Chapter 5. Installation Considerations

Contents

5.1. Types of Installation
5.2. IPL Options
5.3. Installation Source
5.4. Initiating a Connection to the Installation System

This chapter summarizes all decisions that must be made while planning an installation of SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server on IBM System z hardware. The current hardware and software requirements for installing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server on IBM System z are listed in the manual Architecture-Specific Information, which is provided as a printable PDF file in the directory /docu on the first installation medium.

5.1. Types of Installation

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server allows two different types of installation on IBM System z:

LPAR Installation

Installing SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for IBM System z on a separate logical partition (LPAR) allows SUSE Linux Enterprise Server to use a specific portion of the physical memory. It is furthermore possible to specify how many processors should be used. This mode allows concurrently running multiple operating systems on a system.

Installation in z/VM

z/VM mode runs SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for IBM System z as a hosted system in z/VM (virtual machine). This type has the advantage that z/VM provides full control over SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. This type of installation can prove very helpful for kernel development or kernel-based debugging. It is furthermore very easy to modify the hardware configuration of a hosted Linux system. The creation of hosted SUSE Linux Enterprise Server systems is also very easy, because it is possible to run several hundred Linux instances concurrently.

Installation from an FCP-Attached DVD-ROM

An FCP-attached DVD-ROM can be used to IPL in an LPAR or in VM mode. The installation data is read directly from the DVD-ROM.

5.2. IPL Options

Depending on the hardware used and the selected type of installation, the following IPL options are available for the initial IPL prior to the installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server:

Table 5.1. IPL Options

IPL Option

Scope

ESCON/FICON attached tape

Can be used in any type of installation. The sole requirement is the availability of a tape library unit.

VM Reader

Can be used in VM mode. The necessary data must have previously been transferred into the z/VM system (for example, with FTP).

CD-ROM or Server

Can be used to IPL in an LPAR. The installation data can be read directly from DVD-ROM or loaded into the installation system with FTP.


5.3. Installation Source

In case of the FCP-attached DVD-ROM, the installation data is read from the DVD-ROM. For all other IPL options, the installation data must be available on the internal network. In a Unix or Linux environment, the installation data can be provided on a workstation set up as an NFS or FTP server. To make the installation data available from a Windows workstation, release it on an SMB share. Several FTP software packages for Windows are available as an alternative, however, their use is not always free of problems.

5.4. Initiating a Connection to the Installation System

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server offers three different methods initiating a connection to the installation system. Select SSH, X, or VNC. Depending on the operating system running on the workstation that initiates the connection to the installation system, the versions of these applications differ.