Linux Applications on pSeries

Chapter 5. Native Linux on pSeries 127

In case you have Linux running on your desktop instead of Windows, PuTTY is

not needed, as most Linux systems come with a working ssh client installed (see

http://www.openssh.org/ for the most common implementation.)

Virtual desktops with VNC

VNC stands for Virtual Network Computing. It is, in essence, a remote display

system that allows you to view a desktop environment not only on the machine

where it is running, but from anywhere on the Internet and from a wide variety of

machine architectures. For further information and to download the appropriate

client for your desktop system, see:

http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/

All newer VNC servers provide access via HTTP. A small Web server runs on

port 58

XX

, where

XX

is the display number of the virtual display. This means that

you are able to connect to your VNC session by pointing any Java-capable

browser to http://hostname:5801/. As the VNC server comes preinstalled on

SuSE Linux for pSeries, no download or installation on your client system is

necessary.

5.2.3 Systems without a graphics adapter

To simulate a system without a graphics adapter, such as the entry rack model

p610 6C1, we simply disconnect the display of our deskside p610 6E1 and

switch to a serial console using the procedure described in this section.

A serial cable has to be connected to a serial port of the pSeries and a terminal

attached. Using a null modem cable, a normal PC can run a terminal emulation

program, such as HyperTerminal (which is included in Windows) or minicom

under Linux. To use HyperTerminal, make sure that the correct COM port,

terminal type VT100, and 9600 Bits per second are selected.

Next switch the pSeries console by using the SMS Utilities menu. When

selecting Console in this menu, the terminal or terminal emulation has to be

physically connected already. Now the console has to be selected by pressing a

number, as indicated on the new console. After a successful switch to the new

serial console, the graphics display can be disconnected. An analogous

procedure can be used to switch back to the graphical console.

Installing SuSE Linux

To install Linux on a system with a serial console, only a few steps are different

from what was described in “Systems with a graphics adapter” on page 120.

128 Linux Applications on pSeries

Step 1

The first step is to insert the SuSE CD into the system and boot to SMS Multiboot

by pressing 1 during the initialization phase (similar to the procedure for systems

with a graphical console, but pressing 1 instead of F1). Select the CD drive as an

install device, as shown in Example 5-2, and confirm the Identstring SuSE

SLES-8 (PPC).

Example 5-2 SMS Multiboot - Select install device

pSeries Firmware

Version CLT02121

(c) Copyright IBM Corp. 2000, 2002 All rights reserved.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Install Operating System From:

Device

Number Name

1 Diskette

2 SCSI CD/DVD id=@2,0 (Integrated/Internal)

3 SCSI Tape id=@1,0 (Integrated/Internal)

4 Token-Ring (slot=5/T1)

5 Port E1 - 100/10 Ethernet Adapter (Integrated/E1)

6 Port E2 - 100/10 Ethernet Adapter (Integrated/E2)

7 IBM Gigabit UTP PCI Adapter (slot=1/E1)

8 None

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Navigation keys:

M = return to Main Menu

ESC key = return to previous screen X = eXit System Management Services

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Type the number of the menu item and press Enter or Select a Navigation Key:

2

Step 2

As we are already in step two, the appropriate kernel now needs to be selected

on the yaboot menu, as shown in Example 5-3. In addition to the kernel selection

with install, we also specify the option vnc=1 to have a virtual graphical display.

Example 5-3 Kernel selection with yaboot

Welcome to SuSE Linux!

Use "install" to boot the ppc64 kernel

Use "install32" to boot the 32bit RS/6000 kernel

You can pass the option "noinitrd" to skip the installer.

Example: install noinitrd root=/dev/sda4

Welcome to yaboot version 1.3.6.SuSE