FAQ
From GoFacts
Linux Distributions for POWER
Supported Distributions
Working Distributions
- Debian - Supported by BECOM and Gonicus in Germany see www.gonicus.de/de/unternehmen/news.html
- Fedora Core 4
- Gentoo Gentoo/PPC64
- OpenSUSE on POWER download Project page
Setup Installation
Documentation about first system setup
Downlad a PDF article "Setting up your IBM eServer OpenPower server". This document describes first system setup with HMC and using serial console.
Installing Openpower without HMC with serial connection
See "Setting up your IBM eServer OpenPower server" for details.
In addition use "console=hvsi0" (or hvsi1) as a boot argument. It is highly recommended also to use "vnc=1 vncpassword=abc123" as a boot argument for remote graphical installation after network configuration (on SUSE).
How to install Debian GNU/Linux on OpenPower or POWER5
Network installation
- In order to install POWER-based systems from the network following is needed:
- DHCP Server
- TFTP Server (e.g. atftp)
- NFS or FTP or HTTP network installation source
SUSE SLES9 SP2 Installation
Providing boot arguments
See Providing boot arguments for network boot for Red Hat and Debian
See mkzimage_cmdline tool for Novell SUSE
dhcpd.conf example
How to avoid tftp timeouts
Just set following option starting atftpd or in /etc/sysconfig/atftp: “ - -no-timeout”. See man atftpd for more information.
Creating network installation source for SUSE SLES9
Integrating SP1 in SLES9 installation source:
Firmware update
The firmware update page describes the proceedure to obtain and install microcode.
Install Gentoo on PPC
See "The Gentoo Linux PPC handbook" for details.
Install Gentoo on PPC64
See "The Gentoo Linux PPC64 handbook" for details.
Installing Gentoo SELinux on PPC
See "The Gentoo SELinux PPC handbook" for details.
RAID
Hardware RAID
How to setup HW-Raid before installing OS
How to setup HW-Raid after installing OS
Software RAID (md-device)
How to setup Software-Raid using SUSE SP1
How to setup Software-Raid using SUSE SP2
How to setup Software-Raid using Red Hat
HMC Hardware Management Console
How to get virtual serial terminal through SSH?
How to find out which HMC your Machine is attatched to?
How to reboot HMC through SSH connection?
How to reboot partitions thsough SSH connection?
All HMC hints
Virtualization
Virtualization basics - Introduction
How much CPU is used?
Which modules are used for virtualization?
Where to find virtual devices
Using Debian as VIO Server
Virtual SCSI configuration
Virtual network bridging
Scripts for using SLES9 as a VIO server
How to move CDROM and use DLPAR
Where to get LPAR information
- cat /proc/cpuinfo
- cat /proc/ppc64/lparcfg
SMT
Terminal Server and emulation
LTSP
LTSP is an add-on package for Linux that allows you to connect lots of low-powered thin client terminals to a Linux server. Applications typically run on the server, and accept input and display their output on the thin client display.
http://www.ltsp.org/ works on Power
NX Server
NX Server Installation on SUSE SLES9
You can download precompiled ppc64 packages for SUSE, Red Hat and Debian at http://debian.tu-bs.de/knoppix/nx/ppc64/
qemu is running on Power
QEMU is a generic and open source processor emulator which achieves a good emulation speed by using dynamic translation.
See http://fabrice.bellard.free.fr/qemu/status.html
