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 Fire X4170 M2 and X4270 M2 Servers support the following Linux operating systems:

For a complete and updated list of all the supported operating systems on the Sun Fire X4170 M2 and X4270 M2 Servers, see the following web sites:

• http://www.oracle.com/goto/x4170m2

• http://www.oracle.com/goto/x4270m2

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 Enterprise Linux, see: http//www.redhat.com/download/how_to_download.html

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 Sun Storage 6 Gb/s SAS PCIe 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 PCIe 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:

   • Post Oracle Linux Installation Tasks

   • Post SLES Installation Tasks

   • Post RHEL Installation Tasks

SAS PCIe 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 PCIe HBA options described in SAS PCIe HBA Requiring LSI Mass Storage Drivers for SLES 11.

SAS PCIe HBA Requiring LSI Mass Storage Drivers for SLES 11

If you have one of the SAS PCIe HBA options (described in SAS PCIe HBA 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 of the procedure Installing SLES 11 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.