2.1 Preparing for Installation on IBM eServer i5/p5, System i5/p5, and OpenPower Models

This section covers the preparatory steps for installing SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server on IBM eServer i5/p5 systems. It explains the installation from a built-in CD-ROM drive and over the network.

This section assumes you have set up your HMC and connected it to your system. Find more information about using the wizard to configure the HMC in Configuring the HMC using the Guided Setup Wizard: http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/eserver/v1r3s/index.jsp?topic=/iphai/confighmcgs.htm

2.1.1 Modern Features of IBM eServer i5/p5 Systems

IBM eServer i5/p5 systems offer the possibility to partition the system like on IBM iSeries systems. This enables the concurrent operation of up to 254 operating systems on one machine. These operating systems are installed in LPARs (logical partitions). One or several of these partitions can contain a SUSE Linux Enterprise Server environment.

To prepare an LPAR for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, first configure the system over the HMC. Refer to the IBM documentation for details: http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/eserver/v1r3s/index.jsp?topic=/iphbi/iphbikickoff.htm

2.1.2 Hard Disk Space

Make sure that you have sufficient hard disk space for installing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. The standard system requires at least 4 GB of free hard disk space.

2.1.3 Assigning an Installation Device to an LPAR

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server can be installed from a CD-ROM or DVD drive or using a network installation source. Make the CD-ROM, DVD drive, or network device available to the LPAR to install.

Figure 2-1 HMC: Server Management—Properties

Assigning a CD-ROM or DVD Drive to an LPAR

  1. Open the HMC application and go to Server and Partition > Server Management.

  2. From the available servers, expand the server and partition to install.

  3. Right-click the profile to use for installation and select Properties—see Figure 2-1.

  4. In the Logical Partition Profile Properties dialog, select the Physical I/O tab.

  5. From Managed system I/O devices, select the Other Mass Storage Controller from the bus where it is installed. To assign this DVD drive to the partition, click Add as required.

The result should look like Figure 2-2.

Figure 2-2 HMC: Managed System I/O Devices

Now insert the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server CD1 or DVD1 in the drive.

Assigning a Network Device to an LPAR

  1. Open the HMC application and go to Server and Partition > Server Management.

  2. From the available servers, open the server and partition to install.

  3. Right-click the profile to use for installation and select Properties—see Figure 2-1.

  4. In the Logical Partition Profile Properties dialog, select the Physical I/O tab.

  5. From Managed system I/O devices, select PCI 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet UTP 2-port from the bus where it is installed. Then click Add as required.

    If you plan to install using a virtual ethernet adapter, refer to the IBM documentation.

Create a network installation source if SUSE Linux Enterprise Server should be installed on a number of partitions. This eliminates the need to change installation media during installation. The same source can also be used for concurrent installation of various systems. The configuration of the network installation source is described in Section 4.2.1, Setting Up an Installation Server Using YaST, (↑ Installation and Administration ).

2.1.4 Starting the Installation

To start the installation, reboot the system. Right-click the profile name, select Activate, and press OK in the following dialog.

Use the screen console or connect to a serial console as described in the IBM documentation. One simple way to start a serial console is to open a VTerm while activating the partition. To do this, activate Open a terminal window or console session in the Activate Logical Partition dialog.

Enter the system firmware by pressing F1 or 1 when using a serial console or a virtual console during the system check when the system is rebooted:

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       1 = SMS Menu                          5 = Default Boot List
       8 = Open Firmware Prompt              6 = Stored Boot List


     memory      keyboard     network     scsi     speaker

Press F1 or 1 while the SCSI devices are checked. Select 5. Select Boot Options to enter the boot options dialog:

Version SF220_004
SMS 1.5 (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 2000,2003 All rights reserved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Main Menu
 1.  Select Language
 2.  Setup Remote IPL (Initial Program Load)
 3.  Change SCSI Settings
 4.  Select Console
 5.  Select Boot Options


---------------------------------------------------------------------
Navigation Keys:

                                  X = eXit System Management Services
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Type the number of the menu item and press Enter or select Navigation
                                                                Key:5

Select 1. Select Install/Boot Device to set the Install Device. Go to 7. List all Devices to see the list of available devices: 

Version SF220_011
SMS 1.5 (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 2000,2003 All rights reserved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Select Device
Device  Current  Device
Number  Position  Name
 1.        -      Virtual Ethernet 
                  ( loc=U9111.520.10D3CCC-V1-C3-T1 )
 2.        -      Ethernet 
                  ( loc=U787A.001.DNZ00XG-P1-T5 )
 3.        -      Ethernet 
                  ( loc=U787A.001.DNZ00XG-P1-T6 )
 4.        -      IDE CD-ROM 
                  ( loc=U787A.001.DNZ00XG-P4-D3 )
 5.        1      SCSI 73407 MB Harddisk
                  ( loc=U787A.001.DNZ00XG-P1-T10-L8-L0 )

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Navigation keys:
M = return to Main Menu
ESC key = return to previous screen    X = eXit System Management Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type the number of the menu item and press Enter or select Navigation Key:

2.1.5 Booting from the CD-ROM Drive

Select the CD-ROM drive (4 in this example):

SMS 1.5 (c) Copyright IBM Corp. 2000,2003 All rights reserved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Select Task

IDE CD-ROM 
    ( loc=U787A.001.DNZ00XG-P4-D3 )

 1.  Information
 2.  Normal Mode Boot
 3.  Service Mode Boot





--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Navigation keys:
M = return to Main Menu
ESC key = return to previous screen    X = eXit System Management Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type the number of the menu item and press Enter or select Navigation Key:

Choose 2. Normal Mode Boot to install from this device. On the next screen, confirm with 1. Yes to exit System Management Services and boot from the device.

The system reads from the CD-ROM drive and the yaboot utility starts:


  Welcome to SuSE Linux Enterprise 10 (PPC)!

  Type  "install"  to start the YaST installer on this CD/DVD
  Type  "slp"      to start the YaST install via network
  Type  "rescue"   to start the rescue system on this CD/DVD


Welcome to yaboot version 10.1.22-r938.SuSE
booted from ...
Enter "help" to get some basic usage information
boot:

Select install from the menu and press Enter. To continue the installation from a different network installation source, select slp instead.

To read the installation data from a network install source rather than continuing the installation from the CD-ROM (see Section 2.1.3, Assigning an Installation Device to an LPAR), append the option manual to the name of the kernel (install).

For an installation over VNC, append the parameters vnc=1 and vncpassword=password to the name of the kernel (install). Read more about VNC in Section 4.1.1, Simple Remote Installation via VNC—Static Network Configuration, (↑ Installation and Administration ).

2.1.6 Booting from the Network Source

Select an ethernet device that has access to the installation source (2 in this example).

2.1.7 Additional Steps

Proceed as described in Section 3.0, Installation with YaST, (↑ Installation and Administration ) to begin installing the software with linuxrc and YaST.