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#### Sun Netra X6720 M2 Server Module Installation Guide for Linux, Virtual Machine Software, and Oracle Solaris Operating Systems |

| Part I Linux Software Installation |

Chapter 2

## Getting Started With Linux Operating System Installations

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

Note - The term “manually” refers to performing the installation by following the instructions provided in this guide, and not using the Sun Installation Assistant (SIA). If you prefer to perform an assisted Linux installation by using SIA, see Chapter 1, Assisted OS Installation With Sun Installation Assistant (SIA) of this guide.

Topics discussed in this chapter include:

- Supported Linux Operating Systems

- Linux Installation Prerequisites

- Linux Installation Task Overview

### Supported Linux Operating Systems

The Sun Netra X6270 M2 server module supports the following Linux operating systems:

Linux OS | Edition
--- | ---
Oracle | Enterprise Linux 5.4 for x86 (64-bit)
SUSE | Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP3 Linux Enterprise Server 11 (64-bit)
RHEL | Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (RHEL) 5.4 (64-bit)

For a complete and updated list of all the supported operating systems on the Sun Netra X6270 M2 server module, see the following web site:

http://www.oracle.com/goto/netrax6270m2

### 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

Requirement | Description | For more information, see:
--- | --- | ---
Server module is set up and operational | The server module is installed in the chassis, powered-on, and communication to the SP has been established. | Sun Netra X6270 M2 Server Module Installation Guide, 821-0937
Established deployment method that enables you to boot the Linux install program | Guidelines for deploying a Linux operating system installation. | Appendix A, Supported Installation Methods
RAID volume creation | If you want to include your boot drive as part of a RAID configuration, you need to configure a RAID volume on it. Use the LSI integrated RAID controller setup utility before you install Windows. | LSI MegaRAID Software SAS User’s Guide at: http://www.lsi.com/support/sun/
Verification of BIOS settings for new OS installations | Prior to installing the Linux operating system, you should verify that the BIOS factory-default properties are set. | Appendix C, BIOS Defaults for New Installations
Linux vendor documentation | Gather the applicable vendor documentation for the Linux installation. The vendor documentation should be used in conjunction with the installation instructions provided in this guide. | http://www.oracle.com/technology/documentation/index.html http://www.novell.com/documentation/suse http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/enterprise/
Tools and Drivers DVD | Ensure that you have the Tools and Drivers DVD that was provided with your server. | http://www.oracle.com/goto/netrax6270m2
SLES 11 - Prepare LSI Storage Floppy Image or Floppy Disk | The SLES 11 install media does not include the LSI device drivers for the Sun Storage 6 Gb SAS HBA options (SG-SAS6-EM-Z, or SG-SAS6-REM-Z, or SGX-SAS6-REM-Z). If you have one of these SAS HBA options installed, the LSI mass storage driver for the HBA option must be mounted from a floppy image or floppy disk during the installation. | SAS HBAs Requiring Storage Drivers for SLES 11 Installations
Access to late-breaking information | Review the Sun Netra X6270 M2 Server Module Product Notes, 821-0936, for late-breaking information about supported operating system software and patches. | Sun Netra X6270 M2 Server Module Product Notes, 821-0936

### 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 Enterprise 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 Enterprise Linux for Oracle Enterprise 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 operating system specific instructions for performing the post installation tasks as described in:

   - Post OEL 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

SAS HBA Option | Option Number | Driver Required During Installation
--- | --- | ---
Sun Storage 6 Gb SAS HBA, ExpressModule | SG-SAS6-EM-Z | LSI Adapter SAS Falcon
Sun Storage 6 Gb SAS HBA, REM | SG-SAS6-REM-Z SGX-SAS6-REM-Z | LSI Adapter SAS Falcon

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 11 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.

Note - The SLES 11 installation media includes the required LSI mass storage drivers for the Sun Storage SAS RAID HBA options SG-SAS6-R-EM-Z, SG-SAS6-R-REM-Z, and SGX-SAS6-R-REM-Z.

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