Compaq DS10 User Manual

Linux Installation and Configuration Guide for AlphaServer  18 

ECG513/0100 

eid0.0.0.2007.0            EID0              00-50-8B-6F-38-85 
ewa0.0.0.9.0               EWA0              08-00-2B-86-1F-64 
ewb0.0.0.11.0              EWB0              08-00-2B-86-1F-63 
ewc0.0.0.3002.0            EWC0              00-06-2B-00-0A-5C 
pka0.7.0.3000.0            PKA0                  SCSI Bus ID 7 
pkb0.7.0.3001.0            PKB0                  SCSI Bus ID 7  
 

In the output above, the first line shows that DKA0 is a hard disk, DQA0 is a CD-ROM, and 
DVA0 is a floppy drive. 

Also useful for inspecting the computer configuration is the "show config" command, as 
shown here: 

>>>show config | more 

3. Configure the system SRM parameters to boot from your installation device. A table 

providing cross referenced device names is located in Appendix C, for your convenience. 
Example commands for configuring to boot from the floppy device are shown here: 

>>>set bootdef_dev dva0 
>>>set boot_file vmlinux.gz 
>>>set boot_osflags "root=/dev/fd0 load_ramdisk=1" 
>>>show boot* 
boot_dev             dva0.0.0.0.0     
boot_file            vmlinux.gz       
boot_osflags         root=/dev/fd0 load_ramdisk=1 
boot_reset           OFF              
bootdef_dev          dva0.0.0.0.0     
booted_dev                            
booted_file                           
booted_osflags

                        

 

4. Insert the boot floppy into the drive. 

5. Boot the system using the "boot" command. The result should be that the system boots from 

the floppy. You will eventually be prompted to replace the BOOT floppy with the RAMDISK 
floppy. 

If during this process you encounter a problem, such as due to a typographic error in the setting of 
the SRM parameters, you will probably be stopped with an "aboot>" prompt. The best way to 
deal with this situation is to reset the system using the reset button on the front panel. Then using 
the SRM commands, correct the mistake, and repeat the "boot" process. 

SuSE’s installation program is flexible. While it allows for autodetection of devices and autoload 
of device drivers, it allows you to override the automatically configured parameters. Compaq’s 
testing this Solutions Guide was performed using SuSE Version 6.1. 

The software installation process requires that the system be rebooted at two critical places in the 
process. The first time is just after completing the partitioning of the disk, and the second happens 
automatically after all of the software components are installed on the disk. Be certain not to skip 
the reboot after the disk partition process is completed. 

In preparation to partition your disk, you should boot your AlphaServer via the BOOT floppy and 
following the process for selecting a language, display color, keyboard type, and installation 
media. At this stage, you should select the "Install From Scratch" menu option, and proceed to the