General instructions for Installing Linux onto Compaq Servers
Updated August 20, 2004
Created September 20, 1999

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A fresh install would go like this:
Notes on Memory:

Install with no more than 960MB of memory. If you want to install with more than that, then you must limit the amount that the install sees by typing "linux mem=960M" at the boot prompt.

RedHat 6.0 supports 1GB of memory by default and 2GB with minor kernel modifications. RedHat 6.0 supports a maximum of 4GB on a x86 system.

Linux will not automatically see more than 1GB of memory. If you have more than 1GB of memory, you will need to pass parameters via an append statement in /etc/lilo.conf

On certain Compaq servers, Linux may only see 16MB of memory, in this case you will have to pass parameters via an append statement in lilo.conf to recognize the full amount of memory.

Don't tell /etc/lilo.conf that you have more memory than what is physically installed.

The append line looks like: 
        append="mem=48M"

and goes just before the "read-only" line. Save your changes to /etc/lilo.conf and then run "/sbin/lilo". The section of /etc/lilo.conf will look similar to the following: 
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.2.5-15
        label=linux
        root=/dev/sda2
        append="mem=48M"
        read-only

If you need to put other parameters on the append statement, they will look like: 
append="mem=48M HDC=CDROM"
where "HDC=CDROM" was the 2nd parameter you wanted to add.

I have seen where some had problems using "M" for megabytes, you may need to convert your memory size to kilobytes and use a "k" instead of "M".

Notes on Compaq Drive Arrays:

Don't install Linux with unconfigured drives on the array. Unconfigured drives should be either configured or removed until the installation is completed.

Notes on Hard Drives on Intel Based Computers / Servers:

You are allowed 4 Primary Partitions on each hard drive.

An Extended Partition counts as 1 Primary Partition. An Extended Partition can have multiple logical drives within itself.

You can only boot from a Primary Partition. A Logical Drive within an Extended Partition is not bootable.

The boot kernel (for most operating systems on an Intel based box) must reside completely below the 1024 cylinder limit. If the kernel is placed beyond the 1024 cylinder limit, the operating system will not boot.

Sample Partition Sizes for a Linux Only Installation:
Partition Type Part. Size Mount Point Description
primary partition 39MB   Compaq System Partition
primary partition 30MB /boot /boot is used to boot Linux
extended partition begins here      
logical drive 130MB   Swap Partition of type "Linux Swap"
logical drive 265MB / Root file system
logical drive 265MB /var /var file system
logical drive 50%* /home /home holds user home directories
logical drive 50%* /usr at least 900MB is needed for default install


*Usually the remaining drive space is divided equally between /home and /usr, thus 50%. /usr should at least be 900MB since it holds all your programs and applications. To figure out the remaining amounts for /home and /usr, take beginning cylinder for /home, subtract this from the ending cylinder of the drive, divide this value in half and add it to the beginning cylinder for /home. Then for /usr, just use the next available beginning cylinder, and make the ending cylinder end on the last one on the drive.

Partitioning for a Dual Boot Linux / Windows (or other OS) Installation:

The only change needed to the above info is to create your Windows (or other OS) primary partition, just after the /boot and just before the extended partition.

Partition Type Part. Size Mount Point Description
primary partition 39MB   Compaq System Partition
primary partition 30MB /boot /boot is used to boot Linux
primary partition xxxMB**   PUT WINDOWS OR OTHER OS HERE
extended partition begins here      
logical drive 130MB   Swap Partition of type "Linux Swap"
logical drive 265MB / Root file system
logical drive 265MB /var /var file system
logical drive 50%* /home /home holds user home directories
logical drive 50%* /usr at least 900MB is needed for default install


*Usually the remaining drive space is divided equally between /home and /usr, thus 50%. /usr should at least be 900MB since it holds all your programs and applications. To figure out the remaining amounts for /home and /usr, take beginning cylinder for /home, subtract this from the ending cylinder of the drive, divide this value in half and add it to the beginning cylinder for /home. Then for /usr, just use the next available beginning cylinder, and make the ending cylinder end on the last one on the drive.

**This is your Windows or other Operating System's partition. Create this as large as you want. You can also create logical drives for Windows (or other OS) in the extended partition if you like (the order of the logical drives really doesn't matter).

Notes on Partition Sizes:

I would tend to create about a 30MB or 60MB partition for /boot. This is where your kernel's are stored, and they are getting bigger. 60MB may be a little of overkill, but how are you going to change the size later?

You may need larger or smaller partition sizes than what I referenced above. You may even need more partitions than what I have listed. Adjust the sizes and number of partitions according to your needs.

Notes on Resizing Partitions:

Usually, when partitions are created, their size is permanently fixed. The only way to change this is to backup the data, destroy the partition, recreate the partition with the correct size needed, then restore the data. This is a long process, but it is the only way to do it in a critical environment.

There is an alternate choice to the standard way of changing a partition size. This choice is not for you if you are in a critical environment. This choice is definitely not for you if you don't have 2 good backups and have verified them. Compaq will not help you out if you loose data resizing your partition. Resizing partitions are not supported.

With that out of the way, here is how to resize a Linux partition (even on a Compaq Array Controller). Partition Magic 4.0 is a commercially available package that will allow you to change partition sizes without destruction of data (remember my warnings above and get a backup and also that it is not supported by Compaq). Version 4.0 is able to modify Linux Partitions where ver. 3.0 is not. Once you make free space, you can even create more partitions if that is what you need to do.

Notes on /boot:
Notes on Swap Partition:

The swap partition can reside just fine in the extended partition. Be sure to change its type in fdisk to "Linux Swap" which is type "82."

Notes on other Linux Partitions (besides /boot):

All partitions except for /boot can reside as Logical Drives in the Extended Partition.

Notes on Compaq System Partition Utilities:

The Compaq System Partition Utilities is a small partition (currently about 39MB) placed at the front of the drive (starting at the first cylinder). This partition is placed here during the Smart Start process (manual install of Unixware 7). Through these utilities you can configure your hardware, add and remove boards, change resources, run diagnostics, etc. The two main utilities placed on the System Partition are "Compaq System Configuration Utilities" and "Compaq Server Diagnostics." You can pick up the latest copies of these from Compaq's web site at http://www.compaq.com/support/files/server.

The System Partition can be accessed in two ways, 1) by pressing F10 on startup or 2) by pointing to it from LILO.

1) How to access the System Partition by pressing F10 at startup 2) How to access the System Partition from LILO

Troubleshooting:


Getting a Panic during Installation:

Getting a Black Screen after POST completes (blinking cursor in upper left hand corner):

LILO or Linux hangs trying to boot:
Getting a Panic in Linux:
Linux not showing all your Memory: 
        append="mem=48M" or append="mem=49152k"

Installing Mandrake 6.0 on a Compaq Array fails: 
ls -l --full-time /sbin/lilo

59,004 Mon Apr 12 16:15:20 1999 /sbin/lilo (incorrect lilo, version 21)

69,136 Mon Apr 12 23:19:24 1999 /sbin/lilo (correct lilo for array controllers,
                                   version 21, found in RedHat 6.0 installation)

Special Procedures:



How to Restore your F10 functionality:

The functionality of pressing F10 at startup to access the system partition is located in the MBR. If you overwrite the MBR with LILO, you will not be able to boot to the system partition by pressing F10 on startup. Here are the steps to recover your F10 functionality and still be able to boot Linux.


At this point, you should be able access the system partition by pressing F10 on boot up. Also, you should be able to boot back to Linux by just booting the server (and not pressing any keys). If you are unable to boot to Linux, then see the section called "Repairing LILO"

Repairing LILO:

This process involves booting with your Linux boot diskette or your Linux install CD, mounting your root and /boot partitions, correcting /etc/lilo.conf and /etc/fstab, then putting out a fresh copy of LILO by running /sbin/lilo. You may find that "/usr/sbin/chroot" will help you out during this process.

This process can get a bit detailed (it's easy, just very detailed) so I haven't placed step by step instructions here. For more detailed information or if you don't have your boot diskette (created during system installation), then get my "Linux Recovery" document.

Understanding LILO

LILO is basically a 2 part process. It involves editing the configuration file /etc/lilo.conf and it involves running /sbin/lilo to activate the changes made to /etc/lilo.conf. LILO (the LInux LOader) can be placed in 2 places, the MBR (master boot record) or the partition containing /boot. LILO behaves the same way if placed in either location. If you place LILO into the MBR, this takes away the functionality of F10 Setup; therefore, we prefer not to put LILO there.

The first line of /etc/lilo.conf contains "boot=/dev/sda1" (or something close to that). This is saying that LILO will be installed into the 1st partition (1) on the 1st (a) SCSI disk drive (/dev/sd). If it shows "boot=/dev/sda" then this would point to the MBR of the drive.

You determine which boot choice is default by putting that one first in the list. If you have entries for both Linux and Windows in /etc/lilo.conf, then whichever is listed first is the default.

Understanding Linux Partition Names and Device Names:

Partition names consist of a device name, particular device number, and partition number. Here are some examples:

Device

+

Dev. #

+

Part. #

=

Full device name

Description

/dev/sd

+

a

+

2

=

/dev/sda2

 2nd pri. part. on 1st SCSI disk drive

/dev/sd

+

a

+

none

=

/dev/sda

 MBR on 1st SCSI disk drive

/dev/hd

+

c

+

none

=

/dev/hdc

 MBR on 3rd ide device (could even reference the cdrom)

/dev/ida/

+

c0d0

+

p1

=

/dev/ida/c0d0p1

 1st partition (p1) on Array "A" (d0) on first Compaq Array Controller (c0)

Primary partitions are numbered between 1 and 4. Extended partition takes up 1 primary partition number. Logical drives in the extended partition always start at 5 and goes up.

Dual Boot / Booting System Partition using LILO as the boot loader:

LILO is ready to load most Operating Systems. To boot to another partition, such as the system partition or Windows, you need to add a section very similar to the following (without the descriptions on the right):
other=/dev/sda3     <- point to the partition to boot
        label=F10       <- label the LILO choice
        table=/dev/sda  <- point to the MBR of above named partition.


Dual Boot / Booting Linux from NT's Boot Loader:

To have Linux listed as a choice on NT's Boot Loader screen, you need to capture the boot sector of your Linux /boot partition and save it in a file. A good utility to do this is bootpart.exe. One way to get this utility is to find it with http://ftpsearch.ntnu.no. Run this from within NT, give it the correct parameters, give it a label for Linux, and it will automatically capture the boot sector (first 512 bytes of the /boot partition), put it in a file, and add an entry into BOOT.INI for you. You're done, restart your computer to see Linux show up on your NT boot loader.

Dual Boot / What Order should my Partitions go on the Drive for Dual Boot:

39MB System Partition
30MB /boot partition
xxxMB 95 or NT partition
xxxxMB Extended Partition
xxxxMB Place all other Linux partitions and 95 or NT logical drives here.

Dual Boot / Linux, Compaq System Partition, and NT (NT's Disk Administrator):

If you do decide to do a dual boot system and share the hard drive with Windows NT, you will soon find that after you run NT's Disk Administrator, that you have problems booting Linux. The problem here is that the System Partition initially goes in as partition #3. Linux doesn't care about that and will work around that. All is well until NT enters the picture. NT's Disk Administrator looks at the partitions on the drives and says that the information is incorrect and needs to be changed (it says this very quietly because you never hear NT say it). NT puts things back in place by renaming the partitions.

Partitions Partition # Before Running Disk Admin. P. # After Disk Admin
39MB System Partition 3 1
30MB /boot partition 1 2
NT partition 2 3
Extended Partition 4 4
Other partitions... 5 and above No Changes Made

Now the System Partition is back to being partition #1 instead of #3,

your /boot partition will now be partition #2 instead of 1,

your NT partition will be partition #3 instead of #2.

At this point, Linux will have problems booting. LILO will not be pointing to the correct partitions. You will need to boot your system with your boot disk (or CD), edit a few files, and put out a fresh copy of LILO. See the section on "Repairing LILO" for more information.

Creating and Adding New Partitions:

Use fdisk to create your new partition: "fdisk /dev/ida/c0d0"

For this example, partition 10 is the next available partition.

remember your new partition's number: "/dev/ida/c0d0p10"

You may have to reboot to be able to resync the OS to the drives.

Create your file system: "mkfs -V -t ext2 -c -v /dev/ida/c0d0p10"

Edit your fstab and add in a line for your partition and a mount point. See the "/download" line below which I added in using /dev/ida/c0d0p10 (I decided that this partition will be used to hold my downloads, thus the name "/download").

- - - - - contents of /etc/fstab - - - - - begin
/dev/ida/c0d0p6 / ext2 defaults 1 1
/dev/ida/c0d0p1 /boot ext2 defaults 1 2
/dev/ida/c0d0p9 /home ext2 defaults 1 2
/dev/ida/c0d0p8 /usr ext2 defaults 1 2
/dev/ida/c0d0p7 /var ext2 defaults 1 2
/dev/ida/c0d0p10 /download ext2 defaults 1 2
/dev/ida/c0d0p5 swap swap defaults 0 0
/dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy ext2 noauto 0 0
/dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom iso9660 noauto,ro 0 0
none /proc proc defaults 0 0
none /dev/pts devpts mode=0622 0 0

- - - - - contents of /etc/fstab - - - - - end

Make a blank directory in the root directory for the mount point: "mkdir /download"

Either manually mount the partition into the directory ("mount -t ext2 /dev/ida/c0d0p10 /download") or reboot to have the partition mounted into the directory.

Questions and Answers:

Why start with a system erase:


How to do a system erase:
How to clear nvram:
Do I choose Unixware 7 or Unixware 2 as the operating system to install?
Why choose Linux as the operating system to install:
Why choose "Custom Install" instead of "Server Install" or "Workstation Install":
Why use fdisk instead of Disk Druid:
Why put LILO into the first sector of your /boot partition instead of the MBR:
Why put the /boot partition immediately after the Compaq System Partition:

Having fun with Fdisk? Here's a basic fdisk tutorial:


A lot of people get confused by Linux's fdisk since it is so different from Dos' fdisk. It is really a simple tool to use.

Some fdisk Commands:
"m" is your help key, it will list a "menu" of actions you can perform.
"p" will show you what your partitions look like. Use "p" quite frequently to make sure that your partitions are sized how you want them to be.
"n" will create new partitions.
"a" will mark a partition active (don't mark more than 1 active at any time).
"t" will change the type of partition. Use this to change your swap partition to type Linux Swap.
"w" will save your changes
"q" will exit without saving your changes

Partition Types:
0x5 is the type of the extended partition.
0x12 is the type of the Compaq Partition file system.
0x82 is Linux Swap file type.
0x83 is Linux ext2 file system.

Unless you alter the partition types (not recommended), the only partition type you will have to change is the swap partition. Change the swap partition to type "Linux Swap" which is type "82".

Creating Primary Partitions:
"n" for new partition
"p" for primary
Choose the next available primary partition # (1-4)
Choose the given starting cylinder
Key in the size you want (for example: +30M for 30MB partition)

Creating the Extended Partition:
"n" for new partition
"e" for extended partition
Choose the next available primary partition # (1-4)
Choose the given starting cylinder Key in the last cylinder available (it is best for the extended to go all the way to the end of the drive.
You will note that the Extended Partition shows up as type 5 (extended).

Creating a Logical Drive in the Extended Partition:
"n" for new partition
"l" for logical partition
Choose the given starting cylinder
Key in the size you want (for example: +265M for 265MB partition)
You will note that the Logical Drives start at partition number 5 and go up.

Notes on Fdisk:
Make sure to mark partition for /boot as the only bootable partition using the "a" command in fdisk.
Make sure to change the type of your swap partition to type swap (82) using the "t" command in fdisk.
Save your changes in fdisk by using the "w" command.

Tips and Tricks

Multiple NICs (3 ne2000’s, RedHat5.2 Linux):
- - - - - contents of /etc/conf.modules
 
alias eth0 ne
alias eth1 ne
alias eth2 ne
options ne io=0x300,0x280,0x240
Multiple NICs (2 TLAN’s, RedHat5.2 Linux):
- - - - - contents of /etc/conf.modules
 
alias scsi_hostadapter ncr53c8xx
alias eth0 tlan
alias eth1 tlan
Compaq NIC drivers:
TLAN - TI Thunderlan based chipset, Netelligent, Netflex3, etc.
eepro100 - Intel based chipset (by Compaq)

Adding System Partition to LILO (embedded SCSI):
- - - - - contents of /etc/lilo.conf
 
boot=/dev/sda1
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeout=50
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.0.36-0.7
        label=linux
        root=/dev/sda6
        initrd=/boot/initrd-2.0.36-0.7.img
        read-only
other=/dev/sda3
        label=scu
        table=/dev/sda
Adding System Partition to LILO (Compaq IDA Array Controller):
- - - - - contents of /etc/lilo.conf
 
boot=/dev/ida/c0d0p1
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeout=50
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.2.5-15
        label=linux
        root=/dev/ida/c0d0p6
        initrd=/boot/initrd-2.2.5-15.img
        read-only
other=/dev/ida/c0d0p3
        label=scu
        table=/dev/ida/c0d0

Support Tools


http://www.compaq.com/support/techpubs/installation_guides/ecg5130399.html		 Installation and Configuration Guide for Linux and Apache Web Server on Compaq ProSignia and ProLiant Servers

http://forum.compaq.com		 Compaq Support Forum, message board, linux

http://www.compaq.com/newsroom/pr/1998/wa111298a.html		 Compaq Press Release, newsroom, December 11, 1998

http://www.insync.net/~frantzc/cpqarray.html - check http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.insync.net/~frantzc/cpqarray.html		 Smart-2/Smart Array Driver Home Page - Chris Frantz's Home Page.

ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/products/drivers/linux/		 Smart-2/Smart Array Driver Home Page - New Site - Now driver being maintained by Compaq's Storage Products Division.

http://www.van-dijk.net		 Diederick’s Home Page

http://cpqlin.van-dijk.net		 Diederick’s Linux Home Page

http://cpqlin.van-dijk.net/compaqarray/install.html		 FAQ about Compaq machines and Linux

http://cpqlin.van-dijk.net/mailarchive/index.php3		 Compaq and Linux mailing list archive

You can join the Compaq and Linux mailing list hosted at http://cpqlin.van-dijk.net by sending a message to compaqandlinux-subscribe@cpqlin.van-dijk.net		 Compaq/Linux mailing list created by Diederick

http://www.winplanet.com/features/howtos/ntdirectboot/index.html		 Using NT boot loader & LILO

http://jgo.local.net/LinuxGuide/		 Josh's Linux Guide - All in One Page Linux Guide

http://cesdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/linux/		 Linux Network Drivers (hosted by NASA)

http://www.sleepie.demon.co.uk/ncr53c710		 NCR53c710 SCSI driver home page

http://www.pepelouis.fr.st/		 How install a Redhat 6.0 on a old Compaq Proliant 2000 ( or 1000 ) by Jean Philippe
http://www.compaq.com/linux Compaq Linux Home Page w/ documentation: documentation link, ProLiant How-To.

This document was created by Richard Black. The home page for this document is currently http://www.cpqlinux.com. This is not a Compaq sponsored document. This document is provided "as is" and neither I nor Compaq can be held liable for any results of using this documentation. I have put forth every effort to make sure that this document is as complete and as correct as possible.

If you have any changes / corrections to this document, then please send them to me at mailto:richard.black@cpqlinux.com. As I make updates to this document I will be updating the above home page with the newer revisions of this document.

Changes:

03-27-2000 Added link to new home for cpqarray web site. Driver has been turned over from Chris Frantz to Compaq's Storage Products Division.
01-12-2000 Changed wording on link from "NASA Linux Network Drivers" to "Linux Network Drivers (hosted by NASA)"
11-12-1999 Added info about "How install a Redhat 6.0 on a old Compaq Proliant 2000 ( or 1000 ) by Jean Philippe" link to this document.
10-28-1999 Changed mem=960M to "linux mem=960M"
10-25-1999 Added 2 more links in the support section for Nasa Linux Network Drivers and for NCR53c710 scsi driver home page.
10-20-1999 Document cleanup.
9-20-1999 Document recreation and release on http://www.cpqlinux.com from other older document created by Richard Black.
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