Loading Linux from removable media or from an FTP server

Instead of a boot loader, you can use SE functions to copy the Linux kernel image to your LPAR memory. After the Linux kernel is loaded, Linux is started using restart PSW.

Before you begin

You need installation data that includes a special file with installation information (with extension ins). This file can be in different locations:
  • On a disk that is inserted in the CD-ROM or DVD drive of the system where the HMC runs
  • In the file system of an FTP server that you can access through FTP from your HMC system
The .ins file contains a mapping of the location of installation data on the disk or FTP server and the memory locations where the data is to be copied.

For SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 this file is called suse.ins and located in the root directory of the file system on the DVD 1.

Procedure

Perform these steps:

  1. In the navigation pane of the HMC, expand Systems Management and Servers and select the mainframe system you want to work with. A table of LPARs is displayed on the Images tab in the content area.
  2. Select the LPAR where you want to boot Linux.
  3. In the Tasks area, expand Recovery and click Load from Removable Media or Server (see Figure 1).
    Figure 1. Load from Removable Media or Server on the HMC
    Screen capture of the Hardware Management Console. In the Tasks area, expand the Recovery list and click Load from Removable Media or Server.
  4. Specify the source of the code to be loaded.
    • For loading from a CD-ROM drive:
      1. Select Hardware Management Console CD-ROM/DVD (see Figure 2).
        Figure 2. Load from Removable Media or Server panel
        Screen capture of the Load from Removable Media or Server panel. Select Hardware Management Console CD-ROM/DVD on this panel.
      2. Leave the File location field blank.
    • For an initial installation from removable media at the HMC
      1. Select Hardware Management Console CD / DVD and assign for operating system use (see Figure 2).
      2. Enter the path for the directory where the ins-file is in the File location field. You can leave this field blank if the ins-file is in the root directory of the file system on the removable media.

      The installation CD or DVD must hold a distribution that supports an installation from the HMC.

    • For loading from an FTP server
      1. Select the FTP Source radio button.
      2. Enter the IP address or host name of the FTP server with the installation code resides in the Host computer entry field.
      3. Enter your user ID for the FTP server in the User ID entry field.
      4. Enter your password for the FTP server in the Password entry field.
      5. If required by your FTP server, enter your account information in the Account entry field.
      6. Enter the path for the directory where the suse.ins resides in the file location entry field. You can leave this field blank if the file is in the FTP server's root directory.
  5. Click Continue to display the Select Software to Install panel (Figure 3).
    Figure 3. Select Software to Install panel
    Screen capture of the Select Software to Install panel.
  6. Select suse.ins.
  7. Click OK to start loading Linux.

Results

The kernel has started and the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 boot process continues.