Installing SUSE LINUX Server Family 8 Products for x86 - IBM eServer BladeCenter HS40

Steps

Contents

Installation Instructions for SUSE LINUX Server Family 8 Products for x86 for IBM eServer BladeCenter HS40 (Type 8839)

1.0 What you will need

2.0 Where to download device drivers and files

3.0 Quick installation instructions for experienced users

4.0 Detailed installation instructions

• 4.1 Setting up the hardware
• 4.2 Setting up the blade server
  • 4.2.1 Updating the BIOS code
  • 4.2.2 Updating the diagnostic code
  • 4.2.3 Updating the service processor firmware (if applicable)
• 4.3 Configuring hard disk drives using the LSI SCSI controller
• 4.4 Installing SUSE LINUX Server Family 8 Products for x86
• 4.5 Optional: Loading security or package updates
  • 4.5.1 Local Media Update
  • 4.5.2 Network Update

5.0 Notices

Revision Level: 0.62

Updated: 17 May 2004

(C) Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 2004. All rights reserved. US Government Users Restricted Rights - Use, duplication, or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp.

NOTE: Before using this information and the product it supports, read the general information under 5.0 Notices in this document.

Supported Server: IBM eServer BladeCenter HS40 Type 8839

Follow the network operating system (NOS) installation instructions provided in this document in sequential order unless these instructions advise you otherwise. 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, the tab key, or Alt + a letter combination to make a selection from a menu. The term click is used to denote the use of a mouse to make a selection.

You must have the following software and hardware for the installation:

• A registered copy of SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 or Standard Server 8 for x86.
• The latest available Service Pack CD (download from SUSE LINUX Maintenance Web). You must use the installation code on this CD to perform the installation.
• Download device driver diskette code to update your Intel Ethernet e1000 device driver.

  Service Pack 3 (needed for installation with SP3) device driver diskette:
  http://portal.suse.com/psdb/8a059ebfb0a8468d089060609b74ca75.html

• Supported hard disk drives. Go to http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/eserver/serverproven/compat/us/ for the ServerProven list of supported options and part numbers for your blade server.
• Supported adapters. Go to http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/eserver/serverproven/compat/us/ for the ServerProven list of supported options and part numbers for your blade server.
• One blank diskette to create a BIOS code flash diskette. You might need additional blank diskettes for firmware updates.

You can download device drivers and files from the following sites:

• IBM U.S. support Web site: http://www.ibm.com/systems/support/
• IBM device driver download site: Software and device drivers
• For countries outside the U.S., start at http://www.ibm.com/
• SUSE FTP site: ftp://ftp.suse.com/
• SUSE Web site: http://www.suse.com/

You can download product specifications from the following sites:

• For IBM eServer xSeries product specifications, go to http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/education/cust/xseries/xref.html

Complete the following steps to install SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 or Standard Server 8 for x86:

NOTE: If you install with a Remote Supervisor Adapter II, or if you plan to use a remote control environment to access the server, you might encounter problems with the mouse or graphics configuration during installation. To avoid this, press F2 for a text based installation.

1. At the boot options prompt, type pci=noacpi insmod=usb-storage (the usb-storage command is only needed for a BladeCenter T unit). You will need to insert the update diskette for the e1000 device driver (as referenced in section 1.0) and press the Alt key. Press Enter to load the Kernel. When prompted, press any key to confirm that the update diskette is inserted in the diskette drive.
2. If you see the Please make sure that CD number 1 is in your drive! prompt, insert CD 1 into the CD-ROM drive and press Enter. Follow the YaST2 prompts to continue with the installation. Use the following installation information:
   • The installer might require a restart. Make sure that there is no bootable installation media accessible to the blade server and select OK.
   • After the blade server is restarted for the first time, the mouse, CD-ROM drive, or diskette drive might not function. Complete the following steps:
     1. Press Ctrl+Alt+F2.
     2. Log in as the root user.
     3. At the command prompt, type:
        
        /sbin/modprobe mousedev
        /sbin/modprobe usb-storage
        echo "/sbin/modprobe mousedev" >> /etc/init.d/boot.local
        echo "/sbin/modprobe usb-storage" >> /etc/init.d/boot.local
        
        
     4. Press Alt+F7.
   • If you did not install the graphical environment components, a message is displayed stating that a graphical installation is not possible. Select OK. (The text-based YaST2 will be used from this point.)
   • You might be prompted to insert additional CDs to complete the package installation.
   • If you installed the graphical environment components on a server with a Remote Supervisor Adapter, or if you plan to use a remote control environment to access the server, you will need to use a VESA mode device driver at 1024x768@75 Hz. For details about using the VESA device driver for the graphical environment, see the documentation that comes with the Remote Supervisor Adapter and the SUSE LINUX documentation.

     NOTE: To force SaX2 to use the VESA device driver, type:
     sax2 -m 0=vesa

   • You must run the updates specified in section 4.5 Optional: Loading security or package updates, run the mk_initrd script, and reboot, or the updated Intel e1000 Ethernet device driver will not function properly. If during this process you install SUSE Kernel version 2.4.21-198, or a later SUSE Kernel version, you must be sure to use the device driver called e1000-new. You can configure this using the YaST2 system administration tool.
   • For advanced installation topics, such as information about how to configure a network installation server or how to configure an unattended installation, see the documentation included with the operating system or see the SUSE LINUX online documentation.

Complete the steps in the following sections to install SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 8 or Standard Server for x86.

NOTE: Network adapters can be installed and configured during or after the installation. For integrated drive electronics (IDE) interface models, make sure that your hard disk drive is the primary master device.

Complete the following steps to prepare the hardware:

1. Remove the blade server from the BladeCenter unit and remove the blade server cover. Make note of the bay number so that you can return the blade server to that bay.
2. If problems occur when you attempt to install multiple adapters or devices, for the initial installation, remove all adapters and devices that are not required for the base operating system to be installed. Disconnect any tape drives or external SCSI devices 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.
3. If you plan to use an external storage enclosure, set up the enclosure using the instructions that come with the enclosure; then, continue with step 5. Otherwise, continue with step 4.
4. Install the blade server cover.
5. Slide the blade server into the bay.

Complete the following steps to set up the blade server:

1. Turn on the blade server.
2. When the IBM logo is displayed, press F1 to start the Configuration/Setup Utility program.
3. Make sure that the BIOS code is at the latest revision level that is available from the IBM Web site or FTP site.
4. If you need to update the BIOS code, continue with section 4.2.1 Updating the BIOS code. If not, go to section 4.3 Configuring hard disk drives using the LSI SCSI controller. If you need to update the BIOS code, you must also update the diagnostics code and service processor firmware.

Complete the following steps to update the BIOS code:

1. Download the applicable image from the IBM Web site or FTP site. The image is a self-extracting, executable file (under DOS or IBM OS/2) that creates the flash diskettes.
2. To create the diskettes, run the executable (.exe) file under DOS or OS/2 and follow the instructions on the screen.
3. In the last window of the License Agreement, press the Y key.
4. Label the diskettes, using the part number of the image.
5. To update the BIOS code, complete the steps in the corresponding readme file.
6. Continue with section 4.2.2 Updating the diagnostic code.

Complete the following steps to update the diagnostic code:

1. Download the applicable image from the IBM Support Web site or FTP site. The image is a self-extracting, executable file (under DOS or IBM OS/2) that creates the flash diskettes.
2. To create the diskettes, run the executable (.exe) file under DOS or OS/2 and follow the instructions on the screen.
3. In the last window of the License Agreement, press the Y key.
4. Label the diskettes, using the part number of the image.
5. To update the diagnostics code, complete the steps in the corresponding readme file.
6. Continue with section 4.2.3 Updating the service processor firmware (if applicable).

Complete the following steps to update the service processor firmware:

1. Download the applicable image from the IBM Support Web site or FTP site. The image is a self-extracting, executable file under DOS or IBM OS/2 that creates the flash diskettes.
2. To create the diskettes, run the executable (.exe) file under DOS or OS/2 and follow the instructions on the screen.
3. In the last window of the License Agreement, press the Y key.
4. Label the diskettes, using the part number of the image.
5. To update the service processor firmware, complete the steps in the corresponding readme file.
6. Continue with section 4.3 Configuring hard disk drives using the LSI SCSI controller.

Complete the following steps to configure the hard disk drives using the LSI SCSI controller:

1. Turn on the blade server and press Ctrl+C when prompted.
2. Select the SCSI controller, then select Device Properties.
3. Make sure that the boot SCSI ID matches the drive identification (ID) that you plan to use for the boot partition.
4. Complete the following steps to format each hard disk individually. Formatting might take up to 30 minutes, depending on the drive size.
   1. Scroll down to the row for the hard disk drive.
   2. Tab over to the Format column.
   3. Press Enter twice.
   4. When the formatting is completed, press any key to continue.
   5. Press Esc three times and select Exit the Configuration Utility.
5. Continue with section 4.4 Installing SUSE LINUX Server Family 8 Products for x86.

If you install SUSE LINUX on a remote blade server using a remote control environment, you might encounter problems with the mouse synchronization. You will have to double-click items that normally require a single click. In screens where navigating the mouse is difficult, you can use keyboard controls such as Alt+underlined letter to select menu items and the Tab key to navigate within the screen. For more information about how to synchronize the mouse after installation, click MIGR-45201.html.

1. At the boot options prompt, type pci=noacpi insmod=usb-storage (the usb-storage command is only needed for a BladeCenter T unit). You will need to insert the update diskette for the e1000 device driver (as referenced in section 1.0) and press the Alt key. Press Enter to load the Kernel. When prompted, press any key to confirm that the update diskette is inserted in the diskette drive.

   NOTE: If you install with a Remote Supervisor Adapter II, or if you plan to use a remote control environment to access the server, you might encounter problems with the mouse or graphics configuration during installation. To avoid this, press F2 for a text based installation.

2. If you see the "Please make sure that CD number 1 is in your drive!" prompt, insert CD 1 into the CD-ROM drive and press Enter.

   If the mouse does not work initially, complete the following steps:

   1. Read the License Agreement and Limited Product Guarantee and press Enter to select Accept.
   2. Press Alt+a to select English (US).
   3. If you see the Utilization Purposes screen, select the type of installation for your blade server.
   4. If the Please select dialog box appears, press Alt+o to select New installation.
   5. Press Alt+c, scroll to Mouse, and press Enter to change the mouse. Scroll down to USB mouse and press Alt+t to make sure that your mouse is working correctly.
   6. Select Accept when finished.
   7. Continue with step 7.
3. Read the License Agreement and Limited Product Guarantee and select Accept.
4. At the Language Selection screen, select English (US) and select Accept.
5. If you see the Utilization Purposes screen, select the type of installation for your blade server.
6. If you are prompted, select New installation and select OK.
7. In the Installation Settings screen, settings are preselected for your blade server. Review the settings in the Installation Settings screen and use the following guidelines to make the necessary changes. Make sure that you follow the instructions under the Booting section. Select Accept when finished:

   Mode - Do not change this.

   Keyboard layout - If the language is set correctly, in most cases the correct keyboard setting will be automatically selected. Select Keyboard layout to modify the keyboard mapping. Select the keyboard layout from the list. You can check that it works correctly by typing in the Keyboard test box. Select Accept when finished.

   Mouse - Select Mouse if you need to change the type of mouse you are using. Changing the mouse type is not necessary in most cases. Select the correct mouse from the list and select Test to make sure that your mouse is working. Select Accept when finished.

   Partitioning - Select Partitioning if you need to change the partitioning scheme for your hard disk drive. You will see the YaST2 proposed partitioning scheme and you can do one of the following:

   • To accept the proposed scheme, select Next.
   • To modify the proposed scheme, select Base partition setup on this proposal and then select Next.

     In the Expert Partitioner screen, you can view and change existing partitions on the hard disk drive, using the following options:

     • Create - Select Create to add new partitions.
     • Delete - Select the partitions that you want to delete and select Delete.
     • Edit - Select Edit to change existing partitions.
       
       

     When you are finished, select Next.

   • To discard the proposed scheme, select Create custom partition setup and then select Next. In the Preparing Hard Disk - Step 1 screen, use one of the following procedures:
     • Select the hard disk drive where you want to install your operating system and then select Next. If there are preexisting partitions that take up all of the space on the hard disk drive, choose one of the following options:
       • Select Use entire hard disk. Select Next.
       • Select the partitions that can be deleted. Select Next.

       If the hard disk drive has been low-level formatted, or is new, select Next.

       If there are preexisting partitions on the hard disk drive that do not take up all of the space, the message "There is free space on the disk. Should YaST2 use this for SUSE Linux?" is displayed. If you select No, use the procedure for custom partitioning.

     • Select Custom partitioning-for experts. Select Next, and then select from the following options:
       • Create - Select Create to add new partitions.
       • Delete - Select the partitions that you want to delete and selectDelete.
       • Edit - Select Edit to change existing partitions.

       At a minimum, create the following partitions:

       • A swap partition up to two times the size of the physical random access memory (RAM), with file system type SWAP.
       • A root partition at least 350MB, with file system type EXT2 (for the most stable performance) or Reiser (for the best uptime). A minimum of 2GB is required for a default installation.

   NOTES:

   • If you want to use the Crypt file system, or other options (such as LVM or RAID) for partitioning methods that are not described in this document, see the documentation included with the operating system.
   • Only four partitions can be primary. If you want to create more than four partitions, you will need to create a logical partition for them.
   • There is a known problem with creating an independent boot partition /boot with the Reiser file system. The system will not boot properly.
     
     

   Software - Use this option to change the default software configuration, which installs most basic networking, administrative, and development tools that are needed. In the Software Selection screen, select the software configuration you want.

   For a specialized selection, select Detailed selection. You can then select specific software packages using the package tool. When finished, select Accept.

   NOTE: You cannot make changes to the software configuration in SUSE LINUX Standard Server.

   Booting - Select Booting and select Write GRUB to the boot disk ('MBR on (device)').

   Time zone - Use this option to set the time zone for the installation. Select the correct time zone from the list. Under the Hardware clock set to section, set either local time or UTC, depending on how you have set the clock for your blade server BIOS code. Select Accept when finished.

   Language - Use this option to specify the language for the installation. To specify a language, select Language, make your selection, and select Accept.

8. After selecting Accept, select Yes, install at the Warning screen.
9. During package installation, you might be prompted to insert additional CDs to finish installing the packages.
10. If the blade server has more than one microprocessor, or has Intel Hyper-Threading Technology enabled, make sure that there is no bootable installation media accessible to the blade server and select OK.

    The mouse, CD-ROM drive, or diskette drive might not function after the blade server is restarted for the first time. Complete the following steps:

    1. Press Ctrl+Alt+F2.
    2. Log in as the root user.
    3. At the command prompt, type:

       /sbin/modprobe mousedev
       /sbin/modprobe usb-storage
       echo "/sbin/modprobe mousedev" >> /etc/init.d/boot.local
       echo "/sbin/modprobe usb-storage" >> /etc/init.d/boot.local
       

    4. Press Alt+F7.
11. At the Password for root, the system administrator screen, type the administrative password that you want twice and select Next.
12. At the Add a New User screen, type the information for one system user. You can also add additional users and groups or change the password settings by selecting the respective buttons to do so. When finished, select Next.
13. The Desktop Settings screen is displayed. Select one of the following options:
    • Text mode only - no graphical desktop (this setting will not configure the graphical environment). If this setting is selected, select Next to continue to the next step.
    • Graphical desktop environment (this setting is the default selection). If this setting is selected, select Next and you will see some auto-detected settings for the graphical environment. Select Accept to accept the settings.

      If you installed the graphical environment components on a server with a Remote Supervisor Adapter, or if you plan to use a remote control environment to access the server, you will need to use a VESA mode device driver for the graphical environment. The preferred mode is the VESA device driver at 1024x768@75 Hz. For details about using the VESA device driver for the graphical environment, see the documentation that comes with the Remote Supervisor Adapter and see the SUSE LINUX documentation.

      NOTE: To force the SaX2 to use the VESA device driver, type
      sax2 -m 0=vesa

      To change the settings, complete the following steps:

      1. Select Change to change the graphic environment settings.
      2. If your monitor was not detected, you will be prompted to start the configuration dialog to set up the screen. Select Yes and then select the Properties button. Select the appropriate vendor and model. Select Ok to return to SaX2. Select Finish.
      3. If needed, select the correct resolution, and color depth, by selecting Desktop (on the left), Color and Resolution, and then the Properties button.

         WARNING: It is possible to damage your hardware by making these settings too high.

         Select Ok, and then select Finish.
      4. Select Finalize.
      5. Select Test at the informational screen.
      6. A screen is displayed where you can fine tune the configuration using the arrow keys. (If the screen does not appear, press Ctrl+Alt+Backspace to return to SaX2 and change the settings.) To accept the configuration, select Save.
      7. Select Ok at the dialog box that confirms that the configuration is saved.
      8. Select Accept.
14. If you are installing SUSE LINUX Standard Server, you must provide the applicable settings for your server and network functions. These steps are dynamic based on your previous selections. For each screen, select or type the necessary information for your network, then select Next. When all network settings are entered, select Finish.
15. You might receive a warning that asks if you want to detect your printers. Select Skip detection. If you will be configuring a printer, select Yes.
16. The Installation Settings screen enables you to configure other types of hardware. (The hardware configuration can also be done later with the program YaST2). Select Next to finish the installation.

    NOTES:

    • You must run the updates specified in section 4.5 Optional: Loading security or package updates, run the Mk_initrd script, and reboot, or the updated Intel e1000 Ethernet device driver will not function properly. If during this process you install SUSE Kernel version 2.4.21-198, or a later SUSE Kernel version, you must be sure to use the device driver called e1000-new. You can configure this using the YaST2 system administration tool.
    • For advanced installation topics, such as information about how to configure a network installation server or how to configure an unattended installation, see the documentation included with the operating system or see the SUSE LINUX online documentation.
    • Read the following information before installing device drivers on your blade server: Retain Tip H18618.
    • If you use the remote control environment, you might have problems with mouse synchronization and with selecting items. For information about configuring your blade server to avoid this problem, go to MIGR-45201.html

Use one of the methods in the following sections to load security or package updates.

After the installation, complete the following steps to upgrade your blade server to the latest service pack level.

1. Insert the service pack CD into your CD-ROM drive.
2. Open a graphical terminal program (such as xterm or konsole), or log in at the console command prompt.
3. If you are using a graphical terminal program, type
   xhost +
4. Type su
5. When prompted, type the root password.
6. Mount the CD and change directories by typing one of the following commands:
   • If you have a standard CD-ROM drive:
     mount /dev/cdrom /media/cdrom ; cd /media/cdrom
   • If you have a CD-RW drive:
     mount /dev/cdrecorder /media/cdrom ; CD /media/cdrom
7. Run the update script by typing
   sh install.sh
8. Select the check box to update the blade server to the latest Service Pack level, and select OK.

After the installation and network are set up, complete the following steps to install security or package updates from SUSE. Run this update regularly to make sure that all software has the latest available security updates.

1. Open a graphical terminal program (such as xterm or konsole), or log in at the console command prompt.
2. If you are using a graphical terminal program, type
   xhost +
3. Type su
4. At the prompt, type the root password. You can now run the program YaST2 as the root user.
5. Start YaST2 by typing yast2
6. Select Software then select Online Update.
7. Choose one of the following for the installation source:
   • Leave the default value.
   • Change to a different mirror for a better download time if necessary.
8. Select Next. The Connection and Data transfer screen is displayed, and the various security and software patch descriptions are downloaded.
9. Select Accept to install all recommended updates.
10. Select Finish.
11. Select Close to exit YaST2.

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