IBM p630, p655, p670, and p690 systems offer the possibility to statically partition the system similarly to eServer p5/System p5 (which is described in Section 2.1, “Preparing for Installation on IBM eServer i5/p5, System i5/p5, and OpenPower Models”). This enables the concurrent operation of up to 16 operating systems on one machine. These operating systems are installed in LPARs (logical partitions). One or several of these partitions can contain a SUSE Linux Enterprise Server environment.

To prepare an LPAR for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, first configure the system over the HMC. Refer to the Redbook IBM eServer pSeries 690 System Handbook (SG24-7040-00) for details (http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/redbooks/SG247040/).

Important notes regarding the configuration:

Make sure that you have sufficient hard disk space for installing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. The use of a separate hard disk is recommended.

SUSE Linux also supports installing to Fibre Channel–attached storage. Before beginning installation, the Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter (FCHBA), SAN fabric, and storage system must each be configured to provide access from the FCHBA through the SAN Fabric to target logical units (LUNs) on the storage system.

SAN storage devices, if properly configured, are listed among existing hard disks on your system. Create Custom Partitioning Setup opens the dialog, as described in Section “Partitioning” (Chapter 3, Installation with YaST, ↑Installation and Administration).

For more information, see http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/eserver/v1r3s/index.jsp?topic=/iphai/confighmcgs.htm.

If you plan to install from CD-ROM, insert CD1 in the drive. In LPAR mode, the partition to install must have the CD-ROM in its partition profile. Create a network installation source if SUSE Linux Enterprise Server should be installed over a number of partitions. This eliminates the need to change CDs during installation. The same source can also be used for concurrent installation of various systems. The configuration of the network installation source is described in Section “Setting Up an Installation Server Using YaST” (Chapter 4, Remote Installation, ↑Installation and Administration).

To start the installation, reboot the system. Then enter the system firmware by pressing F1 or 1 when using the serial console during the system check when the system is rebooted. See Figure 2.3, “Entering the System Firmware”.

Figure 2.3. Entering the System Firmware

Press F1 or 1 while the SCSI devices are checked. Select 6 MultiBoot to enter the Multiboot dialog. See Figure 2.4, “Multiboot Dialog”

Figure 2.4. Multiboot Dialog

Select 3 to set the install device. A list of available devices is displayed. See Figure 2.5, “Installing the Operating System”.

Figure 2.5. Installing the Operating System

Select the respective CD-ROM drive (3 in this example). The system reads from the CD-ROM drive and displays the identstring.

->1   SUSE Linux SLES-9 (PPC)<-

After you select 1, the yaboot utility is started.

  Welcome to SuSE Linux Enterprise 10 (PPC)!

  Type  "install"  to start the YaST installer on this CD/DVD
  Type  "slp"      to start the YaST install via network
  Type  "rescue"   to start the rescue system on this CD/DVD

Select install from the menu and press Enter. Alternatively, just press Enter to start the installer, the default option.

To install from a network source (see Section 2.2.3, “Setting Up the Installation Source”), append manual to the kernel to install. For an installation over VNC, append the parameters vnc=1 and vncpassword=password to install. Read more about VNC in Section “Simple Remote Installation via VNC—Static Network Configuration” (Chapter 4, Remote Installation, ↑Installation and Administration).

In LPAR mode, the partition to install must have the CD-ROM in its partition profile.

If yaboot cannot be started, launch the loading process manually:

Select an ethernet device that has access to the installation source (6 in this example).

Proceed as described in Chapter Installation with YaST (↑Installation and Administration) to begin installing the software with linuxrc and YaST.