Installing SUSE LINUX version 6.4 - Netfinity 1000

Steps

Revision Level: 1.0
Updated: 12/18/2000

Supported systems
8477 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. The term "Select" is used throughout this document to denote the use of arrow keys to highlight a menu selection. In addition, all uniform resource locator (URL) references in this document are case sensitive.

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 6.4 installation
4.2 Setting up the basic input/output sysem (BIOS)
4.3 Installing SUSE LINUX Server version 6.4
4.4 Configuring frame buffer for graphics adapter in SUSE LINUX version 6.4
4.5 Configuring graphical login for SUSE LINUX version 6.4

1.0 What you will need

• A licensed copy of the SUSE LINUX version 6.4
• 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 applicable options and part numbers for your server.)

2.0 Where to download device 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 prior experience with small computer system interface (SCSI), hardware, and the installation process, view section "3.0 Quick installation instructions for experienced users". If you have not, view section "4.0 Detailed installation instructions".

3.0 Quick installation instructions for experienced users

1. Insert the "SUSE LINUX version 6.4 CD-ROM number 2" and start 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 start the X Window system. (See section "4.4 Configuring frame buffer for graphics adapter in SUSE LINUX version 6.4".)
4. SUSE LINUX version 6.4 is now installed on your Netfinity 1000 system.

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

4.1 Setting up the hardware for SUSE LINUX version 6.4 installation

1. Unplug the server and remove the side cover.
2. For the initial installation process, install all microprocessors that 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 install multiple network adapters, only install one at this time. If you use a tape drive or external SCSI devices, disconnect them temporarily. After the operating system starts without errors, reinstall the removed adapters and devices one at a time. This procedure streamlines the installation process.

NOTE: The following instructions do not apply to external direct access storage device (DASD) enclosures. Refer to the documentation provided with the external enclosure for proper setup; then, continue with section "4.2 Setting up the BIOS".

3. Install the hard disk drive(s) into the drive bay(s).
4. Reinstall the side cover.
5. Plug in the server.

4.2 Setting up the BIOS

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 runs on your server, select System Information, 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.
   • Press Esc twice to return to the "Configuration/Setup Utility" menu.
   • If you determine that your BIOS does not need to be updated, continue with step 5.
3. 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.
4. Restart the server with the BIOS diskette in the diskette 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 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".

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

4.3 Installing SUSE LINUX version 6.4

1. Insert the "SUSE LINUX version 6.4 CD-ROM number 1" and start the server.
2. At the "boot:" prompt, type the word manual and press Enter. (You have approximately 5 seconds to perform this action before SUSE LINUX version 6.4 begins the default installation process.)
3. At the "Language Selection" window, select English.
4. At the "Display Selection" window, select Color Display.
5. At the "Keyboard Selection" window, select English (US).
6. Return to the "Main" menu and select Start Installation/System.
7. At the "Start Installation/System" window, select Start Installation/Update.
8. At the "Start Installation/Update" window, select CD-ROM as the media source.
9. At the "Installation Version" window, select YaST1.
10. At the "Type of Installation" window, select Install LINUX from scratch.
11. At the "Partitioning Hard Drives" window, select Partitioning.
12. At the "Disk Usage" window, choose whether or not you want to use the entire hard drive for the LINUX partition. If you choose "Yes", it will configure a default setup with the necessary mounting points. You may then proceed with step 17. If you choose "No", it will enable you to customize your hard drive.
13. Press F5 to create partitions and F3 to change the type of partition. The mount points are defined in step 17.

NOTE: You must create at least one of the following partitions:

• A mount point "/" that is at least a size greater than 500 MB (1 GB is required to install everything) and is a LINUX Native type root partition
• A mount point "/boot" with a maximum size of 25 MB (minimum 10 MB) and is a LINUX Native type root partition
• A LINUX Swap type partition that is at least the size of the physical random access memory (RAM) on your system (preferably twice the size of the system memory)

14. At the "Select Swap Partition" window, select the swap partition and press Enter to initialize the swap partition.
15. At the "Creating Filesystems" window, press F4 to define the mount points.
16. At the "Installation menu" window, select Load Configuration.
17. Press the Arrow keys and Space bar to select all the packages you want installed.
18. Press Enter to select Add and return to the main "Installation"menu.
19. At the "Installation menu" window, select Start Installation.

NOTE: The installation process might take a while and require the use of multiple CDs that you will be prompted to insert at the appropriate time.

20. After the installation process is complete, select Main Menu from the "Installation Menu".
21. At the "Kernel Setup" window, select Kernel with SMP-support.
22. At the "LINUX Loader (LILO) Installation" window, select Yes and complete the following steps:
    • Press F4 to setup a new LINUX boot configuration.
    • Configure Name: (name)
    • Which Operating System: Boot LINUX
    • Root: (root directory for LINUX partition)
    • Kernel to be started by LILO: (that is, boot/vmlinz)
    • Press Enter to save. Press Enter through the parameters of the "LILO Installation" window to ensure that "Master boot record" is selected for the location of LILO. Press Enter again to confirm your selection.
23. At the "Time Zone Configuration" window, select the appropriate time zone.
24. At the "Adjustment of Hardware Clock" window, select the appropriate setup.
25. At the "Enter Your Hostname" window, type your hostname and domain name.
26. At the "Confirm" window, select Real Network if you use a network card.

NOTE: If you select "Real Network", it will take you through a series of configuration questions that require input by you.

27. At the "Sendmail" window, select the appropriate configuration.

NOTE: SUSE loads and reboots to a "Welcome" window. Be sure to remove any disks from the system. The installation of LILO causes the BIOS to prompt you of a virus warning message that states that the “boot sector has changed”. This message indicates proper installation of LILO to the master boot directory. Select Continue (Change is expected).

28. At the "Welcome to SUSE LINUX" window, type a root password.
29. Reinsert "CD number 1" into the CD-ROM drive.
30. At the "Confirmation" window, choose whether or not you want to setup a user.
31. At the next "Confirmation" window, choose whether or not you want a modem.
32. At the next "Confirmation" window, select Yes to install a mouse; then, select a PS/2 mouse configuration.
33. At the "Configuration" window, select Yes.
34. At the "Test GPM" window, select Keep to confirm setup.

NOTE: The "Selection of the Installation Medium" window might appear. If so, select CD-ROM, ATAPI EIDE; then, select On controller 0 as master.

35. SUSE LINUX restarts. You can login with the root password. The SUSE LINUX installation process is complete. The next set of instructions will assist you to configure the frame buffer for the graphics adapter.

4.4 Configuring frame buffer for graphics adapter in SUSE LINUX version 6.4

1. Insert the "CD-ROM number 1" into the CD-ROM drive.
2. Type mount /cdrom at the command line and press Enter.
3. Type cd /cdrom/SUSE/xsrv2/ at the command line and press Enter.
4. Type rpm –ivh –force xfbdev.rpm to install the "rpm" for the frame buffer and press Enter.
5. After the installation process is complete, type cd ~/ to change to the base directory and press Enter.
6. Type 1n –s –force /usr/X11R6/bin/XF86_FBDev /var/X11R6/bin/X to create a symbolic link.
7. Type XF86Setup at the command line and press Enter.
8. Press Enter and select Yes and/or OK to the given question(s).
9. Click the Card tab at the top and select S3 Savage4 as the video adapter.
10. Click the Monitor tab and select the appropriate monitor (multi-frequency that can accommodate 1280 X 1024@74Hz).
11. Click the Modeselection tab and select the resolution and bit depth for the pixel (for example, 1024X768 16bpp).
12. Click Done when you are finished; then, select Ok.
13. After the test window loads, select Save the configuration and exit; then, click OK.

NOTE: If you are prompted to create the symbolic link, select Yes; then, click OK.

14. Type cd ~/../etc at the command line and press Enter.
15. Edit the configuration file XF86Config according to the instructions in step 16.
16. Use your mouse or the appropriate commands to cut and paste the following lines at the end of the XF86Config file:
    • Section “Screen”
    • Driver “fbdev”
    • Device “Primary Card”
    • Monitor “Primary Monitor”
    • Subsection “Display”
    • Depth 16
    • Modes “default”
    • EndSubsection
    • EndSection
17. Type umount /cdrom at the command line to unmount the CD-ROM.
18. At the "LINUX" prompt, type startx to enter the "X Window system".

4.5 Configuring graphical login for SUSE LINUX version 6.4
NOTE: The following instructions will set your server up to boot into graphics mode each time the server starts. (Do not proceed unless the above frame buffer configuration is setup properly and working.)

1. Type yast at the LINUX command line and press Enter.
2. At the "Main menu" window, select System administration; then, select Login configuration.
3. For the login graphical user interface (GUI), select Graphical; then, click Yes to confirm your selection.
4. Select a window manager (KDM).
5. For shutdown behavior of KDM, select root and press Enter to continue. Press Enter again to confirm your selection.