Using an AIX (NIM) server for a Linux LPAR installation

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*************************************** This documents installing a PowerPC SuSE V10 SP1 Linux installation using an AIX server as the installation source. This is not using the NIM software but does use the same elements and processes as the NIM server. *************************************** 1. Verify the AIX server has BOOTP, TFTP and NFS enabled, typically the case for NIM servers. If not, configure these services in /etc/inetd.conf and refresh the inetd daemon. 2. Boot the LINUX Client LPAR into SMS Mode, Remote IPL to get the MAC address of the Ethernet adapter. 3. Edit the /etc/bootptab file, adapting the values to your environment: testvwc-web1-node:bf=/tftpboot/testvwc-web1node:ip=10.130.1.46:ht=ethernet:ha=00096b6e6db2:sa=10.130.1.31:sm=255.255.255 .128: 4. Create an NFS file system with the installation images. Create and mount a file system to store the images on # crfs v jfs2 g nimvg m /export/SLESV10_1 a size=3G A yes # chlv n expsles10_1 fslv00 # mount /export/SLESV10_1 Copy over the contents of the CDs or DVDs, preserving the directory tree structure on the media and preserving the access permissions. # cp pHr /cdrom/* /export/SLESV10_1 *************************************** IMPORTANT NOTE Trying to copy the contents of the LINUX Installation DVD or CD from a Windows platform will cause problems, as Windows cannot handle the long file names and truncates them such that the LINUX Installation Program does not regonize them. Therefore, if you are working with an ISO image file that is not mounted on a CD/DVD Drive on the AIX Server, then, in order to mount the ISO image on the
AIX platform, complete the following instructions:

1. Obtain the size of the image. For example: # ls -al -rw-r--r-- 1 root system 374575104 Apr 29 2:59 aix_5.iso 2. Identify the nearest multiple of 128 MB that will provide enough space for the image. In the above example, the image is approximately 374 MB, so use 384 MB as an image size. 3. Make a logical volume of this size. # mklv -y cdlv -s n -L /dev/cdlv rootvg 384M hdisk0 If the command fails, increase the volume size by a multiple of 128. 4. Use the dd command to create a pseudo-device. Ensure that the partition has enough space for the pseudo-device. In the following example command, the pseudo-device is /dev/cdlv.

Using an AIX (NIM) server for a Linux LPAR installation

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# dd if=/opt/software/iso/aix_5.iso of=/dev/cdlv This command may take a long time and will create two dd processes. 5. Mount the device like a CD-ROM in AIX. Ensure that the mount point exists. # mount -v cdrfs -o ro /dev/cdlv /mnt/iso 6. Change directory into /mnt/iso. *************************************** Export the file system making sure the permissions of the files and directories allow for anyone to read and try mounting the exported directory on another system. The resulting /etc/exports file is shown here: /export/SLESV10_1 sec=sys:krb5p:krb5i:krb5:dh,rw Stop and restart NFS services to make sure the NFS directory is exported.

5. Copy the network boot kernel to /tftpboot and into the base directory for the images, in this example /export/SLESV10_1. For SLES10 SP1 the network boot kernel file is called inst64, and is located in the suseboot directory on the DVD or in the base directory that is was copied to. Set the permissions to 755 and ownership to root:system Link the file the server hostname: ln s /tftpboot/inst64 /tftpboot/testvwc-web1-node NOTE: LINUX boot image names are as follows: SUSE SLES 10 - inst64 SUSE SLES 9 - install Red Hat RHEL 4 - /qopt/RED_HAT/IMAGES/PSERIES 6. Boot the partition in SMS mode. Set up the remote IPL settings in SMS and then boot from the Network Adapter selecting to open a Terminal Session/Window from the HMC. You should see the following: BOOTP R = 1 BOOTP S = 2 FILE: /tftpboot/testvwc-web1-node FINAL File Size = 12566528 bytes Load-base=0x4000 Real-base=0xc00000 Elapsed time since release of system processors:. SuSE Linux zImage starting: loaded at . . Bunch of stuff in here and then Moving into tmpfs done. >>> SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 installation program v2.0.67 1996-2007 SUSE Linux Products GmbH <<< Starting udev udev running Starting hardware detection Searching for info file

Using an AIX (NIM) server for a Linux LPAR installation

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7. Tell the LINUX install that we are using the Network to install: Make sure that CD number 1 is in your drive. 1) OK 2) Back > 2 Select 2 to go Back Main Menu 1) Settings 2) System Information 3) Kernel Modules 4) Start Installation or System 5) Verify Installation CD-ROM/DVD 6) Eject CD 7) Exit or Reboot 8) Power off > 3 Select 3 to load Kernel Modules Kernel Modules (Hardware Drivers) 1) Load ppc Modules 2) etc > 1 Select 1 to load ppc (Power PC) Modules Load ppc Modules 8) ibmveth : POWER5 Virtual Ethernet Select 8 to load POWER5 Virtual Ethernet Enter parameters for ibmveth Hit enter with no parameters and it will load the network module. At the Kernel Modules (Hardware Drivers) Menus, hit enter This brings you back to the Main Menu Main Menu 1) Settings 2) System Information 3) Kernel Modules 4) Start Installation or System 5) Verify Installation CD-ROM/DVD 6) Eject CD 7) Exit or Reboot 8) Power off >4 Select 4 to Start Installation or System In the "Start Installation/System " menu select "Start Installation or Upgrade" Choose "Network as the source medium Choose "NFS as network protocol If asked, choose the network device that is connected to the network (i.e. - eth0) Choose No when ask Automatic configuration via DHCP? Answer the questions: Enter your IP address. Enter your netmask:

Using an AIX (NIM) server for a Linux LPAR installation

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Enter the gateway ip address for your subnet or your IP address again if no gateway is required. Enter the IP address of the nameserver, or your IP address again if there is no nameserver. Enter the IP address of the NFS server. Enter the directory on the NFS server where you downloaded the base level CDs to previously. After that the LINUX installation program downloads and starts.