Before starting the Linux installation, consider the following hardware and software prerequisites:
Minimum Supported Linux Operating System. The Sun Blade Server Module supports the following minimum Linux operating systems:
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Avanced Server v.4 Update 3 (or later) for X86 (32 bit and 64-bit)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 Service Pack 3 (or later) for X86 (64-bit) (SLES9-SP3)
Linux Distribution Media Readily Available. Depending on the installation method chosen to install Linux , you will need to have either the Linux Distribution CD/DVD, ISO CD/DVD image, KickStart image, or AutoYaST image readily available for installation.
If you are performing a local installation, you will need to attach an external USB CD/DVD-ROM Drive to the front of the Sun Blade Server Module. If you are performing a remote installation from a virtual drive via the ILOM Remote Console application, the system hosting the ILOM Remote Console must have either:
An external or internal CD/DVD-ROM drive available
The ISO images available on disk or a network-shared location
Sun Remote Console Linux Installations Must Use 1024 x 768 Display Resolutions for X8440 Server Module. The Sun Remote Console requires a resolution of 1024x768. At the Linux graphical installer prompt, you need to specify 1024 x 768. For more information about how to set the resolution to 1024 x 768, refer to the instructions provided in the Linux installation procedures (Install RHEL4 or RHEL5 via Local or Virtual Media or Install SLES9 or SLES10 via Local or Virtual Media).
Linux ACPI Driver Must be Enabled to Support Hot Plug. After installing the Linux operating system, you must configure ACPI driver to support hot plug operations. For more information about how to load the acpiphp kernel driver, see POST Linux Installation Requirement For Hot Plug.
Properly Installed and Configured Sun Blade 8000 or 8000 P Modular System.. At this point of the installation, you should have already unpacked the system, installed the system into a rack, installed the options and modules, and configured DHCP or static IP to supply network connectivity to the Chassis Monitoring Module (CMM) and Sun Blade Server Modules. For more information about performing these installation tasks, see:
Properly Configured Installation Environment. You need to have a properly configured installation environment that supports your site's chosen installation method. For instance, if your site's installation method is a PXE-based network installation via KickStart or AutoYaST, you would need to ensure that the KickStart or AutoYaST server and file were properly created and configured prior to performing the Linux installation. For more information about supported installation methods, see Choose an Installation Method.
Properly Configured Boot Device in BIOS. If your permanent boot device in the BIOS is different from the installation boot device, you can use F8 to manually select a one-time boot device during the Linux installation.
Prior to installing the Linux, you are instructed to choose a permanent boot device in the BIOS Setup utility. The permanent boot device is the device you will always boot from after installing Linux.
Site Disk Partitioning Requirements. Prior to installing Linux, you must be aware of your site's disk partitioning requirements. If you need to perform a hardware RAID on the disk, you will must decide which hardware RAID level to implement. For more information, see Choosing to Configure Hardware RAID.
Applicable Network Information. For a non-network system, you need to know the host name of the system you are installing and the language and the locales that you intend to use on the system.
For a network system, see the see the Linux OS Installation and Network Configuration Worksheet.
Properly Configured Adapter to Install to a FC SAN Device. If your installation target for the Linux installation is a Fibre Channel (FC) Storage Area Network (SAN) device, you must properly configure the FC SAN adapter. For more information, see Guidelines for Installing an Operating System to FC SAN Device.
For SLES9-SP3 the version of the Fibre Channel Emulex driver packed in the SLES9-SP3 distribution (8.0.16.17) does not recognize the Sun branded Emulex Fibre Channel EM and NEM. For the updated driver package (emulex-lpfc-8.0.16.27.2.6.7.282-1x86_64.rpm, go to: http://forgeftp.novell.com/driver-process/staging/pub/update/SUN/sle9/common/x86_64/
Reviewed the Sun Blade 8000 Series Product Notes. You should review the Product Notes for any late-breaking information concerning Linux installations.