Installing from the Network

You can perform a network installation of your Java Desktop System on Linux platforms. Ensure you have access to an NFS shared directory that has approximately 2.5 GB of free space.

Setting up a Network Installation Repository From ISO Images

The following sample procedure describes how to set up a network installation repository from ISO images for the Java Desktop System on Linux:

1. Log in as root and create a directory to place the NFS image. For example, mkdir /export/jdsimage

2. Share the /export/jdsimage directory over NFS by inserting a line in /etc/exports. For example, enter /export/jdsimage (ro)

3. Enter /etc/init.d/nfs restart to restart the NFS server.

4. Create a directory to mount the ISO images temporarily while you copy the files, for example mkdir /mnt/iso

5. For each ISO image, do the following:

   • mount -o loop isofile.iso /mnt/iso

   • Copy all the files as follows:

     cd /mnt/iso

     tar cf - . | cat | (cd /export/jdsimage && tar xbf 1 - )

   • Unmount the ISO image as follows:

     cd /

     umount /mnt/iso

Repeat step 5 for all the ISO images.

Network Installation From ISO Images

Before you begin installing the Java Desktop System from the network, you need to have the following:

• IP address of your machine

• IP address of a nameserver

• IP address of an NFS server

• Network subnet mask

• Type of network card installed

• Three boot disks

Boot Disks

You must have three boot disks before you start the installation from the network installation. The boot disks are available from the following:

• On disk labelled CD1 included with your Java Desktop System installation package.

• From your network install image in the boot folder.

The boot disks are named as follows:

• bootdisk

• modules1

• modules3

Use the following command to make other disks, if required:

dd if=/export/suseimage/boot/bootdisk of=/dev/fd0

You may need additional disks depending on your hardware, for example, SCSI controllers and USB drives.

Network Installation Procedure

The following procedure describes how to perform a network installation from ISO images on Linux systems.

1. Insert bootdisk in your drive to boot your machine.

   The system starts to boot and displays the following list of options:

   • Boot from hard disk

   • Installation

   • Installation — ACPI Disabled

   • Installation — Safe Settings

   • Manual Installation

   • Rescue System

   • Memory Test

   Choose Installation from the menu and after a few moments, you are prompted to insert modules1.

2. Eject bootdisk and insert modules1, then press Return.

   The following prompt is displayed: "Please make sure that modules1 is in your drive!"

3. Choose Back -> English -> Kernel modules (hardware drivers) Load network card modules

   You are prompted to insert modules3.

4. Eject modules1 and insert modules3, then press Return.

5. Choose your network card.

6. Enter none when you are prompted for parameters.

   After a few seconds, the following prompt is displayed: Module <name> loaded successfully

7. Choose Back -> Start Installation/system -> Start Installation/update -> Network -> NFS

8. Enter none when you are prompted for DHCP parameters.

9. Enter the IP address of your machine.

10. Enter a subnet mask, for example, 255.255.255.0

11. Enter a gateway for the subnet.

12. Enter the IP address of the nameserver.

13. Enter the IP address of the NFS server. The NFS server is the machine on which you created the network install image.

14. Enter the subfolder /path/to/nfs/install/from that you previously created on the NFS server (see Setting up a Network Installation Repository From ISO Images).

15. Follow the remaining online installation instructions to complete the Java Desktop System network installation procedures.