Chapter 17. Choose your installation boot method on IBM LC servers

You can either boot the Red Hat Enterprise Linux installation from a USB device or through virtual media.

To boot the installation from a USB device, see Configuring Petitboot for installation with USB device.

To boot the installation through virtual media, see Access BMC Advanced System Management interface to configure virtual media.

17.1. Configuring Petitboot for installation with USB device

After the system powers on, the Petitboot bootloader scans local boot devices and network interfaces to find boot options that are available to the system. For information about creating a bootable USB device, see Creating a bootable DVD or CD.

Use one of the following USB devices:

  • USB attached DVD player with a single USB cable to stay under 1.0 Amps
  • 8 GB 2.0 USB flash drive

Procedure

Follow these steps to configure Petitboot:

  1. Insert your bootable USB device into the front USB port. Petitboot displays the following option: 

    [USB: sdb1 / 2015-10-30-11-05-03-00]
    Rescue a Red Hat Enterprise Linux system (64-bit kernel)
    Test this media & install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8  (64-bit kernel)
 *  Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (64-bit kernel)
    Note

    Select Rescan devices if the USB device does not appear. If your device is not detected, you may have to try a different type.

  2. Record the UUID of the USB device. For example, the UUID of the USB device in the above example is 2015-10-30-11-05-03-00.
  3. Select Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (64-bit kernel) and press e (Edit) to open the Petitboot Option Editor window.

  4. Move the cursor to the Boot arguments section and add the following information: 

    inst.stage2=hd:UUID=your_UUID
where your_UUID is the UUID that you recorded.
Petitboot Option Editor
qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq

  Device:    ( ) sda2 [f8437496-78b8-4b11-9847-bb2d8b9f7cbd]
             (*) sdb1 [2015-10-30-11-05-03-00]
             ( ) Specify paths/URLs manually

                     Kernel:         /ppc/ppc64/vmlinuz
                     Initrd:         /ppc/ppc64/initrd.img
                     Device tree:
                     Boot arguments: ro inst.stage2=hd:UUID=2015-10-30-11-05-03-00

                        [    OK    ]  [   Help   ]  [  Cancel  ]
  5. Select OK to save your options and return to the Main menu.
  6. Verify that Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (64-bit kernel) is selected and then press Enter to begin your installation.

17.2. Access BMC Advanced System Management interface to configure virtual media

Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) Advanced Systems Management is a remote management controller used to access system information, status, and other process for your server. You can use the BMC Advanced Systems Management to set up your installation and provide the CD image as virtual media to the Power System. However, the actual installation requires a serial-over-LAN (SOL) connection through IPMI.

To access the BMC Advanced Systems Management, open a web browser to http://ip_address where ip_address is the IP address for the BMC. Log in using these default values:

  • Default user name: ADMIN
  • Default password: admin

In order to fully use the BMC Advanced Systems Management, you need to add the IP address of the BMC firmware to the Exceptions list in the Java Control Panel of your laptop or PC. On a Windows system, this is usually located by selecting Control Panel > Control Panel for Java.

On a Linux system, this is usually located by selecting the Control Center and then selecting the Java web browser plugin.

After accessing the Control Panel for Java, select Security tab. Then add the IP address of the BMC firmware to the Exceptions list, by clicking Edit Site List and then clicking Add. Enter the IP address and click OK.

To create a virtual CD/DVD, follow these steps:

  1. Log into the BMC Advanced Systems Management interface from a PC or notebook using the default user name and password.
  2. Select Remote Control > Console Redirection.
  3. Select Java Console. As the console opens, you might need to direct your browser to open the jviewer.jnlp file by selecting to Open with Java Web Start and click OK. Accept the warning and click Run.
  4. In the Console Redirection window, select Media > Virtual Media wizard from the menu.
  5. In the Virtual Media wizard, select CD/DVD Media:1.
  6. Select CD Image and the path to the Linux distribution ISO file. For example, /tmp/RHEL-7.2-20151030.0-Server-ppc64el-dvd1.iso. Click Connect CD/DVD. If the connection is successful, the message Device redirected in Read Only Mode is displayed.

  7. Verify that CD/DVD is shown as an option in Petitboot as sr0: 

           CD/DVD: sr0
                       Install
                       Repair
    Note

    Select Rescan devices if CD/DVD does not appear.

  8. Select Install. Ater selecting Install, your remote console may become inactive. Open or reactivate your IPMI console to complete the installation. Be patient! It can sometimes take a couple minutes for the installation to begin.