Preparing for Installation

Contents

2.1. Making the Installation Data Available
2.2. Installation Types
2.3. Preparing the IPL of the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server Installation System
2.4. IPLing the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server Installation System
2.5. Network Configuration
2.6. Connecting to the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server Installation System

Abstract

In this chapter, learn how to make the data accessible for installation, install SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server using different methods, and prepare and use the IPL of the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server installation system. Also find out about network configuration and network installation.

Making the Installation Data Available

This section provides detailed information about making the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server IBM System z installation data accessible for installation. Depending on your computer and system environment, choose between NFS or FTP installation. If you are running Microsoft Windows workstations in your environment, you can also use the Windows network including the SMB protocol to install SUSE Linux Enterprise Server on your IBM System z system.

[Tip]IPL from DVD

Since Service Pack 1 of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server Version 10, it is possible to IPL from DVD and use the DVD as the installation medium. This is very convenient if you have restrictions setting up an installation server providing installation media over your network. The prerequisite is an FCP-attached SCSI DVD Drive.

Using a Linux Workstation or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server DVD

If you have a Linux workstation running in your computer environment, use the workstation to provide the installation data to the IBM System z installation process by NFS or FTP. If the Linux workstation runs under SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for x86, you can set up an installation server (NFS or FTP) using the YaST Installation Server module as described in Section “Setting Up an Installation Server Using YaST” (Chapter 4, Remote Installation, ↑Installation and Administration).

Over NFS

Use NFS (network file system) to make the installation media available.

[Important]Exporting Mounted Devices with NFS

Exporting the file system root (/) does not imply the export of mounted devices, such as DVD. Explicitly name the mount point in /etc/exports:

/media/dvd  *(ro)

After changing this file, restart the NFS server with the command rcnfsserver restart.

Over FTP

Setting up an FTP server on a Linux system involves the installation of the server software itself, such as wuftpd or proftpd, as well as other possible configuration tasks. Using YaST, the installation step is straightforward: select the package to install and start the installation. Skip the configuration of the FTP server if no anonymous FTP should be used for the installation. Instead, use an FTP login with a valid username and password. You might want to create a user account for this task only. The FTP daemon does not need to be started by hand. It can be started by inetd if an FTP connection is requested. To activate the new settings, enter rcinetd restart or rcxinetd restart.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server on DVD

DVD 1 of the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for IBM System z contains a bootable Linux image for Intel-based workstations as well as an image for System z.

For Intel-based workstations, boot from this DVD, answer the questions regarding your language and keyboard layout, and select Start rescue system. You need at least 64 MB RAM for this. No disk space is needed because the entire rescue system resides in the workstation's RAM. This approach takes some Linux and networking experience, because you need to set up the networking of the workstation manually.

For System z, IPL your LPAR/VM guest from this DVD as described in Section 2.4.1.2, “IPL from FCP-Attached SCSI DVD”. After entering your network parameters, the installation system treats the DVD as the source of installation data. Because System z cannot have an X11-capable terminal attached directly, choose between VNC or SSH installation. SSH also provides a graphical installation by tunneling the X connection through SSH with ssh -X.

Using a Microsoft Windows Workstation

If there is a Microsoft Windows workstation available in your network, use this computer to make the installation media available. The easiest way to do this is to use the SMB protocol, already included in the Windows operating system. Be sure to activate SMB over TCP/IP as this enables the encapsulation of SMB packages into TCP/IP packages. Find details in the Windows online help or other Windows-related documentation that covers networking. Another option is to use FTP. This also requires some third-party software for Windows.

With SMB

To make the installation media available with SMB, just insert the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server DVD 1 into the DVD drive of the Windows workstation. Then create a new share using the DVD-ROM drive's letter and make it available for everyone in the network.

[Tip]SMB Installation Path for YaST

Consult the README from the highest directory of DVD 1 for detailed information about the syntax of the installation path for YaST.

With NFS

Refer to the documentation provided with the third party product that enables NFS server services for your Windows workstation. The DVD-ROM drive containing the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server DVD must be in the available NFS path.

With FTP

Refer to the documentation provided with the third party product that is enabling FTP server services on your Windows workstation. The DVD-ROM drive containing the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server DVD must be in the available FTP path.

The FTP server that is bundled with some Microsoft Windows releases implements only a subset of the FTP command set and is not suitable for providing the installation data. However, other products (such as the FTP server that is part of Hummingbird Exceed or WAR-FTPD) have been reported as functional.

Using an FCP-Attached SCSI DVD Drive

After you IPLed from the SCSI DVD as described in Section 1.3.4, “Load from SCSI-Attached DVD”, the installation system uses the DVD as the installation medium. In that case, you do not need the installation media on an FTP, NFS, or SMB server. However, you need the network configuration data for your SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, because you must set up the network during the installation to perform a graphical installation by VNC or by X tunneled through SSH.