NetMAX Support

HOWTO: Setting up an IBM® Netfinity® SecureRAID

This HOWTO is meant for IBM Netfinity servers with SecureRAID controller cards II, 3H and 3L. And NetMAX version 3.x.

Overview
The driver module for IBM Netfinity RAID compatibility is included with the NetMAX server. By default, this driver module is not loaded during the startup sequence, however it is possible to configure a NetMAX server to support the RAID controller. The RAID driver module name is "ips". In order to run this driver module it must be added into the driver module execution file "/etc/netmods.list".
Installing NetMAX on an IBM Netfinity RAID
1. Make initrd floppy
  1. If you have L2.2Pv3.1 *****Note***** If you are using version L2.2.Pv3.1 (ver. # found on the CDROM) you need to download a new initrd image.The initrd image currently on the L2.2Pv3.1 disc is not compatible with the L2.2Pv3.1 linux kernel. The new initrd image can be found on the NetMAX anonymous ftp server at: ftp://ftp.netmax.com To download this image type the address of the ftp into your browser and browse to: pub >L2.2Pv3.1 > initrd: and download the file "initrd.img" Once you have downloaded this file you will need to create the initrd floppy from it: Windows 9X, NT, 2000: Make a temporary working directory/folder.
    Ex. C:\tmp
    Copy these files from your NetMAX CDROM to this temp directory:
    d:\Floppies\fdimage.exe
    d:\Floppies\MakeInit.bat
    (Where d:\ is your CDROM drive)
    Copy the initrd.img you recently downloaded to the temp directory and rename it "initrd.flp". In your C:\tmp directory you will have these three files:
    fdimage.exe
    MakeInit.bat
    initrd.flp
    Now that you have all of these files in one place you can create the initrd floppy:
    Place a 1.44MB DOS formatted 3.5" diskette in the floppy drive and run the MakeInit.bat program.
    You now have the proper initrd floppy you need to proceed with the installation. Unix/Linux users: Make sure you have logged in as an administrative user or root user and run the command
    dd if=/(download directory)/initrd.img of=/dev/fd0H1440
    
    Where (download directory) is the directory where you downloaded the initrd.img file
  2. If you are NOT using L2.2Pv3.1 If you are not using L2.2Pv3.1 then you may follow the instructions found on the NetMAX CDROM about making an initrd floppy.The instructions to create this disk are found in the web page that is atomically displayed when the NetMAX disc is inserted into a windows system. If this file does not atomically display you can find the instructions in the d:\Floppies (where d:\ is your CDROM drive) directory on th CDROM.
2. Configure hardware RAID during installation To configure the hardware RAID during installation, a command will need to be executed at the boot prompt. Boot the computer off of the NetMAX CDROM and when prompted to "wait 30 seconds or press enter" type: linux sprobe this will prompt you to install several driver modules during the boot sequence. After several selections have passed you will be prompted to install the driver module: IBM SecureRAID, II, 3H, 3L, (PCI - autoprobe) press "y" and [enter]. When prompted to automatically probe this card's configuration press "y" and [enter] Your RAID will be probed to determine its setup. This may take a few minutes. Once the setup of the RAID has been determined you will need to save the configuration. At the next prompt to probe for a device type "s" and [enter].
  Installation will proceed normally and you may follow the directions in the manual.
3. Post installation configuration After installation has completed, reboot from the initrd floppy. The initrd floppy will go through the boot sequence then ask you to insert the NetMAX CDROM. You will be prompted to probe for ISA devices once again. Follow the procedure to setup the IBM ServerRAID controller card. When prompted to probe the device: IBM ServerRAID, II, 3H, 3L, (PCI - select autoprobe) type "y" and [enter] When prompted to automatically probe this card's configuration select "y", The initrd floppy will once again probe the RAID controller's configuration. When this has completed press "S" for save at the next prompt in order to save the configuration of the RAID controller. Once it has completed setting up the RAID controller you will see:
  "The initrd update completed successfully."
  "You may now reboot the NetMAX."
  Remove the initrd disk and the NetMAX CDROM from the drives and reboot the system. Once the NetMAX server has finished rebooting, you will have the full functionality of a NetMAX server on an IBM SecureRAID array.
Adding IBM RAID capability to an existing NetMAX installation ***Note***
If step II has been completed you do not need continue. Log into the NetMAX interface, go to ¦Home¦Personal¦ and click on "Root" under files management. Click on the drop down menu to the left and select "All Shown" . Click on the folder "etc". Once in the folder "etc" scroll down to, and click on, the file "netmods.list". A new browser will spawn with the contents of the netmods.list file. This is what will be shown:
________________________________________________
3c509
3c59x
8390
acenic
dgrs
dmfe
eepro100
epic100
hp100
ne2k-pci
pcnet32
rtl8139
sbni
sis900
smc-ultra32
tlan
lmc
tulip
via-rhine
________________________________________________ Add this line: "ips" Click save. The displayed screen should look like this:
________________________________________________
3c509
3c59x
8390
acenic
dgrs
dmfe
eepro100
epic100
hp100
ne2k-pci
pcnet32
rtl8139
sbni
sis900
smc-ultra32
tlan
lmc
tulip
via-rhine
ips
________________________________________________ Now that the driver module name has been placed into netmods.list the driver module must be activated. To do so, reboot the server through the NetMAX interface under ¦Home¦System¦Shutdown and click on: "IMMEDIATE RESTART" This will enable compatibility for the hardware RAID controller once the server has rebooted.

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