" with the string following "Identifier" under "Device" in the "Graphics device" section. Replace "yy yy" with the string following "Identifier" under "Monitor" in the "Monitor" section.

• Section Screen
• Driver fbdev
• Device xxxx
• Monitor yyyy
• Subsection Display
• Modes default
• EndSubsection
• EndSection

7. Reboot the system and remove all media.
8. At the"LILO boot" prompt, press Tab for kernel options or press Enter if the new kernel was set asthe default kernel.
9. After the system has restarted in command mode, issue the startx command to enter the "X Window system".