Getting Started With Linux Operating System Installations

This chapter describes how to get started installing a Linux operating system manually on your server.

Topics discussed in this chapter include:

• Supported Linux Operating Systems

• Linux Installation Prerequisites

• Linux Installation Task Overview

Supported Linux Operating Systems

The Sun Blade X6720 M2 Server Module supports the following Linux operating systems:

For a complete and updated list of all the supported operating systems on the Sun Blade X6720 M2 Server Module, see the following web site:

http://www.oracle.com/goto/x6270m2

Linux Installation Prerequisites

Refer to the following important considerations before beginning the Linux operating system installation on your server.

Prerequisites for Installing a Linux Operating System  

Linux Installation Task Overview

To install a Linux operating system, complete the following tasks in the order specified:

1. Gather the Linux operating system installation media and documentation. You can download the Linux installation program from the appropriate vendor’s web site, for example:

   • For Oracle Linux, see http://edelivery.oracle.com/linux

   • For SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, see http//www.novell.com

   • For Red Hat Linux Enterprise Linux server, see http://www.redhat.com

2. If necessary, obtain the Tools and Driver DVD provided or download the latest drivers for your server as described in Appendix D, Downloading the ISO Image for the Tools and Drivers DVD.

   If you are installing SLES 11 and you have a Sun Storage 6 Gb SAS HBA installed on your server, you must copy the LSI storage drivers for the HBA option to a floppy disk or floppy image prior to performing the SLES 11 installation. For more details, see SAS HBAs Requiring Storage Drivers for SLES 11 Installations.

3. Choose and set up an installation method for deploying Linux as described in Appendix A, Supported Installation Methods.

4. Follow the instructions for performing a manual installation of a Linux Server operating system as described in:

   • Chapter 3, Installing Oracle Linux for Oracle Linux

   • Chapter 4, Installing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

   • Chapter 5, Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Red Hat Linux Enterprise Server

5. Follow the specific operating system instructions for performing the post installation tasks as described in Prerequisites for Installing a Linux Operating System  :

   • Post Oracle Linux Installation Tasks

   • Post SLES Installation Tasks

   • Post RHEL Installation Tasks

SAS HBAs Requiring Storage Drivers for SLES 11 Installations

The SLES 11 installation media does not include the LSI mass storage driver for the following SAS host bus adapters (HBAs) options described in SAS HBAs Requiring LSI Mass Storage Drivers for SLES 11.

SAS HBAs Requiring LSI Mass Storage Drivers for SLES 11

If you have one of the SAS HBA options (described in SAS HBAs Requiring LSI Mass Storage Drivers for SLES 11) installed on your server and you are installing SLES 11, the LSI mass storage driver for the HBA option must be mounted from a floppy disk or floppy image during the SLES 11 installation process.

Prior to starting the SLES 11 installation, use one of the following methods to prepare the LSI mass storage driver floppy disk or floppy image:

• Mount Floppy Disk. Use the LSI storage floppy image on the Tools and Drivers DVD to create a floppy disk. Then, mount the floppy disk as a device from the ILOM Remote Console.

• Mount Floppy Image. Copy the LSI storage floppy image on the Tools and Drivers DVD to a network location. Then mount the floppy image from the ILOM Remote Console.

  The LSI storage floppy image on the Tools and Driver DVD is located in the following directory: Linux/SLES/SLES11/FloppyImages/64bit

Instructions for loading the LSI mass storage driver during the SLES 11 installation are provided in Step 6 in the procedure Installing SLES 10 SP3 or SLES 11 SP1 Using Local or Remote Media.

If you do not have a copy of the Tools and Driver DVD, you can download the ISO image for the Tools and Driver DVD. For details, see Appendix D, Downloading the ISO Image for the Tools and Drivers DVD.