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Step by Step Installation of RedHat 6.0 on a Compaq Server using a Compaq Smart Array Controller

RedHat 6.0 (no updates)

SmartStart 4.40

PL1600, SA221

2 1GB drives set as Raid 0 (didn't have bigger drives to test with)

This document is under construction. This document walks through an installation I have performed. Information provided here is provided "as is." This shows an overall picture, detailed steps I have taken, and can help you understand better the other document on Installing Linux on Compaq Servers.

 

Run System Erase

Erase Version 1.57

The system is being erased. This operation could take as long as

8 minutes per volume. Do not power cycle or reboot the system

until asked to do so.

There are 1 Array controllers in the system.

Erasing drives on controller 1 of 1. Please wait... Complete.

The system has been erased. Cycle system power now.

Remove the SmartStart CD from the server.

Power the server off

Wait 30 seconds

Power the server on

The system can take up to about 2 minutes to come up.

16384 KB OK

Compaq System Bios - P08 (8/17/1998)

Copyright 1982,1998 Compaq Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

 

Processor initialized at 450MHz with 512 Kbyte Cache

172-System Configuration Nonvolatile Memory Invalid

Initialization Aborted

172-1 Configuration Nonvolatile Memory Invalid

162-System Options Not Set

Slot 4 Compaq Smart Array 221 Controller(rev A, v4.16)0 Logical Drives

1785-Slot 4 Drive Array Not Configured

Run Compaq Array Configuration Utility

Scanning for SCSI Devices... No SCSI Devices Detected.

Run System Configuration Utility

Press "F1" key to continue

"F10" key for System Partition Utilities

Examine the screen to make sure that there are "0 logical drives" configured, which also means you are getting the POST 1785 error code. Also make sure you are getting 172, 172-1, and 162. By getting these error codes, you know that the erase did a good job. If the error codes don't look right, then build the System Erase Diskette from CD and use that to erase the system. It is always good to start off with a good erase.

Once the erase looks good, then insert your SmartStart CD and press "F1"

Select English "Click here to use English during the SmartStart process"

SmartStart will prompt you to set your date and time. (Make sure the date and time are not already set when you enter the screen, if they are, then you haven't fully ran system erase). Click next.

Click "continue" on the "Systems Settings Summary" screen

Click the "I Agree" checkbox, then click the "continue" button.

Choose "Manual Configuration", then click the "begin" button.

On the "Operating System Selection" screen, Open the "SCO" folder, choose "UnixWare 7.1", then click "Next"

On the OS Verification Screen, Click the "Continue" button to accept your operating system choice.

You will notice that the System Configuration Utility begins configuring your system. You boot controller is set to the Array controller, this choice will be just fine for installing RedHat 6.0 to the array controller. Select "Continue with SmartStart".

* * * *

Press "Enter" to reboot

Array Configuration Utility will now be run for you. Select "Next" on the "Unconfigured Controller" screen.

You operating system should already be chosen as UnixWare, press "Next"

Select your raid level and press "Next"

Select "Next" on the preview screen

Click on "Save Configuration Now"

If you controller is configured how you want it, then choose "controller" "Exit" to leave the Array Configuration Utility and reboot.

You will experience several reboots while the system partition is created and files copied to it. You will finally end up at the disk builder screen which asks you if you want to create support software. Since you are not installing UnixWare 7, you will click "Next" to continue without creating diskettes.

You will not need to read the release notes, since you are not installing UnixWare 7. Click "continue."

Remove the SmartStart CD, insert your RedHat CD, close the door, click "OK", then click "Continue."

 

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Your system will now reboot to the RedHat CD. Press "Enter" at the "boot:" prompt.

"Enter" - boot:

Press "OK" on the welcome screen.

"OK" - Welcome Screen

Select for "English" language

"English" language

Select for "us" keyboard

"us" keyboard

Select for "local cdrom"

"local cdrom"

Press "OK" since the cdrom is already in the cd drive.

"OK" - CDRom in drive?

Select for "Install"

"install"

Select for "custom." "Custom" is important to keep the F10 partition.

"custom"

"Do you have any more SCSI adapters on your system?" Check screens Left Alt+F3 and Left Alt+F4. These screens should show that the Smart-2/P controller has been found. You will even see the Compaq System Partition show up as partition # 3 (ida/c0d0: p3)

Compaq Smart2 Driver (v 0.9.9)

Found 1 controller(s)

Finding drives on ida0 (SMART-221)

ida/c0d0: blksz=512 nr_blks=4096320

ida/c0d0: p3

Since your Compaq Smart Array has been found, select "no" to continue.

"no"

The next screen will prompt you to use either "Disk Druid" or "Fdisk." The proper choice here, to maintain the Compaq System Partition, is "fdisk."

"fdisk"

Select "edit" in order to modify your drives on the array controller (/dev/ida/c0d0).

"edit"

Press "p" to get a listing of your current partitions. you should note that you have a /tmp/ida/c0d0p3 with an ID of 12, this is your Compaq Setup Partition. We will want to leave this partition alone.

p

We will create our /boot partition. This partition will be primary, active, from 30MB to 100MB (I will choose 60MB for now). Press "n" to create a new partition, press "p" for primary, select #1 which is the first available partition number, type in the first available cylinder (in my case 10), key in +60M to make this a 60MB partition. Type "p" to get a partition listing. Lets make this partition active, type "a" (to make active), "1" (to make partition #1 active), "p" (to list your partitions). There should only be one partition with a star under the boot column.

n, p, 1, 10, +60M, p

a, 1, p

Lets make the extended partition: "n" (new), "e" (extended), "2" (next available partition #), enter the next available cylinder number (mine is 26), enter the last available cylinder number (mine is 502), p to list your partitions.

n, e, 2, 26, 502, p

Lets create the swap partition: "n" (new), "l" (logical), select the next available cylinder # (mine is 26), key in your size (I will choose +128M here since I am limited on space). Type "p" to list your partitions, "t" to change the type, "5" to select your swap partition, "82" to change to type swap. Again use "p" to print and review your partitions.

n, l, 26, +128M, p

t, 5, 82, p

Now lets create the root ("/") partition. "n" (new), "l" (logical), select the next available cylinder # (mine is 59), key in your size (I am choosing 256MB for my root partition). Type "p" to list your partitions.

n, l, 59, +256M, p

Now lets create the /var partition. "n" (new), "l" (logical), select the next available cylinder # (mine is 124), key in your size (I am choosing 256MB for my /var partition). Type "p" to review your partitions.

n, l, 124, +256M, p

Now lets create the /home partition. "n" (new), "l" (logical), select the next available cylinder # (mine is 189). I will put 50% for /home and 50% for /usr, to calculate this I will do the following: 502 (ending cylinder) - 189 (starting cylinder = 313. 313/2=156.5. 156+189=345. I will use 345 for ending cylinder

n, l, 189, 345, p

Now lets create the /usr partition. "n" (new), "l" (logical), select the next available cylinder (mine is 346), select the last cylinder (mine is 502). I have just now used 50% of free space for /home and 50% for /usr.

n, l, 346, 502, p

Double check that your swap partition (probably part. # 5) is set for type "swap."

 

Make sure that /boot is active (probably partition #1).

 

"w" write your changes to the hard drives.

w

   

Select "done" to continue with installation

"done"

Now, set up your mount points in the disk druid interface.

Set mount points appropriately.

/boot

ida/c0d0p1

63M

(Compaq System Partition)

ida/c0d0p3

35M

(swap partition)

ida/c0d0p5

131MB swap

/

ida/c0d0p6

258M

/var

ida/c0d0p7

258M

/home

ida/c0d0p8

625M

/usr

ida/c0d0p9

625M

Press "OK" when done with mount points

"OK"

Select to format your swap partition, then press "OK" to continue

format swap, "OK"

Select to format your other partitions, then press "OK" to continue

format other partitions, "OK"

Choose your packages to install, then press "OK" to continue

select packages, "OK"

Press "OK" to accept the notice that an install log will be kept

"OK" - install log

Press "OK" to accept the notice that a PS/2 mouse has been found

"OK" - found mouse

Generic Mouse (PS/2), emulate 3 button, press "OK" to continue

Generic PS/2 mouse, emulate 3 buttons, "OK"

"Configure LAN" - Yes

"Yes" - configure lan

I will choose "Static IP Address" and use the following parameters:

IP Addr: 192.168.0.1

Netmask: 255.255.255.0

Gateway:

NameServer:

"Static IP Address"

enter values

press "OK"

Domain: compaq.com

Host: redhat.compaq.com

2nd NameServer:

3rd NameServer:

enter more values

press "OK"

Set your timezone (I set mine for Central)

"central", "OK" - set timezone

Turn off at least APMD (Advanced Power Management Daemon) since that is not available on our servers. Select startup of other services as necessary.

stop APMD, choose services, "OK"

"Configure Printer?" No, I will not choose a printer at this time.

"no" - printer installation

Set your root password, type it twice and press "OK"

initialize root password

"Authentication Configuration" - set as necessary

"OK" - authentication configuration

"Create bootdisk?" - Yes

"Yes" - "create bootdisk"

"Insert a Blank Floppy", after you do this, press enter.

"OK" - blank floppy

Choose "First Sector of Boot Partition," this will preserve the Compaq System Partition. If you put LILO in the MBR, this will wipe out the F10 functionality. To recover from putting LILO in the MBR, you reconfigure to put LILO in the first sector of your boot partition, rerun lilo, then boot to your dos diskette, and run "fdisk /mbr."

"First Sector of Boot Partition", "OK"

Press OK on the next screen to accept the defaults. Leave the parameter line blank, don't use Linear Mode, press "OK" to continue

"OK" - LILO Installation

"Bootable partitions", don't lable your Compaq System Partition, unless you want to repair /etc/lilo.conf during the install.

"OK" - Bootable Partitions

Video Card found, press OK.

"OK" - Video found

video packages copied. Choose your monitor or go custom. I go custom, then get more specific once Linux is up and running with xf86config

"custom" - monitor type

"Custom Monitor Setup", press OK.

"OK" - custom monitor setup

Non-Interlaced SVGA, 1024x768 @ 60Hz, 800x600 @ 72Hz, OK.

"Non-Interlaced SVGA", "OK"

50-70, OK

"50-70", "OK"

Probe

Probe

Press OK to the notification that the screen will blink several times.

"OK" - screen blink

Use the default

"use default"

OK to test xwindows

"OK" - Test XWindows

Click "Yes" if you can see XWindows properly

"yes"

I prefer the text based console startup, so I will choose no. If you want to start xwindows later on startup, then change this in inittab.

"no"

Press OK to reboot the server

"OK" - Installation finished

After the file systems are unmounted, then pull the RedHat installation CD out of the CD Drive

Remove Install CD