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documentation.suse.com / Installation Quick Start / Installing the operating system
Applies to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5

3 Installing the operating system

The following section provides instructions for installing the base operating system. Using the installation workflow, you can install either using a local installation medium or over the network. Alternatively, you can install using AutoYaST.

3.1 Installation workflow

The installation workflow is a guided installation of the operating system with optimized settings for SAP applications. During the installation workflow, you can choose whether you want to install an SAP application. If so, you will be asked to provide SAP installation media when the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server installation is finished. You can also choose whether to install third-party extensions.

This section assumes that you are starting the installation from a local medium.

For more information, see Section 2.4, “Overview of the installation workflow”.

This section guides you through the installation of the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications operating system.

Important
Important: Installing Oracle databases

To be able to install an Oracle database later, install SUSE Linux Enterprise Server first and then convert your installation to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications.

This is necessary because the installer for Oracle databases queries for the existence of certain files, not all of which are included in a SLES for SAP installation.

Procedure 3.1: Starting the OS installation
    • On AMD64/Intel 64, boot from the installation media. From the boot menu, select Installation.

    • On POWER, follow the instructions in the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server documentation, see Deployment Guide, Part Installation Preparation, Chapter Installation on IBM POWER (https://documentation.suse.com/sles-15).

    While the initial operating system is starting, you can view boot messages by pressing Esc. When this process has completed, the graphical installation workflow will start. As the first step, the installation workflow will check for updates for itself. After that, it will be ready to start the installation.

  1. Select the default system language under Language.

    Language, keyboard and product selection
    Figure 3.1: Language, keyboard and product selection
  2. Select the appropriate keyboard layout under Keyboard Layout. To test whether the selected layout matches your physical keyboard, use the text box Keyboard Test.

  3. SLE 15 SP5 provides a single installation ISO for the entire product line. Therefore, you need to select the product to install on this page.

    Under Product to install, choose SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5.

  4. Read the license agreement. If you agree, select I Agree to the License Terms. Proceed with Next.

    Otherwise, cancel the installation with Abort › Abort Installation.

  5. (Optional) If automatic network configuration via DHCP fails, the screen Network Settings will open.

    If instead the screen Registration appears, your network connection works. To change network settings anyway, click Network Configuration.

    When you are finished configuring networking, proceed with Next.

    Important
    Important: Configure networking as recommended by SAP

    Make sure to configure the network connection as recommended in the documentation provided to you by SAP.

    For information about configuring networking, see Administration Guide, Chapter Basic Networking, Section Configuring a Network Connection with YaST (https://documentation.suse.com/sles-15).

  6. On the screen Registration, enter your E-mail Address and Registration Code. Successful registration is a prerequisite for receiving product updates and the entitlement to technical support.

    Proceed with Next.

    Important
    Important: Register at this step

    Make sure to register your system at this step in the installation. Otherwise, you can only install a minimal SLE system and will not receive updates.

    To install a full (but not updated) SLES for SAP system without network access during the installation, use the SLE 15 SP5 Packages ISO image from https://download.suse.com. You can then choose Skip registration on this page and select the SLE 15 SP5 Packages ISO image as an add-on product on the next page.

  7. When asked whether to enable update repositories, choose Yes.

  8. After the system is successfully registered, YaST lists available modules for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications from the SUSE Customer Center. The default selection covers the most common cases. To enable an additional module, activate its entry.

    Note
    Note: Release notes

    From this point on, the release notes can be viewed from any screen during the installation process by selecting Release Notes.

    Proceed with Next.

  9. (Optional) The Add On Product dialog allows you to add additional software sources (so-called repositories) to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications, that are not provided by the SUSE Customer Center. Such add-on products may include third-party products, drivers, or additional software for your system.

  10. Choose the System Role. System roles are predefined use cases which tailor the system for the selected scenario. For SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications, you can choose between:

    • SLES for SAP Applications: Default, recommended for most situations. This system role contains the following properties:

      • Supports the installation wizard for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications.

      • Enables RDP access (Remote Desktop Protocol).

      • Provides special partitioning recommendations.

    • SLES with GNOME: Can be necessary in specific cases. This installation path is not covered in this document. For more information about this installation path, see Installation Quick Start, Section Installing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (https://documentation.suse.com/sles-15).

    Additional system roles are available for specific use cases (High Availability, text mode, minimal, and KVM/XEN virtualization hosts).

    Proceed with Next.

    System role
    Figure 3.2: System role
Procedure 3.2: Finishing the OS installation
  1. Choose whether to enable the following options:

    • To install an SAP Application along with the system, activate Launch the SAP Installation Wizard right after the operating system is installed.

    • To enable RDP access (Remote Desktop Protocol) to this machine, activate Enable RDP service and open port in firewall.

  2. Review the proposed partition setup for the volumes /dev/system/root and /dev/system/swap. The volume /dev/system/data will be created later, as described in Section 2.6, “Partitioning”.

    To accept the proposed setup without changes, proceed with Next.

  3. Select the clock and time zone to use on your system. To manually adjust the time or to configure an NTP server for time synchronization, choose Other Settings. For detailed information, see Deployment Guide, Chapter Installation with YaST, Section Clock and Time Zone (https://documentation.suse.com/sles-15).

    Proceed with Next.

  4. Type a password for the system administrator account (called root) and repeat the password under Confirm Password. You can use the text box Test Keyboard Layout to make sure that all special characters appear correctly.

    If you want to enable passwordless authentication via SSH login, you can import a key via Import Public SSH Key. If you want to completely disable root login via password, upload a key only and do not provide a root password. A login as system administrator will only be possible via SSH using the respective key in this case.

    For more information, see Deployment Guide, Chapter Installation with YaST, Section Password for the System Administrator root (https://documentation.suse.com/sles-15).

    Proceed with Next.

    Important
    Important: Do not forget the root password

    The user root has the permission to carry out all administrative tasks. Without this password, you cannot log in to the system as root. The password entered here cannot be retrieved later.

  5. On the screen Installation Settings, you can review and, if necessary, change several proposed installation settings. Each setting is shown alongside its current configuration. To change parts of the configuration, click the appropriate headline or other underlined items.

    Installation settings
    Figure 3.3: Installation settings
  6. When you are satisfied with the system configuration, click Install.

    Warning
    Warning: Deletion of data

    The installation process fully or partially overwrites existing data on the disk.

    In the installation confirmation box, click Install.

    When the installation of the operating system is finished, the system will reboot automatically:

    • If you chose to only prepare the system for installation, the system will boot to a desktop login screen.

    • If you chose to install an SAP application now, the installation will continue after a reboot. Continue with Chapter 4, Installing SAP applications.