Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux Version 5 - IBM System x3550 (Type 7978)

Steps

Installation Instructions for Red Hat Enterprise Linux Version 5 for IBM System x3550 (Type 7978)

1.0 What you will need

2.0 Where to download device drivers and files

3.0 Preparing the hardware

4.0 Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux Version 5

5.0 Installing the kernel source

6.0 Notices

Revision Level: 1.00

Updated: 23 April 2007

(C) Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 2007. All rights reserved. US Government Users Restricted Rights - Use, duplication, or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp.

Note: Before using this information and the product it supports, read the general information in 6.0 Notices in this document.

Supported Server: IBM^(R) System x3550 (Type 7978)

Follow the instructions in this document in sequential order unless these instructions advise you otherwise. Windows and messages might differ from those in this document. Throughout this document, the term select is used to denote the use of arrow keys, the Tab key, Alt + a letter combination, or the mouse to make a selection.

References to optional hardware in this document do not imply support of that hardware. For information about supported options, see the ServerProven^(R) information for your server at http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/eserver/serverproven/compat/us/.

You must have the following software and hardware for the installation:

• A registered copy of Red Hat^(R) Enterprise Linux^(R) Version 5.
• Supported hard drives. Go to http://www-03.ibm.com/servers/eserver/serverproven/compat/us/ for the ServerProven list of supported options and part numbers for the server.
• One blank diskette to create a BIOS code update diskette. You might need additional blank diskettes for firmware updates.
• If you are using the Adaptec HostRAID^(TM) functionality, you need the IBM ServeRAID-8e (Adaptec HostRAID) Support CD.
• If you are using an IBM ServeRAID^(TM) adapter, you need the IBM ServeRAID Support CD.

You can download device drivers and files from the following sites:

• Red Hat Web site: http://www.redhat.com
• IBM U.S. Support Web site: http://www.ibm.com/systems/support
• IBM device driver download site: Software and device drivers - System x
• For countries outside the U.S., start at http://www.ibm.com/

You can download product specifications from the following sites:

• For IBM xSeries product specifications, go to http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/education/cust/xseries/xref.html

To prepare the hardware, update system firmware, and configure arrays, refer to the Installation Guide located at the IBM Support Web site at http://www.ibm.com/systems/support

To install Red Hat Enterprise Linux Version 5, complete the following steps:

1. Insert the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Version 5 CD/DVD 1 into the CD/DVD drive and boot the system.
2. Follow the detailed instruction in the Red Hat Linux Installation Guide located at http://www.redhat.com/docs/manuals/enterprise/RHEL-5-manual/index.html to install Red Hat Enterprise Linux Version 5.
3. In the Disk Partitioning window, if you want to configure a software iSCSI target for installation:
   1. Select Advanced storage configuration and enter the iSCSI Target IP Address and the iSCSI Initiator Name you wish to use.
   2. Select the Review and modify partitioning layout checkbox and click Next. If the Warning window pops up then select Yes.
      
4. To obtain the best security and performance from the server after the installation of the operating system, apply all current software upgrades and security patches. Refer to the Red Hat Network Manual in the Documentation section of the Red Hat Support Web pages for information about how to do this.

If needed, use the following instructions to install the full kernel source tree after installing the operating system.

1. Obtain the kernel src.rpm from the appropriate source CD or from Red Hat Network.
2. Install the src.rpm using RPM. For example:
   
   rpm -Uvh kernel-<version>.src.rpm
   
3. Change to the SPECS directory:
   
   cd /usr/src/redhat/SPECS
   
4. Run rpmbuild:
   
   rpmbuild -bp kernel-<version>.spec --target <arch>

   (where <arch> is the architecture that you are running)

/usr/src/redhat/BUILD/kernel-<version>/linux-<version>

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