Installing SUSE LINUX version 6.3 - Netfinity 4000R

Steps

Revision Level: 1.0
Updated: 06/20/2000

Supported systems
8652 all models

Follow the network operating system (NOS) installation instructions provided in this document in sequential order 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 denote the use of arrow keys to highlight and select a menu item.

Sections within this document
1.0 What you will need
2.0 Where to download drivers and files
3.0 Quick installation instructions for experienced users
4.0 Detailed installation instructions
4.1 Setting up the hardware for SUSE LINUX version 6.3 installation
4.2 Setting up the basic input/output system (BIOS)
4.3 Configuring hard disk drives using the Integrated SCSI Controller
4.4 Installing SUSE LINUX version 6.3
4.5 Configuring frame buffer for graphics adapter in SUSE LINUX version 6.3
4.6 Configuring graphical login for SUSE LINUX version 6.3

1.0 What you will need

• A copy of the SUSE LINUX version 6.3
• 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".)

2.0 Where to download drivers and files

• IBM U.S. Web site: http://www.ibm.com/systems/support
• SUSE FTP site: ftp://ftp.SUSE.com
• SUSE U.S. Web site: http://www.SUSE.com/

If you have had prior experience with SCSI, hardware, and the installation process, continue to reference "3.0 Quick installation instructions for experienced users". If you have not, continue to reference "4.0 Detailed installation instructions".

3.0 Quick installation instructions for experienced users

1. Insert the "SUSE LINUX version 6.3 CD-ROM number 2" and startup the server.
2. Follow the instructions that will guide you through the installation process.
3. After the system has restarted in command mode, issue the "startx command" to enter the X Window system.

NOTE: See section "4.6 Configuring graphical login for SUSE LINUX version 6.3".

4. SUSE LINUX version 6.3 is now installed on your Netfinity 4000R system.

4.0 Detailed installation instructions

1. Network adapter devices can be installed and configured during or after the installation process.
2. The presence of multiple processors in a system is auto-detected and is installed during the installation process.

4.1 Setting up the hardware for SUSE LINUX version 6.3 installation

1. Unplug the server and remove the cover.
2. For the initial installation, install all microprocessors you plan to use and remove all adapters and devices that are not required to get the base operating system installed. For example, if you plan to install multiple network adapters, only install one at this time. If you plan to use a tape drive or external SCSI devices, disconnect them temporarily. After the operating system has started without errors, reinstall the removed adapters and devices one at a time. This procedure streamlines 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 hard disk drive(s) into the drive bay(s).
4. Replace the cover.
5. Plug in the server.

4.2 Setting up the BIOS

1. Start the server.
2. To enter the "Configuration/Setup Utility", when the IBM logo appears, press F1.
3. Click here to verify that you are at the latest level of BIOS.
4. To determine the version of BIOS that is running on your server, select System Information, and then 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, MWE116AUS is BIOS level 16A, U.S. English.
5. Press Esc twice to return to the "Configuration/Setup Utility" menu. If you determine that your BIOS will not need to be updated, continue with step 8.
6. If your BIOS will need to be updated, download the appropriate image.
7. Restart the server with the Flash BIOS Update CD in the CD-ROM drive 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 8.

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

8. From the "Configuration/Setup Utility" menu, select Load Default Settings and press Enter.
9. Select Exit Setup and press Enter.
10. At the "Exit Setup" menu, select the menu option Yes, save and exit the Setup Utility and press Enter.

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 you want to configure.

NOTE: 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 Boot SCSI ID match the SCSI channel and drive ID that you plan to use for the SUSE LINUX boot partition.
6. Press Esc twice to confirm the changes 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.
   • Respond Yes twice. (The formatting process might take up to 30 minutes depending on the drive size. When the formatting process is complete, exit the "SCSI Select Utility".

4.4 Installing SUSE LINUX version 6.3

1. Insert the "SUSE LINUX version 6.3 CD-ROM number 2" and start the server.
2. At the "Language Selection" window, select English.
3. At the "Display Selection" window, select Color Display.
4. At the "Keyboard Selection" window, select English (US).
5. At the "Main Menu", select Kernel modules (hardware drivers).
6. At the "Kernel Modules" menu, select Auto load of modules.
7. This step will initially detect the Integrated SCSI controller and install the appropriate drivers. If you install the appropriate drivers by using ServeRAID, after the Integrated SCSI driver is installed, press Yes when you are prompted to look for more devices so that it may detect and install the ServeRAID adapter driver. Otherwise press No. Press Enter twice through the proceeding windows.
8. Go back to the "Main Menu" and select Start Installation / system.
9. At the "Start Installation / System" window, select Start Installation.
10. At the "Start Installation" window, select CD-ROM as the media source.
11. Insert "SUSE CD-ROM number 1" and press Enter.
12. At the "Type of Installation" window, select Install LINUX from scratch.
13. At the "Partitioning Hard drives" window, select Partitioning.
14. At the "Disk Usage" window, select whether or not you would like to use your whole hard drive for the LINUX partition. If you press Yes, it will configure a default setup with the necessary mounting points. Proceed with step 17. If you press No, it will allow you to customize your hard drive. Press F5 to create partitions and F3 to change the type of partition. The mount points will be defined in step 16.

NOTE: You must create at least the following partitions:

• A mount point "/" that is a size greater than 500MB (1GB is required for everything) and of type LINUX native
• A mount point "/boot" which has a maximum size of 25MB (minimum 10MB) and of type LINUX native
• A swap partition that is at least the size of the RAM (preferably twice the size of the system memory)
  • At the "Select Swap Partition" window, select the swap partition and press Enter to initialize the swap partition.
  • At the "Creating File systems" window, press F4 to define the mount points.

15. At the "Installation Menu" window, select Load Configuration.
16. Press the Arrows and Spacebar and select all the packages to be installed.
17. Press Enter to select Add and return to the main "Installation" menu.
18. At the "Installation" menu, select Start Installation.
19. Once the installation process is complete, select Main Menu from the "Installation" menu.
20. At the "Kernel Setup" window, select Standard Kernel (kernel with SMP support).
21. At the "Lilo Installation" window, press Yes and complete the following steps:
    • Press F4 to setup a new LINUX boot configuration
    • Configuration Name: [name]
    • Which Operating System: Boot LINUX
    • Root: [root directory for LINUX partition]
    • Kernel to be booted by Lilo: (i.e. “boot/vmlinz”)
    • Press Enter to save. Press Enter through the parameters of the "Lilo Installation" window and ensure that Master boot record is selected for the location of Lilo. Press Enter one more time to confirm.
22. At the "Time Zone Configuration" window, select the appropriate time zone.
23. At the "Adjustment of Hardware Clock" window, select the appropriate setup.
24. At the "Enter Your Hostname" window, type your hostname and domain name.
25. At the "Confirm" window, choose Real Network if you use a network card.

NOTE: If you select Real Network, it will take you through a series of configuration questions you will need to answer.

26. At the "Send mail" window, select the appropriate configuration.

NOTE: SUSE will now load and restart to a Welcome Screen. The installation of Lilo will cause the BIOS to prompt you of a Virus Warning message stating that the “boot sector has changed”. In this case, this message is good because it shows proper installation of Lilo to the master boot directory. Because we are expecting this message or change, simply select Continue, Change is expected.

27. At the "Welcome to SUSE LINUX" screen, type a root password.
28. At the "Confirmation" window, select whether or not you want to setup a user.
29. At the next "Confirmation" window, select whether or not you want a modem.
30. At the next "Confirmation" window, press Yes to install a mouse and select the PS/2 mouse configuration. At the "Configuration" window, press Yes. At the "Test GPM" window, press Keep to confirm setup.

NOTE: You may encounter the "Selection of the Installation Medium" window. If so, select CD-ROM, ATAPI EIDE, and then select On controller 0 as master.

31. SUSE LINUX will now restart and you may login as root with the correct password.

NOTE: SUSE has now completed the installation process. The next set of instructions will configure the Frame Buffer for the graphics adapter.

4.5 Configuring Frame Buffer for graphics adapter in SUSE LINUX version 6.3

1. With the "CD-ROM number 1" in the CD-ROM drive, at the command line, type mount /cdrom.
2. Type cd /cdrom/SUSE/xsrv2/.
3. Install the rpm for frame buffer by typing rpm –ivh --force xfbdev.rpm.
4. Once the installation process is complete, change to the base directory by typing cd ~/.
5. Create a symbolic link by typing ln –s --force /usr/X11R6/bin/XF86_FBDev /var/X11R6/bin/X.
6. Type xf86config at the command line. Carefully follow the on-line directions and answer the questions appropriately.

NOTE: The graphics driver is the CT69000 (part number 09N7399I) and the driver can be downloaded from the IBM website.

7. At the command line, type cd ~/../etc.
8. Edit the configuration file XF86Config.
9. By using your mouse to cut and paste, or the appropriate commands, add the following lines to the end of the file:
   • Section Screen
   • Driver fbdev
   • Device Primary Card
   • Monitor Primary Monitor
   • Subsection Display
   • Depth 16
   • Modes default
   • End Subsection
   • End Section
10. Unmount the CD-ROM by typing umount /cdrom at the command line.
11. You should be back to the LINUX prompt; type startx to enter the X Window system.

4.6 Configuring graphical login for SUSE LINUX version 6.3
NOTE: The following steps will set your server up to boot into graphics mode each time the server is started. (Do not proceed unless, the above frame buffer configuration "section 4.5" is setup properly and working.)

1. At the "LINUX" command line, type yast.
2. At the "Main Menu" window, select System administration, then select Login configuration.
3. For the Login GUI, select Graphical and then press Yes to confirm.
4. Select a Window Manager (i.e. KDM).
5. For shutdown behavior of KDM, select root and finalize by pressing Enter to continue, and Enter once more to confirm.