YDL.net

TOPIC: Configuring the Host and Installing YDEL

Introduction

Supported Hardware
This document provides a guide to install Yellow Dog Enterprise Linux (YDEL) on:

IBM QS20 Blades
IBM QS22 Blades with Flash drives

This installation guide assumes the user has a working understanding of:

Anaconda, the installation program used by Yellow Dog Enterprise Linux, Fedora, and CentOS.
Administrating RPM based linux distributions.

Requirements for Installation

Host System
You will need a host system just for the installation. It can be a separate server (PowerStation, x86, x86_64, or Power) running YDEL, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, or CentOS. This server will host NFS, DHCP, and TFTP.

A Power architecture machine is not required to create boot or installation images.

This documentation was written for YDEL; minor modifications to the instructions may be required for other distributions.

Disable SELinux on the host system before you begin.
For the Clients (QS20, QS22)
You will also need a gigabit ethernet cable between the Host System and a gigabit ethernet switch module in the BladeCenter H chassis. The default configuration is to use eth0 on the blades. Please review the BladeCenter H documentation or contact your local systems administrator for assistance.

NFS Setup

On the Server, define a directory to store the QS2x installations. It is recommended to use /srv/nfsroots. The YDEL installer, running from the QS2x, will create unique directories inside this directory on the Server, based upon the QS2x's Machine (MAC) Address. Please ensure the location you choose has ample space as each YDEL installation will need between 2 to 6GB plus user generated files. We recommend a minimum of 20GB.
You will need to add the nfsroots and ydel61_installer paths to /etc/exports. For example, if you are using QS2x on a 192.168.100.0/24 network and have chosen the recommended /srv/nfsroots directory, the two entries you must add to /etc/exports will look like this:
```
/srv/nfsroots/ydel61_installer 192.168.100.0/24(rw,sync,no_root_squash)
```
The exports man page contains more information on configuring NFS.
Once /etc/exports is configured, enable and start the NFS server:
service nfs restart

DHCPD Setup
Configure the DHCPD server to contain a host entry for the QS2x. To do this, edit the /etc/dhcpd.conf file.

Edit the /etc/dhcpd.conf file using the following example as a guide:

	allow bootp;
	ddns-update-style interim;
	default-lease-time 60000;
	subnet 192.168.100.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
	  option routers      192.168.100.1;
	  option subnet-mask  255.255.255.0;
	  next-server         192.168.100.1;
	  allow bootp;
	  range dynamic-bootp 192.168.100.2 192.168.100.99;
	  filename            "ydel61.img";
	}

Enable and start DHCPDi

Type:
chkconfig dhcpd on
service dhcpd restart

Installation Media Setup
YDEL supports installation via NFS, FTP and HTTP. This guide documents NFS installations; FTP and HTTP require additional configuration that is beyond the scope of this guide.

NFS Installations

Mount the YDEL DVD.
Copy the contents of the DVD to a configured content location on the Server. Configuring NFS is the fastest means to complete the installation, as it is required for post-installation netbooting.
cp -av [/path/to/YDEL-DVD] /srv/nfsroots/ydel61_installer
To netboot (TFTP) the QS2x, copy /srv/nfsroot/ydel61_installer/images/netboot/ppc64.img to /tftpboot/ydel61.img.
Restart XINETD:
service xinetd restart

YDEL Installation on the Clients
Now you are ready to install YDEL on the client(s).

For instructions in the basic use of Anaconda, please refer to the most current Yellow Dog Linux Guide to Installation for Apple or PS3. You may either use the DVD for a full, local installation, or use TFTP to conduct a full network installation with no local media.

Connect to the system on which you are installing YDEL:
- Connecting to the Blade over Serial-Over-Lan (SOL).
Begin the installation. Select the appropriate type of installation from below.
- TFTP Installations
  To conduct a TFTP installation:
  boot net
- Graphical Installer over VNC
  If you desire to use a graphical installer over VNC, add “vnc” to the boot arguments either in OpenFirmware when conducting a network boot:
  boot net vnc
  ... or from yaboot when conducting a DVD installation:
  linux vnc
  The default behavior, if you do not select VNC is an installation over serial-over-LAN (SOL) or serial cable.
Anaconda, the Yellow Dog Enterprise Linux installer will launch. When prompted to select the media type, select the method chosen in the Installation Media Setup section.
Once the install is complete, the host machine will no longer be needed.

Run the yum Configuration Utility
Before you can use yum for the first time, you must configure it for authentication with YDL.net. Refer to Configuring yum.

This HOWTO was prepared by Owen Stampflee and Aaron Johnson, Fixstars Solutions, Inc.