Compaq ProLiant 1500 and Debian 2.2 ("Potato")

Overview

This document contains notes on the process of installing Debian 2.2r3 ("Potato") onto a Compaq ProLiant 1500 by booting from diskette and installing from CDROM. Richard Black's extensive Compaq Servers and Linux site, especially the Proliant 1500 and RedHat 6.2 page, provided inspiration for the creation of this document along with much of the information offered herein.

Hardware

Compaq ProLiant 1500
- System firmware revision E12, 8/17/98
- Dual 133 MHz Pentium processors
- 128 MB memory
- 1.44 MB diskette drive (144263-002)
- Cirrus Logic GD542x video controller (built-in)
- NCR53C825 SCSI controller (built-in)
  - CDROM drive (142223-201) at SCSI id 5
  - 4-16 GB TurboDAT tape drive (199464-001) at SCSI id 6
- Compaq SMART array controller (181132-001, EISA) in slot 6
  - Firmware revision 2.26
  - Five 4.3 GB hot-pluggable FW SCSI-2 disks (199598-001)
- Compaq NetFlex-3/P (169811-002, PCI) in slot 7

Software

Compaq ProLiant 1500 Utilities diskettes [downloadable from Compaq]
- SP14249.EXE [latest version] - Compaq System Erase Utility v1.63 (1 diskette)
- SP14381.EXE [latest version] - Compaq System Configuration Utility v2.53 (4 diskettes)
- SP16238.EXE [latest version] - Compaq Server Diagnostics v10.34 (1 diskette)
- SP6224.EXE [latest version] - Systems ROMPaq Firmware Upgrade Diskette for Compaq ProLiant 1000, 1500 (E12), 1500 (E27), 2000, 4000, 4500, and 5000 Servers v4.03 (1 diskette)
- SP8050.EXE [latest version] - Options ROMPaq (Full Release, Legacy support) v2.47 (5 diskettes)
Debian 2.2r3 ("Potato")
- Debian 2.2r3 official i386 binary CDROMs, created from downloaded ISO images. Note that the CDROM drive in the ProLiant is old and may be unable to read some CD-R media. For information about CD-R media, see www.cdrfaq.org - Media.
- "Compact" rescue diskette, created from the 1.44 MB compact/rescue.bin diskette image found on CDROM #1.
- "Compact" root diskette, created from the 1.44 MB compact/root.bin diskette image found on CDROM #1.

Prepare Compaq ProLiant 1500

Create Compaq ProLiant 1500 Utilities diskettes listed above. Compaq distributes these diskette images as self-extracting MS-DOS executables so, if a computer running MS-DOS or some flavor of Windows is not available, it may be necessary to use FreeDOS or DOSEMU to create the diskettes.
Update system firmware to latest revision (E12, 8/17/98) using Systems ROMPaq Firmware Upgrade diskette
Update peripheral device (SMART controller, SCSI tape drive, etc.) firmware to latest revision using Options ROMPaq (Full Release, Legacy support) diskettes.

Perform system erase using Compaq System Erase Utility diskette. The following is an example of boot messages displayed after a system erase is performed.

   16384 KB OK

COMPAQ System BIOS - E12 (08/17/1998)
Copyright 1982,1998 Compaq Computer Corporation. All rights reserved.


Processors running at 133 MHz
Processor 2 Initializing...

 178-Processor Configuration Invalid
 172-EISA Configuration Nonvolatile Memory Invalid
     Initialization Aborted
 172-1 Configuration Nonvolatile Memory Invalid
Slot 6 Drive Array Initializing
1785-Slot 6 Drive Array not Configured
 162-System Options Not Set

SCSI Device Detected - System Board, SCSI ID 5: COMPAQ   CD-ROM CR-503BCQ
SCSI Device Detected - System Board, SCSI ID 6: Compaq   4/16GB TurboDAT

     Run System Configuration Utility

Press "F1"  key to continue
      "F9"  key for ROM-Based Diagnostics
      "F10" key for System Partition Utilities

Use Compaq System Configuration Utility (SCU) diskettes to configure system.
1. Insert SCU diskette #1 and press F1 to boot from diskette.
2. Auto Config: select "NO".
3. Enter Date and Time.
4. Select "System Configuration", then "Configure Hardware".
5. Insert SCU diskette #3 when prompted.
6. Primary Operating System: select "UNIX".
7. UNIX Version: select "Linux".
8. Insert SCU diskette #2 when prompted.
9. Select "Review or modify hardware settings".
10. Select "Step 3: View or edit details".
11. Verify configuration of "Compaq SMART Array Controller".
  1. Operating System should be "UNIX/XENIX".
  2. Controller Order should be "First".
  3. Configure logical drives as needed (example):
    Logical Drive 1... Four 4.2-GB Drives + Spare 1, Drive Mirroring (8.5-GB)
    Logical Drive 2... Not Configured
    Logical Drive 3... Not Configured
    On-line Spare Drive(s)... Spare 1 (4.2-GB)
12. Press F10 when done with hardware settings.
13. Select "Step 5: Save and exit".
14. Select "Save the configuration and restart the computer".
15. Reboot: press Enter to reboot.
Create system partition.
1. Boot from SCU diskette #1.
2. Information: select "Create the System Partition".
3. Information: press Enter to reboot
Copy SCU to system partition.
1. Boot from SCU diskette #1.
2. Select "Compaq System Configuration" and "Compaq Diagnostics". Don't worry about the other choices.
3. Insert SCU diskette #2 when prompted.
4. Insert SCU diskette #3 when prompted.
5. Insert SCU diskette #4 when prompted.
6. Insert Server Diagnostics diskette when prompted.
7. Information: select "Run from System Partition".
8. Select "Exit from this utility".
9. Press Enter to reboot.
Run System Diagnostics.
1. Remove any diskette from drive and boot up computer. When prompted, press F10 for System Partition Utilities. If an error message appears, you may have missed the "F10" prompt.
2. MAIN MENU: select "Diagnostics and Utilities".
3. Diagnostics and Utilities: select "Test Computer".
4. Compaq Diagnostics: select "Automatic Diagnostics".
5. Test Options: select "Unattended Testing (continuous looping)"
6. Automatic Diagnostics: select "Start".
7. Respond to questions and instructions displayed in dialog boxes (e.g. insert a tape into the tape drive).
8. Insert Debian CDROM #1 in the CDROM drive.
9. Let the tests run for a while...
10. Press Ctrl-Break to stop testing.

Install Debian 2.2r3 ("Potato")

Use the "compact" diskette images to create rescue and root diskettes. Example:
```
# mount /cdrom
# cd /cdrom/dists/potato/main/disks-i386/current/images-1.44/compact
# dd if=rescue.bin of=/dev/fd0 bs=1024
# dd if=root.bin of=/dev/fd0 bs=1024
```
The standard Debian Potato installation kernel does not include support for Compaq SMART2 (IDA) array controllers. However, the kernel on the "compact" rescue diskette does include SMART2 (IDA) array support, making it possible to install Debian on the ProLiant without needing to first build a custom kernel.
Boot from the "compact" rescue diskette. At the boot prompt, specify the location of the SMART array controller and the amount of system memory. Example:
```
boot: linux smart2=0x6000 mem=128M
```
Future releases of Debian are expected to utilize more recent versions of the linux kernel. This may necessitate adjustments to the above procedure. For example, linux kernel version 2.4.x uses a different notation for specifying the computer's memory configuration . Example:
```
boot: linux smart2=0x6000 mem=exactmap mem=640K@0 mem=127M@1M
```
The cpqarray.txt and cciss.txt files distributed with the kernel source code contain basic documentation on linux support for Compaq SMART2 (IDA) and SMART array controllers. The Compaq Servers and Linux site has additional information on specific hardware issues and related topics.
Insert "compact" root diskette when prompted.
Release Notes: "Continue"
Configure the keyboard: "qwerty/us"
Partition a Hard Disk: "/dev/ida/c0d0"
1. LILO Limitations: "Continue"
2. Create new partitions from free space.
  1. "Primary", 450 MB, "Beginning" (c0d0p1)
  2. "Logical", 300 MB, "Beginning" (c0d0p5)
  3. "Logical", 2000 MB, "Beginning" (c0d0p6)
  4. "Logical", 1500 MB, "Beginning" (c0d0p7)
  5. "Logical", 1500 MB, "Beginning" (c0d0p8)
  6. "Logical", 1000 MB, "Beginning" (c0d0p9)
  7. "Logical", 1000 MB, "Beginning" (c0d0p10)
  8. "Logical", 800 MB, "Beginning" (c0d0p11)
3. Mark partition c0d0p1 as bootable.
4. Set filesystem type of partition c0d0p5 to 82 (Linux swap).
5. Write partition table to disk.
6. Quit partitioning program.
Initialize and Activate a Swap Partition: "/dev/ida/c0d0p5"
Skip the Scan for Bad Blocks: "Yes"
Are you sure?: "Yes"
Initialize a Linux Partition
1. Select Partition: "/dev/ida/c0d0p1"
2. Pre-2.2 Linux Kernel Compatibility?: "No"
3. Skip the Scan for Bad Blocks?: "Yes"
4. Are you sure?: "Yes"
5. Mount as the Root Filesystem?: "Yes"
Initialize a Linux Partition
1. Select Partition: "/dev/ida/c0d0p6"
2. Pre-2.2 Linux Kernel Compatibility?: "No"
3. Skip the Scan for Bad Blocks?: "Yes"
4. Are you sure?: "Yes"
5. Select Mount Point: "/usr"
Initialize a Linux Partition
1. Select Partition: "/dev/ida/c0d0p7"
2. Pre-2.2 Linux Kernel Compatibility?: "No"
3. Skip the Scan for Bad Blocks?: "Yes"
4. Are you sure?: "Yes"
5. Select Mount Point: "Other", "/usr/local"
Initialize a Linux Partition
1. Select Partition: "/dev/ida/c0d0p8"
2. Pre-2.2 Linux Kernel Compatibility?: "No"
3. Skip the Scan for Bad Blocks?: "Yes"
4. Are you sure?: "Yes"
5. Select Mount Point: "/home"
Initialize a Linux Partition
1. Select Partition: "/dev/ida/c0d0p9"
2. Pre-2.2 Linux Kernel Compatibility?: "No"
3. Skip the Scan for Bad Blocks?: "Yes"
4. Are you sure?: "Yes"
5. Select Mount Point: "/var"
Initialize a Linux Partition
1. Select Partition: "/dev/ida/c0d0p10"
2. Pre-2.2 Linux Kernel Compatibility?: "No"
3. Skip the Scan for Bad Blocks?: "Yes"
4. Are you sure?: "Yes"
5. Select Mount Point: "Other", "/var/spool"
Initialize a Linux Partition
1. Select Partition: "/dev/ida/c0d0p11"
2. Pre-2.2 Linux Kernel Compatibility?: "No"
3. Skip the Scan for Bad Blocks?: "Yes"
4. Are you sure?: "Yes"
5. Select Mount Point: "Other", "/tmp"
Install Operating System Kernel and Modules
1. Select Installation Medium: "cdrom"
2. Please insert the CD-ROM: "Continue"
Configure Device Driver Modules
1. Question (skip loading of additional modules): "Yes"
2. Select Category: "net"
  1. Select net modules: "tlan"
  2. tlan (install this module): "Yes"
  3. No command line arguments.
  4. Please press ENTER when you are ready to continue.
  5. Select net modules: "Exit"
3. Select Category: "scsi"
  1. Select scsi modules: "st"
  2. st (install this module): "Yes"
  3. Please press ENTER when you are ready to continue.
  4. Select scsi modules: "Exit"
4. Select Category: "Exit"
Configure the Network
1. Choose the Host name: "basil"
2. Automatic Network Configuration: "Yes"
3. Information (successfully configured using DHCP): "Continue"
Install the Base System
1. Select Installation Medium: "cdrom"
2. Please insert the CD-ROM: "Continue"
Configure the Base System
1. Select Timezone: "US", "CST6CDT"
2. Timezone Configuration (set hardware clock to GMT): "Yes"
Make Linux Bootable Directly From Hard Disk
1. Where should the Lilo boot loader be installed?: "/dev/ida/c0d0p1"
2. Create Master Boot Record?: "No"
Make a Boot Floppy (optional)
1. Change Disk: "Continue"
2. Formatting the floppy... Creating a filesystem on the floppy... Copying the operating system kernel...
Reboot the System
1. Reboot the system?: "Yes"
2. The system is going down NOW!! ...
Adjust LILO configuration. Because the Debian v2.2r3 installation program neglects to insert the appropriate "append" string into the lilo.conf configuration file, it is necessary to edit lilo.conf and run lilo manually to make the system bootable from the hard disk.
1. Boot from the "compact" rescue diskette (see above for details).
2. Insert "compact" root diskette when prompted.
3. When the "Release Notes" page is displayed, press Alt-F2 to view virtual console #2.
4. Please press Enter to activate this console.
5. Mount the c0d0p1 (root) partition.
```
# mount /dev/ida/c0d0p1 /mnt
```
6. Edit the lilo.conf file.
```
# ae /mnt/etc/lilo.conf
```
  Scroll down to the "image=vmlinuz" image section and add the necessary "append" line.
```
image=/vmlinuz
        label=Linux
        read-only
#       restricted
#       alias=1
        append="smart2=0x6000 mem=128M"
```
  Write file to disk (press Ctrl-X, Ctrl-W, Enter). Quit editor (press Ctrl-Q).
7. Chroot to mount location, run lilo, and reboot. Remove diskette from drive. System should now be able to boot from hard drive.
```
# chroot /mnt
sh-2.03# lilo
Added Linux *
Skipping /vmlinuz.old
sh-2.03# exit
# reboot
```
Boot from hard drive and continue installation process. For further information, refer to Debian 2.2 Installation Manual for x86.

SmartArray Tools

Hugo Trippaers' SmartArray Tools may be useful for monitoring the disk array status. The cpqarrayd daemon can be configured to report abnormal conditions via syslog or SNMP.

Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP)

Linux SMP scalability improved significantly in kernel version 2.4. Adrian Bunk assembled a set of packages that provide unofficial linux kernel 2.4 support for Debian Potato. For more information about linux SMP, see the Linux SMP HOWTO.

ext3 Filesystem

The ext3 filesystem adds journaling to the proven linux ext2 filesystem. Newer releases of the standard 2.4.x kernel include support for ext3. Kernel support, coupled with backward compatibility and a newer version of the tune2fs program, make ext3 a convenient migration path for existing ext2 systems. Some other notable journaling filesystems for linux are XFS, ReiserFS, and JFS.

Amanda

Debian's amanda-server package did not include tapetype definitions for the TurboDAT tape drive. The tapetype program reported the following.

For a 120m DDS-2 tape:

# tapetype DDS-2 /dev/nst0
wrote 104448 32Kb blocks in 10073 seconds
wrote 104473 32Kb sections
define tapetype DDS-2 {
    comment "just produced by tapetype program"
    length 3264 mbytes
    filemark 0 kbytes
    speed 331 kbytes
}

For a 90m DDS-1 tape:

# tapetype DDS-1 /dev/nst0
wrote 52033 32Kb blocks in 5002 seconds
wrote 52032 32Kb sections
define tapetype DDS-1 {
    comment "just produced by tapetype program"
    length 1626 mbytes
    filemark 0 kbytes
    speed 332 kbytes
}

The on-line Using Amanda section of Unix Backup & Recovery offers a nice overview of the Advanced Maryland Automated Network Disk Archiver (AMANDA).

Bugs

Network Lockup

Upon using the system for a short period of time, it became obvious there was an intermittent severe networking lockup problem. The lockup was especially noticeable when using VNC to access the machine remotely. A visit to the tlan driver home page revealed an open, confirmed "Tx Channel lockup" bug (#450871) in the tlan driver for 2.4.x kernels. The following command would temporarily alleviate the lockup.

# ifdown eth0; rmmod tlan; insmod tlan; ifup eth0

Interim solution: replace Compaq NetFlex-3/P with 3Com 3c509. Edit /etc/modules to load 3c509 module at boot time.

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Send comments regarding this page to Joel Schneider.
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