IBM Support

Installing Red Hat Linux v6.0 - Netfinity 3500 M10

How To


Summary

Installing Red Hat Linux v6.0

Steps

Revision Level: 1.1
Updated: 10/14/1999

Supported systems
8655 All systems

Architecture
PCI/ISA

Drive interfaces
Integrated IBM Dual-Channel PCI Ultra/Ultra Wide Controller (Adaptec AIC-7895 chip set)

Follow the network operating system (NOS) installation instructions provided in this document sequentially unless you are instructed differently. Windows and messages may differ from those in this document.

This document contains these sections:

  • 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 NOS installation
  • 4.2 Setting up the basic input/output system (BIOS)
  • 4.3 Installing Red Hat Linux 6.0
  • Appendix A: Enabling Intel Symmetric Multi-Processors (SMP) support
  • Appendix B: Installing the VESA/Frame Buffer Server for post installation instructions

1.0 What you will need
You will need a:
  • copy of Red Hat Linux 6.0.
  • supported hard disk drives. Click here for a list of supported options and part numbers for your server.
  • supported adapter. Click here for a list of 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/files
If you have experience in SCSI, hardware, and the installation process, continue to reference 3.0 Quick installation instructions for experienced users . If not, continue to reference 4.0 Detailed installation instructions .

3.0 Quick installation instructions for experienced users
If you are an experienced user, you need to:
  1. flash a Netfinity 3500 M10 Server with a system BIOS level less than 08A. Click here to verify that you are at the latest level of BIOS.
  2. At the startup prompt, press Enter . Follow the window instructions that guide you through the installation process.
  3. At the Choose a card window, select "S3 Trio3D (Generic VGA)" from the list of video cards.
  4. At the Starting X window, select "Skip" to defer the Xconfigurator from starting X. See Appendix B: Installing the VESA/Frame Buffer Server for post installation instructions .

4.0 Detailed installation instructions
NOTE : Linux does not automatically detect the presence of multiple processors in a system during the installation process. See Appendix A: Enabling Intel Symmetric Multi-Processors (SMP) support for post-installation instructions .

The following steps are detailed instructions for setting up the hardware for NOS installation, setting up the BIOS, and installing Red Hat Linux 6.0.

4.1 Setting up the hardware for NOS installation
To set up the hardware for NOS installation, you need to:
  1. Unplug the server. Remove the side cover.
  2. For the initial installation process, install the microprocessors you plan to use and remove adapters and devices not required for installing the base operating system.

NOTE : If you plan to use an external DASD enclosure, the following instructions do not apply. See the documentation provided with the external enclosure for proper set up; then, continue to reference 4.2 Setting up the BIOS .

3. Install the desired number of hard disk drives into the drive bays. It is recommended that drives be installed in the lower bay to take advantage of the additional cooling fan.

NOTE : Set the SCSI ID of the drive using jumpers on the drive. Set the SCSI ID of your boot drive to 0. Each drive installed must have a unique ID.

4. If you are installing drives in the lower bay, complete the installation of the drives and continue with step 15. If you install a drive in the upper bay, continue with step 5.
5. To install a drive in the upper bay, first remove the DASD cage. The DASD bracket removal label on the DASD cage shows how to remove top cap and the two screws.
6. Remove the cables from all devices installed in the upper bay.

NOTE : Squeeze the connector top to bottom to remove the audio cable from the CD-ROM when you remove the cable.

7. Pull DASD cage back and remove it.
8. Use the four shoulder screws to mount the hard drive into the DASD cage.
9. Replace floppy disk drive cables.
10. Remove the adhesive cover strip from the VELCRO-brand fastener attached to the SCSI connector that terminates with a cable connector. The fastener is located on the second SCSI connector; the second SCSI connector is the second connector from the end of the cable.
11. Insert the connector into the hard disk drive and press the VELCRO-brand fastener onto the hard drive and attach a power cable.
12. Place the VELCRO-brand fastener below the CD-ROM drive. Attach the VELCRO-brand fastener on the terminator of the SCSI cable to the VELCRO-brand fastener on the bottom of the CD-ROM drive.
13. Reattach the cables to the CD-ROM drive.
14. Replace DASD cage, the screws, and the top cap.
15. Reinstall the side panel.
16. Plug in the server.

4.2 Setting up the BIOS
To set up the BIOS, you need to:
  1. Power-on the server.
  2. Press F1 to enter "Configuration/Set-up" once the IBM logo appears in the window.
  3. Highlight the menu option "System Information", select "Product Data", and press Enter . The "Flash EEPROM Revision Level" field contains the BIOS version. The numbers in positions 5, 6, and 7 of the level represent the current BIOS level (for example, in PKKT08AUS, the BIOS level is 08A, and the language is U.S. English).
  4. Click here to verify that you are at the most recent level of BIOS.
  5. If your BIOS requires updating, click here to download the latest level of BIOS .
  6. Type "3500 m10 bios".
  7. Select the latest level of BIOS.

NOTE : 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), answering "Y" on the last page of the licensing agreement. The current diskette image is 00n9078.exe and is labeled Netfinity 3500 M10 Flash BIOS Update Diskette Version 1.08 .

8. Start up with the BIOS diskette in the server and answer the questions. After the BIOS update completes, you may receive a "162 Configuration has changed" error on startup; ignore this message. Set-up starts and you can continue with step 9.

NOTE : If you do not see the "162 Configuration has changed" message at startup, press F1 to enter "Set-up" once the IBM logo appears in the window.

9. Move the highlighted selection to "Startup Sequence" and press Enter .
10. Verify that the "Primary Startup Sequence" is set to (change if necessary):
  • First Startup Device - CD-ROM
  • Second Startup Device - Diskette Drive 0
  • Third Startup Device - Hard Disk 0
  • Fourth Startup Device - Disabled

11. Press Esc twice to return to the "Configuration/Set-up Utility" menu.
12. Move the highlighted selection to "Exit Set-up" and press Enter .
13. At the Exit Set-up menu, select the menu option "Yes, save and exit the Setup Utility" and press Enter .

4.3 Installing Red Hat Linux 6.0
To install Red Hat Linux 6.0, you need to:
  1. Insert the Red Hat 6.0 Linux CD and start the server.
  2. At the startup prompt, press Enter . Follow the window instructions that guide you through the installation process. Defaults may be taken unless specified otherwise.
  3. At the SCSI Configuration window, the installation program autodetects Adaptec 2740, 2840 and 2940 adapters. If there are no additional adapters in the server, press "No".
  4. At the Configure Mouse window, select "Generic Mouse (PS/2)" (two-button mouse) or "Generic 3 Button Mouse (PS/2)" (three-button mouse) depending on the mouse type installed.
  5. When you configure the network during the installation process, the installation program autodetects the on-board Intel EtherExpress Pro 100 network card. If the network card is not detected, it may be because it was disabled in the Configuration/Set-up Utility.
  6. At the Choose a card window, select "S3Trio 3D (Generic VGA)" from the list of video cards.
  7. At the Starting X window, select "Skip" to defer the Xconfigurator from starting X. Currently, there is no support other than VESA/Frame Buffer for the Savage 4 video adapter included with the Netfinity 3500 M10 Server. See Appendix B: Installing the VESA/Frame Buffer Server for post installation instructions .
  8. Other installation components, such as choosing software, setting up your startup hard disk drive/file systems, and root password, depend upon the specifications of your site. Consult your local system administrator for details.
  9. After the installation is complete, press "Ok" to restart the server and remove the CD from the CD-ROM.

Appendix A: Enabling Intel Symmetric Multi-Processors (SMP) support
  1. After the installed system restarts, log in as "root".
  2. If the 2.2.5-15smp kernel isnot present in the /boot directory, mount the Red Hat 6.0 Linux CD and install the SMP support package as:

# mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom
# cd /mnt/cdrom/RedHat/RPMS
# rpm -i --force kernel-smp-2.2.5-15.i686.rpm

3. Create a new ram-disk image by running "# mkinitrd -f /boot/initrd-2.2.5-15smp.img 2.2.5-15smp".
4. Edit "/etc/lilo.conf" to add a new entry for the SMP kernel. Copy the existing entry and make necessary changes. The following is an example of a new SMP kernel entry:

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.2.5-15smp
label=linux-smp
root=/dev/sdxx
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.2.5-15smp.img
read-only

NOTE : Do not remove the existing entry. Do not make changes to the root line in the new entry. The first kernel entry in "/etc/lilo.conf" is loaded by default.

5. Update the master boot record and the LILO boot loader by running "# lilo -v".
6. If no errors were reported, reboot the system and remove media.
7. At the LILO boot prompt, press Tab for kernel options. Type the label of the SMP kernel (example, linux-smp) to boot the new kernel.
8. To verify that the SMP kernel boots properly, run "# cat /proc/cpuinfo" to display information about each processor.

Appendix B: Installing the VESA/Frame Buffer Server for post installation instructions
  1. After the installed system restarts in command mode, log in as "root".
  2. Mount Red Hat Linux 6.0 CD and install the frame buffer server package as:

# mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom
# cd /mnt/cdrom/RedHat/RPMS
# rpm -ivh XFree86-FBDev-3.3.3.1-49.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" to add a new entry for the frame buffer server by copying the existing entry. Only add a "vga=773" line after the image line and change the label so that it is unique to other entries. Example of a SMP kernel entry with frame buffer server installed:

image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.2.5-15smp
vga=773
label=linux-smp-fb
root=/dev/sdxx
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.2.5-15smp.img
append="noapic"
read-only

NOTE : Do not remove the existing entry. 773 indicates 1024 x 768 pixel density with 8 bit color depth. For more information, see "/usr/src/linux/Documentation/fb/vesafb.txt"
(kernel-source-2.2.5-15.i386.rpm package).

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

NOTE : "xxxx" and "yyyy" depends upon predefined strings in XF86Config. Replace "xxxx" with the string following "Identifier" under "Device" in the Graphics device section. Replace "yyyy" 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

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

Document Location

Worldwide

Operating System

Older System x:Red Hat Linux

[{"Type":"HW","Business Unit":{"code":"BU016","label":"Multiple Vendor Support"},"Product":{"code":"QU02OZH","label":"Older System x->Netfinity 3500 M10->8655"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF042","label":"Caldera"}],"Line of Business":{"code":"","label":""}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
27 January 2019

UID

ibm1MIGR-4B5M3P

Page Feedback