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documentation.suse.com / Dokumentacja systemu SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server / Deployment Guide / Installation Preparation / Installation on IBM POWER
Applies to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15

4 Installation on IBM POWER

This chapter describes the procedure for preparing the installation of SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server on IBM POWER systems.

4.1 Hardware Requirements

The SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server operating system can be operated on IBM POWER servers. To provide you with a guide to help you during the planning phase, the minimum requirements are presented here.

Supported Servers

If you want to be sure that a given computer configuration will work, check the database of hardware certified by SUSE. Find a list of certified hardware at http://www.suse.com/yessearch/Search.jsp. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server may support additional IBM POWER systems not listed. For the latest information, see the IBM Information Center for Linux at http://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/linuxonibm/liaam/liaamdistros.htm.

Memory Requirements

A minimum of 1024 MB of memory is required for a minimal installation. For remote installations via HTTP or FTP add another 150 MB. Note that these values are only valid for the installation of the operating system—the actual memory requirement in production depends on the system's workload.

Hard Disk Requirements

The disk requirements depend largely on the installation selected and how you use your machine. Commonly, you need more space than the installation software itself needs to have a system that works properly. Minimum requirements for different selections are:

Installation Scope

Minimum Hard Disk Requirements

Text Mode

1.5 GB

Minimal System

2.5 GB

GNOME Desktop

3 GB

All patterns

4 GB

Recommended Minimum (no Btrfs snapshots): 10 GB

Required Minimum (with Btrfs snapshots): 16 GB

Recommended Minimum (with Btrfs snapshots): 32 GB

If your root partition is smaller than 10 GB, the installer will not make an automated partitioning proposal and you need to manually create partitions. Therefore the recommended minimum size for the root partition is 10 GB. If you want to enable Btrfs snapshots on the root volume to enable system rollbacks (see Chapter 7, System Recovery and Snapshot Management with Snapper) the minimum size for the root partition is 16 GB.

Your servers should be equipped with the latest firmware before installing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. Find up-to-date firmware at IBM FixCentral (http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral/). Select your system from the Product Group list. Additional software is available from the IBM PowerLinux Tools Repository. The IBM Tools Repository is also called the Yum Repository. For more information about using the IBM PowerLinux Tools Repository, see https://ibm.biz/Bdxn3N.

4.2 Preparation

This section describes the preparatory steps that must be taken before the actual installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. The installation procedure depends on the system used. The following methods are supported:

If SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server needs to be installed on several systems or partitions, it is recommended you create a network installation source. The same source can also be used for the concurrent installation on several partitions or several systems. The configuration of a network installation source is described in Section 16.1, “Setting Up an Installation Server Using YaST”.

Warning
Warning: Installing on Systems with multiple Fibre Channel Disks

The partitioning scheme suggested during the installation puts the PReP and BOOT partitions on different disks if more than one disk is available. If these disks are Fibre Channel Disks, the GRUB boot-loader is not able to find the BOOT partition and the system cannot be booted.

When prompted to select the partition scheme during the installation, choose Guided Setup and verify that only one disk is selected for installation. Alternatively, run the Expert Partitioner and manually set up a partitioning scheme that has PRep and BOOT on a single disk.

4.2.1 Installation in a Partition Using IVM

This guide helps you install SUSE Linux Enterprise Server on a Power Systems server partition using the Integrated Virtualization Manager (IVM) Web interface. Before starting the installation, make sure the following requirements are met:

  • the Linux on Power system is powered on

  • the Virtual I/O server is installed

  • the IVM is initially configured

Procedure 4.1: Log in to the IVM Web interface

  1. Open a Web browser window, and connect using the HTTP or HTTPS protocol to the IP address that was assigned to the IVM during the installation process (for example, https://IP_ADDRESS). The Welcome window is displayed.

  2. Log in as the user padmin, providing the password that you defined during the installation process. The IVM interface is displayed.

  3. Select View/Modify Virtual Ethernet.

  4. Click Initialize Virtual Ethernet to provide Ethernet connectivity among the partitions.

  5. When the Virtual Ethernet is initialized, click Apply.

  6. If your installation requires external networking, create a virtual Ethernet bridge.

    1. Select the Virtual Ethernet Bridge tab.

    2. Select the physical adapter to bridge and proceed with Apply.

Next, create a partition, following these steps:

Procedure 4.2: Create a Partition

  1. In the IVM Web interface, click View/Modify Partition › Create Partition.

  2. Enter a name for the partition. To advance to the next step, click Next on this and the following steps.

  3. Specify memory for your partition. If you have created a shared memory pool, your partitions can share memory. Otherwise, select Dedicated.

  4. Specify the number of processors and the processing mode for the partition.

  5. Specify a virtual Ethernet for the partition. If you do not want to configure an adapter, select none for the virtual Ethernet.

  6. Create a new virtual disk or assign existing virtual disks and physical volumes that are not currently assigned to a partition.

  7. Verify the Virtual disk name and Storage pool name for your disk and specify a Virtual disk size.

  8. Configure optical devices for your partition by expanding the Physical Optical Devices and Virtual Optical Devices and select the device(s) you want to assign to the partition.

  9. Verify your partition configuration settings and click Finish. The partition is created and available from the View/Modify Partitions list.

Now activate the partition you have created:

Procedure 4.3: Activate the Partition

  1. In the IVM Web interface, click View/Modify Partition and select the box next to the partition you want to activate.

  2. Select More Tasks.

  3. Select Open a terminal window.

  4. Click Activate next to the partition.

  5. In the terminal window, enter 1 to start the system management services (SMS).

The machine is set up now and you can boot into the installation:

Procedure 4.4: Boot the Linux Installation

  1. At the Boot selection window, enter 1 to select the SMS Menu. Enter 1 before the firmware boot screen is completely shown on the display, because it will disappear when complete. If you miss the screen, reboot the system.

  2. Now, you can insert the Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) media disk into the disk drive.

  3. Enter 2 to continue to the password entry on the Language selection menu. Enter the password for the admin ID.

  4. On the main SMS menu, enter 5 to choose Select Boot Options.

  5. Enter 1 to select Install/Boot Device.

  6. Enter 7 to view all of the available boot devices.

  7. Enter the number corresponding to the device you want to use. If your device is not listed, enter N to display more.

  8. Enter 2 to perform a Normal Mode Boot.

  9. Enter 1 to leave the SMS menu and to start the boot process.

  10. At the boot prompt from the installer, type 

    install vnc=1
vncpassword=VNC_PASSWORD

    Replace VNC_PASSWORD with a password of your choice (minimum length is eight characters) and press Enter to start the installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. The kernel will begin loading.

After the kernel has started to load, the installer needs some information from the system to set up a VNC session. You must have a valid TCP/IP stack to use VNC. Either use DHCP or manually define your networking information using directions provided by the installer.

Procedure 4.5: Start the VNC Session

  1. On the Network device window, select eth0 as your network device. Select OK and press Enter.

  2. Test the installation media. Alternatively, proceed without the test by selecting Skip.

  3. After the system has started the VNC server, you will see a message to connect your VNC client followed by an IP address. Note this IP address.

  4. Start a VNC client on your laptop or PC. Enter the IP address from the previous step followed by :1, for example 192.168.2.103:1.

  5. Complete the installation as described in Chapter 8, Installation Steps.

4.2.2 Installation on Servers with no Open Power Abstraction Layer

Use this information to install Linux using a serial console or using a monitor and keyboard on a Power Systems server. This installation assumes an unmanaged (stand-alone) system that is ready to boot.

  1. Power on your system by selecting Power On from the Power On/Off System menu. When asked if you want to continue using the console, enter 0 to continue doing so.

  2. Insert the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server installation media into the disk drive.

  3. From the Select Language window, enter 2 to continue to booting.

  4. Enter 1 to accept the license agreement.

  5. At the Boot selection window, enter 1 to select the SMS Menu. Enter 1 before the firmware boot screen is completely shown on the display, because it will disappear when complete. If you miss the screen, reboot the system.

  6. Enter 2 to continue to the password entry on the Language selection menu. Enter the password for the admin ID.

  7. On the main SMS menu, enter 5 to choose Select Boot Options.

  8. Enter 7 to view all of the available boot devices.

  9. Enter the number corresponding to the device you want to use. If your device is not listed, enter N to display more.

  10. Enter 2 to perform a Normal Mode Boot.

  11. Enter 1 to leave the SMS menu and to start the boot process.

  12. At the boot prompt from the installer, type 

    install vnc=1
vncpassword=VNC_PASSWORD

    Replace VNC_PASSWORD with a password of your choice (minimum length is eight characters) and press Enter to start the installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. The kernel will begin loading.

After the kernel has started to load, the installer needs some information from the system to set up a VNC session. You must have a valid TCP/IP stack to use VNC. Either use DHCP or manually define your networking information using directions provided by the installer.

Procedure 4.6: Start the VNC Session

  1. On the Network device window, select eth0 as your network device. Select OK and press Enter.

  2. Test the installation media. Alternatively, proceed without the test by selecting Skip.

  3. After the system has started the VNC server, you will see a message to connect your VNC client followed by an IP address. Note this IP address.

  4. Start a VNC client on your laptop or PC. Enter the IP address from the previous step followed by :1, for example 192.168.2.103:1.

  5. Complete the installation as described in Chapter 8, Installation Steps.

4.3 For More Information

More information on IBM PowerLinux is available from SUSE and IBM:

  • The SUSE Support Knowledge Base at https://www.suse.com/support/kb/ is an effective help tool for assisting customers in solving problems. Search the knowledge base on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server using keywords like POWER.

  • Find security alerts at https://www.suse.com/support/security/. SUSE also maintains two security-related mailing lists to which anyone may subscribe.

    • suse-security — General discussion of security regarding Linux and SUSE. All security alerts for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server are sent to this list.

    • suse-security-announce — The SUSE mailing list exclusively for security alerts.

  • In case of hardware errors, check the control panel for any codes that might be displayed. You can look up any codes that are displayed at the IBM Power Systems Hardware Information Center at https://ibm.biz/Bdxn3T.

  • For troubleshooting tips, see the IBM PowerLinux FAQ topic in the Information Center at https://ibm.biz/Bdxn35.

  • To participate in the linuxppc-dev mailing list, register using the forms at http://lists.ozlabs.org/listinfo/linuxppc-dev/.