Introduction

This book describes the procedure for preparing the installation of SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server on IBM System z systems. It provides all information needed to prepare the installation on the LPAR and z/VM side.

1. Structure

Basically, this manual is divided in two parts.

General Information and Requirements

This part provides information about the requirements both on the hardware and the software side that need to be met to install SUSE Linux Enterprise Server successfully on your machine.

Preparing for Installation

This part covers the preparation procedure for the installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server on IBM System z. Learn which basic preparations need to be performed on the LPAR and z/VM side. It guides you to the point where YaST, the SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server installation and configuration tool, takes over.

Additionally, the appendix contains a chapter featuring an overview of possible network connection types. The second chapter in the appendix focuses on automated system configuration using the parmfile.

[Tip]Further Information about SUSE Linux Enterprise Server on IBM System z

Find a short introduction to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server on IBM System z in Start-Up Guide of which you received a printed copy. Find a detailed description of the installation procedure and the administration of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server in Installation and Administration, which you can find at http://www.novell.com/documentation/sles10/.

2. Required Background

Several assumptions have been made concerning your background knowledge when writing this document.

  • You are familiar with IBM System z terminology.

  • You have a good knowledge of the IBM System z devices attached to your system, especially its network environment.

  • You have a basic understanding of handling a Linux or Unix system.

3. Documentation Conventions

The following typographical conventions are used in this manual:

  • /etc/passwd: filenames and directory names

  • placeholder: replace placeholder with the actual value

  • PATH: the environment variable PATH

  • ls, --help: commands, options, and parameters

  • user: users or groups

  • Alt, Alt+F1: a key to press or a key combination; keys are shown in uppercase as on a keyboard

  • File, File+Save As: menu items, buttons

  • This paragraph is only relevant for the specified architectures. The arrows mark the beginning and the end of the text block.

  • Dancing Penguins (Chapter Penguins, ↑Another Manual): This is a reference to a chapter in another manual.

4. Further In-Depth Information about IBM System z

IBM has published a number of very interesting documents about their System z platform. Find them at http://www.redbooks.ibm.com.

4.1. IBM System z with SUSE Linux Enterprise

Find additional in-depth technical documentation about the kernel and application topics on IBM System z with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server at the following location:

4.2. Hardware

For a first glance at the technical details of some systems, refer to:

  • IBM System z10 Enterprise Class Technical Introduction (SG24-7515)

  • IBM System z9 Business Class Technical Introduction (SG24-7241)

  • IBM eServer zSeries 990 Technical Introduction (SG24-6863)

  • IBM eServer zSeries 900: Technical Guide (SG24-5975)

  • Linux on zSeries Fibre Channel Protocol Implementation Guide (SG24-6344)

4.3. General Documents about Linux on IBM System z

A general coverage of Linux on IBM System z can be found in the following documents:

  • Linux on IBM eServer zSeries and S/390: ISP and ASP Solutions (SG24-6299)

These documents might not reflect the current state of Linux, but the principles of Linux deployment outlined there remain accurate.

4.4. Technical Issues of Linux on IBM System z

Refer to the following documents to get in-depth technical information about the Linux kernel and application topics. Refer to the Internet for up-to-date versions of these documents for the most recent code drop (http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/linux390/index.html).

  • Linux on System z Device Drivers, Features, and Commands

  • zSeries ELF Application Binary Interface Supplement

  • Linux on System z Device Drivers, Using the Dump Tools

  • IBM System z9-109 Technical Introduction (SG26-6669)

  • IBM System z10 Enterprise Class Technical Guide (SG24-7516)

There also is a Redbook for Linux application development on http://www.redbooks.ibm.com:

  • Linux on IBM eServer zSeries and S/390: Application Development (SG24-6807)

4.5. Advanced Configurations for Linux on IBM System z

Refer to the following Redbooks, Redpapers, and links for some more complex IBM System z scenarios:

5. Acknowledgments

The history of Linux is a success story about countless developers all around the world contributing to what originally started as a one-man show by Linus Torvalds. Thanks to all of them for their tremendous efforts.

Especially we would like to thank all the people involved in the Linux for IBM System z project at IBM and SUSE. Thanks to the (information) developers at SUSE and IBM, the test team at SUSE, and all beta-testers and proofreaders at IBM. Thank you for making SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for IBM System z possible.