Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification Chapter Seven Advanced Installation

Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification

Chapter Seven

Advanced Installation

ObjectivesObjectives

• Describe the types and structure of SCSI devices• Identify default IRQs, I/O addresses, and DMAs• Explain how Plug-and-Play can be used to assign

configuration to peripheral devices• Install Linux using a text interface• Outline the steps used to install Linux from source files

on a hard disk or network server• Summarize the precautions necessary when installing

Linux on different architectures• Troubleshoot the installation process

SCSI Hard Disk Drive SCSI Hard Disk Drive ConfigurationConfiguration

• Terminator– Device used to terminate an electrical conduction

medium to absorb the transmitted signal and prevent signal bounce

• SCSI ID– Uniquely identifies and prioritizes devices

attached to a SCSI controller

– Also called target ID


Figure 7-1: Connecting SCSI devices


Table 7-1: Common SCSI standards


Figure 7-2: A 50-pin Centronics SCSI connector

Figure 7-3: A 50-pin LPT SCSI connector


Figure 7-4: A 68-pin LPT SCSI connector

Mainboard Flow Control:Mainboard Flow Control:IRQs, DMAs, and I/O AddressesIRQs, DMAs, and I/O Addresses

• The processor of a computer executes processes in physical memory for devices– Its time and capacity must be shared among all

devices in the computer, which can be accommodated in one of two ways:

• Polling• Interruption

• Interrupt Requests (IRQs)– Used by the processor to prioritize simultaneous

requests for service from peripheral devices


Figure 7-5: IRQ priorities


Table 7-2: Default IRQ assignments


Table 7-3: Default I/O assignments


Table 7-3 (continued): Default I/O assignments


Table 7-4: Default DMA assignments

Plug-and-PlayPlug-and-Play

• Plug-and-Play (PnP)– Process allowing devices automatically to be

assigned required IRQ, I/O address, and DMA information by the system BIOS

• Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS)– Memory store on the mainboard used to store

configuration information for use during the boot process

RAID ConfigurationRAID Configuration

• Fault tolerance– The measure of downtime a device exhibits in the

event of a failure

• Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID)– The process of combining the storage space of

several hard disk drives into one larger logical storage unit


• Spanning– Type of RAID level 0 that allows SPARC processor

architecture computers

• Disk striping– Type of RAID 0, which is used to write separate

information to hard disks to speed up access time

• Disk mirroring– Also known as RAID 1, it consists of two identical hard

disks, which are written to in parallel with the same information to ensure fault tolerance


• Disk Striping with Parity– RAID level 5– Most common configuration used today– Used to write separate information to hard disks

to speed up access time– Also contains parity information to ensure fault-

tolerance


Figure 7-6: Organization of data on RAID level 5

Advanced Installation MethodsAdvanced Installation Methods

• Installing Linux graphically using a CD-ROM containing the correct installation files is the most common and easiest method for installing Linux

• There are other methods for installing Linux that do not use a graphical interface for the installation, and may use a different source for the installation files, such as a:– Network server

– Local hard disk

Text-Based CD-ROM InstallationText-Based CD-ROM Installation

• Text-based installation– Installation method that presents interactive

material in a command-line text-based format rather than a GUI-based interface

• Graphical installation– Installation method that presents interactive

material in a GUI-based format, rather than a command-line text-based interface


Figure 7-7: Installation welcome screen


Figure 7-8: Language Selection screen during a text installation


Figure 7-9: Keyboard selection screen during a text installation


Figure 7-10: Mouse selection screen during a text installation


Figure 7-11: Partition configuration screen during a graphical installation


Figure 7-12: Partition configuration screen during a text installation


Figure 7-13: Boot loader configuration screen during a graphical installation


Figure 7-14: Choosing a boot loader during a text installation


Figure 7-15: Choosing a boot loader location during a text installation


Figure 7-16: Configuring boot kernel parameters during a text installation

Hard Disk InstallationHard Disk Installation

• ISO images– Large single files that are exact copies of the information contained

on a CD-ROM

Figure 7-17: Configuring boot labels during a text installation


Figure 7-18: Language Selection during a text installation


Figure 7-19: Keyboard Selection during a text installation using an installation boot floppy


Figure 7-20: Selecting a method of installation using an installation boot floppy disk

Network-Based InstallationsNetwork-Based Installations

• Network installation– An installation where the installation source files are

accessed across the network from a network share

• Network installation boot floppy contains common NIC drivers and allows you to connect to a server with the appropriate installation files via one of the following protocols:– NFS– FTP– HTTP

Network Installation Using NFSNetwork Installation Using NFS

• Network File System (NFS)– Distributed file system developed by Sun

Microsystems– Allows computers of differing types to access

files shared on the network

Network Installation Using FTPNetwork Installation Using FTP

• File Transfer Protocol (FTP)– Most common protocol used to transfer files

across the Internet– Most operating systems come with an FTP client

program– FTP hosts files differently than NFS does

Network Installation Using HTTPNetwork Installation Using HTTP

• If NFS and FTP are not available on the network, then installation from a Web server on the network using HTTP is an alternative

• Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP)– Underlying protocol used to transfer information

over the Internet

Installations from Network ClientsInstallations from Network Clients

Figure 7-21: Choosing a network installation type during a text installation using a network installation boot floppy


Figure 7-22: Configuring network settings during a text installation using a network installation boot floppy disk


Figure 7-23: Entering NFS configuration during a text installation from a network installation boot floppy disk


Figure 7-24: Entering FTP configuration during a text installation from a network installation boot floppy disk


Figure 7-25: Entering HTTP configuration during a text installation from a network installation boot floppy disk

Installing Linux on Non-Intel Installing Linux on Non-Intel ArchitecturesArchitectures

• Some common roles for older hardware that can be achieved by installing Linux include but are not limited to:– DHCP servers– DNS servers– File and print servers– E-mail servers


• Some common roles for older hardware that can be achieved by installing Linux include but are not limited to (continued):– Web servers– Routers– Firewalls– News servers


Table 7-5: Internet installation resources for different architectures


• SILO– Program used to boot Linux on SPARC processor

architecture computers

• ABOOT– Boot loader for Alpha architecture platforms


Table 7-6: Common Alpha device labels


Figure 7-26: Language Selection screen after starting an installation of Linux on the Alpha architecture

Problems Starting the InstallationProblems Starting the Installation

• You will typically start a Linux installation by booting from a CD-ROM that contains the appropriate installation files, or a floppy, which may then connect to a CD-ROM, hard disk, or network server to get the installation files– For this to occur, you must ensure that the boot order located in the

BIOS is set to look for an operating system on the floppy or CD-ROM before it looks to the hard disk

• BIOSes on different computers may be radically different

• To ensure that you are changing the correct setting, consult the user’s manual for your mainboard

Problems During InstallationProblems During Installation

• Once the installation program has loaded, you are prompted for the method of installation

• For those who install Linux graphically, the installation program must first detect the video card and mouse in the computer and load the appropriate drivers into memory

• If after the initial welcome screen, the graphical installation screens do not appear or appear as scrambled lines across the computer screen, then the video card is likely not supported by the mode and resolution of the graphical installation

Problems During InstallationProblems During Installation

• Overclocked– Running a processor at a higher speed than it has

been rated for

• Although an overclocked CPU may lead to increased performance, it also produces more heat on the processor and may result in intermittent computer crashes

Problems After InstallationProblems After Installation

• Although a Red Hat Linux installation may finish successfully, you may still have problems if the installation program did not detect the hardware in the computer properly or certain programs failed to be installed

• Installation log file– Log file created at installation to record actions that occurred or

failed during the installation process


• LInux LOader (LILO)– Program used to boot the Linux OS

• Grand Unified Bootloader (GRUB)– Program used to boot the Linux OS


Table 7-7: Files commonly found in the /proc directory


Table 7-7 (continued): Files commonly found in the /proc directory


Table 7-7 (continued): Files commonly found in the /proc directory


Figure 7-27: Information displayed by Linux at boot time

Chapter SummaryChapter Summary

• There are many different SCSI standards, which have been developed since 1986

• Each peripheral device must be configured with an IRQ and I/O address prior to use, and may optionally use a DMA channel

• Computers that require fault-tolerance typically employ SCSI hard disks configured using RAID

• Though Linux is typically installed from CD-ROM media, it may also be installed using files located on hard disks, or NFS, FTP, and HTTP servers

Chapter SummaryChapter Summary

• Text installations of Linux present the same choices to the user as graphical installations of Linux

• Installing Linux on non-Intel architectures requires a solid understanding of the hardware and characteristics of the architecture

• Unsupported video cards, overclocked CPUs, PnP support, and improper RAM settings may cause an installation to fail

• The /proc directory contains information regarding detected hardware on the system and is useful when verifying whether an installation was successful

Documents

Linux+ Guide to Linux Certification Chapter Seven Advanced Installation