C H A P T E R  1

How To Use This Guide


Note - This guide is intended for users installing Linux software. For instructions on installing Solaristrademark software, refer to the Solaris documentation.




Overview

This guide contains instructions for installing Linux operating system (OS) software to Sun Firetrademark V20z and Sun Fire V40z servers. The section Suntrademark Installation Assistant CD explains how to use this CD for installing a Linux OS; this is an optional step.

The guide contains a separate chapter for each Linux OS that has been qualified for use with these servers by Sun Microsystemstrademark at the time of publishing.

For each operating system, instructions for installing from both disc media and from a networked PXE installation server are included. The appendix in this guide provides supplemental instructions for preconfiguring your network to support PXE installation.

Each of these chapters also contains detailed instructions for updating to the latest versions of the drivers and kernels that support server operation with each of these OSs.



Note - The system-administration procedures in this guide are intended for users with at least basic Linux administration experience.



To use this guide, follow these four steps:

1. Before you start the procedures in this guide, install your server hardware, perform initial service-processor configuration, and set up the network share volume (NSV) software on your server by performing the procedures in the Sun Fire V20z and Sun Fire V40z Servers Installation Guide (included on the Sun Fire V20z and Sun Fire V40z Servers Documentation and Support Files CD).

2. Determine which chapter to use, based on which OS you have chosen to install. Alternatively, you can use the Sun Installation Assistant CD to guide you through the installation procedures; the CD also automatically installs the most up-to-date SCSI and network drivers for your hardware. See Suntrademark Installation Assistant CD.

3. Determine whether you will install the OS from physical media (CD or DVD), or from a networked PXE installation server, then use the appropriate section in the chapter that corresponds to your OS. (If you have not already preconfigured your network to support PXE installation, you will be directed to perform the supplemental procedures in Appendix A of this guide.)

4. After installing the OS, use the instructions in the chapter that corresponds to your OS to update drivers and kernels to the most optimal versions available. In some cases, you will be directed to download sites, but many of the required network and SCSI driver files are included with your system on the Sun Fire V20z and Sun Fire V40z Servers Documentation and Support Files CD, as indicated in the procedures.

User Documentation

For the most up-to-date user documentation, for both the Sun Fire V20z and Sun Fire V40z servers, please visit the following Web site:

http://www.sun.com/products-n-solutions/hardware/docs/
Servers/Workgroup_Servers/Sun_Fire_V20z/index.html

This site contains the user manuals, the Release Notes and the individual guides for each of the customer-replaceable units (CRUs).

To verify whether a document on the site is more recent than the document that you have, refer to the final two digits (the dash-roll) of the Part Number for that document.



Note - A document explaining the differences among the released versions of the Sun Fire V20z and Sun Fire V40z servers is also available at this Web site. Refer to part number (PN) 817-7185.



Related Documentation


Application

Title

Part Number

Safety information

Important Safety Information for Sun Hardware Systems

816-7190-xx

Safety notices and international compliance certification statements

Sun Fire V20z and Sun Fire V40z Servers--Safety and Compliance Guide

817-5251-xx

Hardware and system software installation

Sun Fire V20z and Sun Fire V40z Servers-- Installation Guide

817-5246-xx

Maintenance procedures and other information

Sun Fire V20z and Sun Fire V40z Servers--User Guide

817-5248-xx

Server management

Sun Fire V20z and Sun Fire V40z Servers-- Server Management Guide

817-5249-xx

Troubleshooting and diagnostics

Sun Fire V20z and Sun Fire V40z Servers-- Troubleshooting Techniques and Diagnositcs Guide

817-7184-xx

Late-breaking information

Sun Fire V20z and Sun Fire V40z Servers Release Notes

817-1771-xx