Installing Linux Guests from a Boot Disk and Network Server

This section describes how obtain the Linux Installation (Boot) image from a boot disk and then obtain the Linux packages to be installed from a network server.

This procedure assumes the Linux installation directory tree has been created from the ISO images on a network server. For more information, see Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4; Installation Guide for x86, Itanium, AMD64, and Intel Extended Memory Technology 64 (Intel EM64T). Export this directory tree using NFS or make sure it is otherwise accessible to the VM Host system (for example, using FTP).

Create the boot disk by copying the boot.iso file from the Linux Installation Tree on the server into /var/opt/hpvm/images/linux/boot.iso on the VM Host. For example, on the VM Host, enter the following commands:
# cd /var/opt/hpvm/ISO-images/linux# ftp yourserver.abc.comftp> cd /dist/pbfd/ftp/dist/redhat/release/rhel4/as/U4/ia64ftp> cd imagesftp> get boot.isoftp> quit
In this procedure, this file backs a virtual DVD in the guest. The guest is booted from this DVD and the installation program is loaded from it. The option askmethod is used on the linux command to specify the location of the installation tree. The installation program installs Linux into the guest from packages obtained over the network from the server.
Create the virtual machine with a boot disk and a virtual DVD backed by the boot.iso file on the VM Host. The network device is also required. Specify the operating system type as linux. For example:
#hpvmcreate -P linux3 -B manual -O LINUX -c 1 -r 2G \ -a disk:scsi::lv:/dev/vg00/rguest1 \ -a dvd:scsi::file:/ISO-images/Linux/boot.iso \ -a network:lan::vswitch:switch1

On the VM Host system, start the virtual machine:

# hpvmstart -P linux3
(C) Copyright 2000 - 2007 
Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Opening minor device and creating guest machine container
Creation of VM, minor device 1
Allocating guest memory: 2048MB
  allocating low RAM (0-80000000, 2048MB)
/opt/hpvm/lbin/hpvmapp 
(/var/opt/hpvm/uuids/eaccd6e4-b004-11db-bd1f-00306ef4693e/vmm_config.next): 
Allocated 2147483648 bytes at 0x6000000100000000
  allocating firmware RAM (ffaa0000-ffab5000, 84KB)
/opt/hpvm/lbin/hpvmapp 
(/var/opt/hpvm/uuids/eaccd6e4-b004-11db-bd1f-00306ef4693e/vmm_config.next):
 Allocated 86016 bytes at 0x6000000180000000
Loading boot image
Image initial IP=102000 GP=62E000
Initialize guest memory mapping tables
Starting event polling thread
Starting thread initialization
Daemonizing....
hpvmstart: Successful start initiation of guest 'linux2'

On the VM Host, use the hpvmconsole command to connect to the guest.

Alternatively, exit the EFI shell and select Boot from a file. Select the option Removable Media Boot. Press Enter. The guest boots from the DVD device.

Boot the guest.

There are two ways to boot the guest:

From the EFI shell
From the File menu

To boot from the EFI shell:

Go to the EFI shell. For example:

fs0   : Acpi(PNP0A03,0)/Pci(0|0)/Scsi(Pun0,Lun0)/HD(Part1,Sig5D1D1134-C809-11DB-9AEB-000000000000)
fs1   : Acpi(PNP0A03,0)/Pci(0|0)/Scsi(Pun0,Lun0)/HD(Part2,Sig5DB58D88-C809-11DB-9AEB-000000000000)
fs2   : Acpi(PNP0A03,0)/Pci(0|0)/Scsi(Pun1,Lun0)/CDROM(Entry0)

EFI lists devices with filesystems detected as fs{n}. In the above example, fs0 and fs1 are older filesystems that are present on the disk. fs2 is the file system corresponding to the bootable Linux ISO image/Virtual DVD, as can be recognized by the CDROM against it.

Boot the first installation DVD, which is indicated in the device mapping table by /CDROM by entering the following commands:
shell >fsn:fsn >bootia64
Where n corresponds to the Virtual DVD.

The following example shows how to boot from fs0:

# hpvmconsole -P linux1
- - - - - - - - - - Prior Console Output - - - - - - - - - -
Device mapping table
  fs0  : Acpi(PNP0A03,0)/Pci(0|0)/Scsi(Pun1,Lun0)/CDROM(Entry0)
  blk0 : Acpi(PNP0A03,0)/Pci(0|0)/Scsi(Pun0,Lun0)
  blk1 : Acpi(PNP0A03,0)/Pci(0|0)/Scsi(Pun1,Lun0)
  blk2 : Acpi(PNP0A03,0)/Pci(0|0)/Scsi(Pun1,Lun0)/CDROM(Entry0)
  blk3 : Acpi(PNP0A03,0)/Pci(0|0)/Scsi(Pun2,Lun0)
  blk4 : Acpi(PNP0A03,0)/Pci(0|0)/Scsi(Pun3,Lun0)
  blk5 : Acpi(PNP0A03,0)/Pci(0|0)/Scsi(Pun4,Lun0)
  blk6 : Acpi(PNP0A03,0)/Pci(0|0)/Scsi(Pun5,Lun0)
Shell>fs0:
fs0:> bootia64

To boot from the File menu:

Exit the EFI shell.
Select Boot from a file.
Select the option Removable Media Boot. Press Enter.
The guest boots from the media.

Specify the console=ttyS0 and askmethod options using the linux command. For example:

ELILO boot:linux console=ttyS0 askmethod




	NOTE: The `askmethod` option tells the Linux Installation Program to display a screen that allows you to specify the network server from which to obtain the Linux packages and the method by which the network server is accessed (FTP or NFS).

The installation process continues:

Uncompressing Linux... done
Loading initrd initrd.img...done
Linux version 2.6.9-42.EL (bhcompile@altix2.build.redhat.com) 
(gcc version 3.4.6 20060404 (Red Hat 3.4.6-2)) 
#1 SMP Wed Jul 12 23:25:09 EDT 2006
.
.
.
Welcome to Red Hat Enterprise Linux

The boot program presents a few screens that allow you to specify the network parameters of the guest (IP address, netmask, gateway, DNS), the network name of the server, and the directory path to the installation tree on the server. Respond to the screens as described in Table 6-3.

Table 6-3 Linux Guest Network Installation Screens

Screen Title	Response
Language Selection	Select your language and enter OK.
Select Installation Method	NFS or FTP and enter OK.
Network Configuration for eth0	Type in the guest's IP address and netmask. Enter OK.
Request for server parameters	Enter the server name, path to theiInstallation tree, and FTP parameters (if any).

Complete the installation procedure as described in the previous sections.

Installing Linux Guests from a Boot Disk and Network Server

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