Installing the operating system

This topic describes the procedure for installing SUSE Linux™ Enterprise Server 8 on a metadata server engine.

Context

Important: Use the following procedure to install the SUSE Linux operating system and then use the procedure in Apply United Linux Service Pack 3 (SP3) updates to apply the Service Pack. Do not use the United Linux Service Pack 3 CD Kickstart functionality because the installation may not complete successfully.
The SUSE Linux package contains three sets of CDs:
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (CD1)
  • United Linux for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 (CD1, CD2, CD3)
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server SP (CD1, CD2)
Tip: Many of parameters that you configure during the SUSE installation (network interface) can be viewed or changed following the installation by entering yast at the command line. The YaST interface is similar to the smit interface provided in UNIX®.

Steps

  1. Disconnect all SAN (fibre channel) cables from the metadata server.
    Attention: Failure to perform this step can result in loss of SAN File System metadata.
  2. Insert the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server SP CD 1 into the CD-ROM drive and reboot the engine.
  3. When the install program displays Make sure CD 1 is in the drive!, eject the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server SP CD 1 and insert the standard SLES 8 CD 1.
  4. When you see the installation menu, press any key to halt the installation process.
    Note: Carefully watch the boot sequence. The installation process does not provide much time to stop the installation process before automatically continuing.
  5. Make sure that Installation is selected.
  6. Enter the following kernel options in the boot-options text field:
    acpi=oldboot vga=normal
  7. Using the resolution function keys, select the screen resolution that matches your monitor.
  8. Press Enter to continue the installation.
  9. Read the SUSE End User License For SLES agreement and click Accept.
  10. Select the language and click Accept.
  11. When the type of installation pop-up window appears, select New installation and click OK.
  12. Click the Change... dropdown menu, and then select Software from the dropdown list.
  13. Change to Default system for UnitedLinux. If you are prompted to confirm that you really want to reset your detailed selection, click Yes.
  14. Click Detailed selection...
  15. From the selection panel, click C/C++ compiler and tools to add this package to the software list. Then click Accept.
  16. Click the Change... dropdown menu again, and then click Partitioning to create three new partitions.
    1. Click Create custom partition setup, and then click Next.
    2. Click the Custom partitioning -- for experts, and then click Next.
    3. Select the /dev/sda disk and click Delete to remove all partitions. When prompted to confirm the deletion of all /dev/sda partitions, click Yes.
    4. Create the first partition:
      1. Click Create. If prompted about the disk on which to create the partition, select /dev/sda.
      2. When prompted about the type of partition to be created, select primary partition.
      3. Set up the partition using these values:
        • Starting cylinder: 0 (should already be set).
        • Ending cylinder: 1266
        • Format - filesystem: ReiserFS
        • Mount point: / (should already be set)
      4. Click OK to add the partition.
    5. Create the second partition:
      1. Click Create. If prompted about the disk on which to create the partition, select /dev/sda.
      2. When prompted about the type of partition to be created, select primary partition.
      3. Set up the partition using these values:
        • Starting cylinder: 1267
        • Ending cylinder: 1528
        • Format - filesystem: Swap
        • Mount point: swap
      4. Click OK to add the partition.
    6. Create the third partition:
      1. Click Create. If prompted about the disk on which to create the partition, select /dev/sda.
      2. When prompted about the type of partition to be created, select primary partition.
      3. Set up the partition using these values:
        • Starting cylinder: 1529
        • Ending cylinder: 3617
        • Format - filesystem: ReiserFS
        • Mount point: /var
      4. Click OK to add the partition.
      The following table summarizes the partition settings.
      Device Size Type Mount Cylinder Numbers
      /dev/sda1 9.7 GB ReiserFS / 0 - 1266
      /dev/sda2 2 GB Swap swap 1267 - 1528
      /dev/sda3 16.0 GB ReiserFS /var 1529 - 3617
    7. Click Next to continue.
  17. Click Change... to modify other settings, such as the timezone. After modifying these settings click Accept.
  18. Click Accept to continue the installation.
  19. At the warning prompt, click Yes, install to continue.
  20. When prompted, insert the UnitedLinux CD-ROM 1 and click OK.
  21. When prompted, insert UnitedLinux CD-ROM 2 in the CD-ROM drive and click OK.
  22. When prompted, reinsert the SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server CD1 and click OK.
  23. When prompted that the base system is installed, remove the CD-ROM and click OK.
  24. During the SUSE install, the local root user is automatically created. When prompted, enter a new password for root and click Next.
  25. You are prompted to create more local users. Create at least one additional local user to prevent errors during the installation. For example, consider creating a user called guest if you need only one additional user. Click Next after you have created any additional users.
  26. You are prompted to either enable or disable the 3D graphics-capable card. Click No to disable the 3D graphics-capable card.
  27. You are prompted to choose either graphical or text mode as the default desktop setting. Click Text mode only and click Accept.
    Note: If you choose graphical mode as the default desktop setting, you disable the X Window System during the installation process. Text mode is the recommended setting.
  28. When prompted about detecting printers, select Skip detection.
  29. Click the Network Interfaces link to configure the interfaces.

    The Network Interface panel consists of two lists: one at the top and one at the bottom. The bottom list displays the interfaces that are configured, while the top list displays the non-configured interfaces. During the SUSE installation, the system automatically configures the first primary interface for you (ent0), using the first interface it discovers, and thus the interface appears in the bottom list.

    If this automatic configuration (pairing between the primary interface and the NIC) is not acceptable for your environment, delete the configuration to place the NIC back in the non-configured interface list.

    If you make an error in specifying the IP address or the IP address has changed after completing the SUSE installation, you can access the IP configuration panel through the YaST interface, by entering yast at the command prompt.

    Note: When you install SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 8.0, it configures the primary interface as the first device it discovers in the following order (as you are looking at the engine from the rear):
    1. Top PCI adapter.
    2. Bottom PCI adapter.
    3. Left Ethernet port.
    4. Right Ethernet port.
  30. Verify that the primary interface (ETH0) is configured correctly by viewing the interface listed in the Already Configured pane.
    1. If the incorrect interface is configured as the primary interface:
      1. Click Change...
      2. From the Network Cards Overview pane, make sure that the interface is selected.
      3. Click Delete.
      4. Click Finish.
    2. To configure the correct interface.
      1. Select the primary interface from the list of interfaces in the Available Network Cards pane.
      2. Click Configure. For example, the first IBM® 82546EB Gigabit Ethernet Controller is the left Ethernet port.
      3. Make sure the correct interface (network device) is selected.
      4. Click Static IP address.
      5. Fill in the IP address and subnet mask for this metadata server.
      6. Click host name and name server.
      7. Fill in the host name of the metadata server and the domain name.
      8. Fill in any name servers and domain search names based on your network configuration.
      9. Click Next twice. The configured network interface is displayed in the Already Configured Devices pane.
      10. Continue configure other interfaces as needed.
      11. Click Finish.
  31. Click Next to complete the installation.

Parent topic: Installing the operating system for the metadata server

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