IBM blade center HS20 server) with Redhat Enterprise Linux 4

[Craig White]

On Fri, 2006-03-31 at 19:52 -0700, Eric "Shubes" wrote:
> Craig White wrote:
> > On Fri, 2006-03-31 at 16:01 -0700, Dan Lund wrote:
> >> Has anyone ever ran an IBM blade server (HS20 model) with Redhat
> >> Enterprise Linux 4 or CentOS 4.2?
> >>
> >> I've been tasked with getting RHEL4 on our new blade server, and it
> >> doesn't want to cooperate.  I've already installed Gentoo on it, so I
> >> know it works with Linux.
> >> The problem I'm having is during the hardware probing, it blacks the
> >> screen.  I'm using the remote control java console which works really
> >> nicely.
> >> I've used the following commands:
> >> linux
> >> linux text
> >> linux text noprobe  (this one actually got the console but the
> >> keyboard was not functional)
> >>
> >> I have a sneaky suspicion that since the cdrom is USB, the probing is
> >> reinitializing the cdrom subsystem.  I know Gentoo has a feature
> >> during boot where you send the parameter "bladecenter" or something
> >> like that at boot and it slows down the USB transfer a little due to a
> >> slow cdrom. (or something along those lines)
> >>
> >> Anyway, I'd appreciate any experiences anyone has had with this
> >> hardware.  Worst case, I'll install RHEL4 through Gentoo by throwing a
> >> tarball down, but I'd really rather have a clean install straight from
> >> CD.
> > ----
> > I've never fooled with a blade system (not that I wouldn't love to try)
> > but I am quite certain that the methodology would be to do a kickstart
> > install and probably have an nfs server hosting the install images as
> > that would make sense because we aren't really talking about 1 install
> > on a blade system, but a series of installs.
> > 
> > there is a redhat mail list for RHEL 4 nahant-list
> > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/nahant-list
> > 
> > CentOS 4 Documentation
> > http://www.centos.org/docs/4/
> > 
> > where you're likely to get better help
> > 
> > additional boot options...
> > http://www.centos.org/docs/4/html/rhel-ig-x8664-multi-en-4/ap-bootopts.html
> > 
> > (you might be able to use a vnc server)
> > 
> > Craig
> > 
> C'mon, Craig. How you gonna create a kickstart file if you can't do an 
> install to begin with? ;)
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all redhat systems have the ability to create a kickstart file
----
> 
> Well, I suppose it might be possible (from scratch, though?). Using a 
> kickstart file is a good idea, really. The key, though, is being able to 
> boot from a device you have. What if the HW in question doesn't have a 
> floppy?
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booting wasn't his problem...seeing a screen after booting was his
problem. A kickstart can install without a screen display
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> In any case, I think that a network install is probably in order, 
> possibly with a network boot (to boot!).
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I think so too - especially when you are talking blades

Craig