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Installation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6


!pdated: %& "o' (%))

SLAC Computin !"#$ at SLAC Linux at SLAC

*here are se'eral steps to settin up a full+,inte rated Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 -RHEL6. s+stem at SLAC "ational Accelerator La/orator+: ). 0efore +ou 0e in o 1inimum S+stem Re2uirements o 3reparin to #nstall (. #nstall Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 o Create an #nstallation C4R51 o 0oot the #nstallation 3ro ram o "6S #nstall 1ethod o #ntroductor+ Screen o 4is7 3artitions o Selectin #nstallation 8. 3ost #nstall o Red Hat 9elcome :. SLAC Confi uration o Runnin *a+lor o Access to SLAC;s 1A#L Spool and other "6S ser'ers o Superuser 3ri'ile es <. Rescue from +our C4 iso ima e 6. =nown #ssues 3lease note: *hese are not complete Red Hat Enterprise Linux install instructions> o to the Red Hat 9e/ site for more complete information.

Before you Begin


System Requirements Architecture *hese instructions are for installin Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 -RHEL6. on an #A,8( s+stem -i.e.? a 8(,/it #ntel, or A14,/ased s+stem. and 5pteron 6:,/it s+stems -x@6_6:.. 1inimum 1emor+ Red Hat recommends for 8( /it a minimum of )A0 memor+/lo ical C3!? and for 6: /it a minimum of )A0 of memor+? )A0/lo ical C3!. At SLAC? RHEL6 has /een successfull+ installed on s+stems with <)( 10? /ut such s+stems ha'e a tendenc+ to /o down /adl+ due to excessi'e swappin when too man+ applications are open at once. 1inimum 4is7 Space

https://www.slac.stanford.edu/comp/unix/linux/install_RHEL6.html
5C#5 recommends a minimum dis7 siBe of a/o'e )( A0? and a minimum root partition -C/C. siBe of a/out & A0. C4R51 4ri'e Red Hat does not include a flopp+ 'ersion of the /oot ima es for RHEL6. Dour s+stem will need a /oot,capa/le C4R51 dri'e? or a 0#5S which 7nows how to 3$E /oot -as7 unix, admin a/out that if +ou ha'e 2uestions.. Preparing to Install ). Consider su/mittin a re2uest to ha'e 5C#5 do the installation for +ou. (. Ha'e pre'ious experience installin Red Hat Linux? or else read the Red Hat #nstall document. 8. Ha'e an #3 address and node name for +our s+stem. #f necessar+? request an IP Address and Node Name from your Desktop admin. :. Ha'e a'aila/le the networ7 and host information re2uired /+ a Red Hat Linux install? which includes -/ut ma+ not /e limited to.: #3 address? atewa+? netmas7 and 4"S ser'er -pro'ided /+ +our 4es7top admin when +ou o/tain +our #3 address.> 'ideo card/monitor specs -includin siBe of 'ideo RA1.> dis7 dri'e siBe> etc. <. #f +ou are an experienced Linux user and intend to retain some responsi/ilit+ for administerin +our s+stem? +ou ma+ want to familiariBe +ourself with *a+lor /efore /e innin . *his is the tool 5C#5 uses to adapt s+stems to the SLAC en'ironment and we stron l+ encoura e +ou to use it. 6. #f +ou are installin on a machine that was pre'iousl+ taylored? +ou should print a cop+ of the file /etc/taylor.opts /efore /e innin . *his procedure does a Cclean installC? not an up rade. #f +ou follow 5C#5 recommendations a ainst storin permanent data on a wor7station;s s+stem dis7? this should not /e a pro/lem. #f +ou do ha'e some data +ou want to preser'e on this dis7? /ut it is all stored in a non,s+stem partition? e. .? /u)? +ou mi ht /e 5=? pro'idin +our s+stem partitions are lar e enou h to accommodate RHEL6 with sufficient room for future updates -see 4is7 3artitions? /elow.. 5therwise? it is +our responsi/ilit+ to /ac7up +our data /efore /e innin the installation. #f +ou must restore it to a local files+stem after the installation? we stron l+ ur e +ou to /u+ a second dis7 and 7eep permanent data off the s+stem dis7. Dou ma+ want to wor7 next to a machine with a we/ /rowser and access the Red Hat installation manual from the documentation area of the Red Hat we/ site.

Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6


*he installation pro ram is mostl+ self,explanator+ if +ou ha'e installed !"#$ or Linux /efore. 9e will onl+ mention either complex or SLAC,specific issues /elow. Create an Installation CDRO

https://www.slac.stanford.edu/comp/unix/linux/install_RHEL6.html
*o ma7e a /oota/le C4R51 for installin RHEL6? +ou will need to /urn an #S5 &66% ima e file onto C4,R -or C4,R9. media. 5n Linux? +ou can use an application li7e $cdroast -re2uires $ 9indows. or cdrecord -a command,line tool.. 5n a RHEL< des7top s+stem? dou/le clic7in on a file endin in C.isoC will /rin up a C9rite to 4is7C dialo /ox which can /e used to /urn a cop+ of the file to a C4,R dis7. 1ac 5S$ can successfull+ create /oota/le C4R51s usin the C4R51 /urnin utilit+. *o create an installation /oot C4R51 under Linux? usin the cdrecord utilit+: ). 6ind the #S5 &66% disc ima e for an installation /oot C4R51 for +our architecture and the current RHEL6 !pdate le'el: for 6:,/it
cd /nfs/slac/g/scs/redhat/RedHat/RHEL6/6u1/workstation/x86_6 /!ootiso/ ls rhel"workstation"6.1"x86_6 "!oot.iso

for 8(,/it
cd /nfs/slac/g/scs/redhat/RedHat/RHEL6/6u1/workstation/i#86/!ootiso/ ls rhel"workstation"6.1"i#86"!oot.iso

(. 3ut a /lan7 C4,R -or C4,R9. disc into the C4R51 dri'e. 8. *o et information a/out +our C4R51 dri'e? run the command:
. cdrecord "scan!us de$%/de$/hdc

Dou;ll et a line that includes some text identif+in +our specific C4R51 de'ice? alon with the de'ice address> for example:
R34 1&'&' 1''( )_*E+ ) )+,"R- *R".#''/ ) )1'01) Re2o$a!le +,"

*he first field in this example? C)?%?%C? is +our C4R51 de'ice address. *his is the information +ou;ll need. <. Run a command li7e the followin :
6. cdrecord "$ "speed%5 de$%1&'&' "e6ect "data !oot.iso

5n some s+stems +ou ma+ need to prefix the de'ice address with a transport layer indicator? such as ;A*A:; or ;A*A3#:;? or +ou ma+ need additional options on the cdrecord command line. See the man pa e for cdrecord for details.

https://www.slac.stanford.edu/comp/unix/linux/install_RHEL6.html
#f +ou ha'en;t /urned an+ C4R51s /efore? it;s a ood idea to run some tests first /+ addin the ;,dumm+; option to the cdrecord command line.
*he #S5 ima e for RHEL6.) includes a ;Rescue; option. See /elow 6or Rescue 1ethod instructions.

Boot t!e Installation Program Stic7 the C4R51 in the dri'e and re/oot +our machine. #f +our machine i nores the C4R51 at /oot time? and simpl+ re/oots the existin s+stem on the hard dis7? there is most li7el+ a pro/lem with the /oot order in the 0#5S. Dou can usuall+ et into the 0#5S /+ pressin a function 7e+ -usuall+ 6(. earl+ in the /oot process. *he 'arious 0#5S screens 'ar+ 2uite a /it? e'en within a sin le 'endor;s products. Howe'er? there is usuall+ a place where +ou can specif+ the order in which the 0#5S should loo7 for a /oota/le de'ice. Dou should ma7e sure it loo7s at the C4R51 dri'e /efore the hard dis7. At the introductor+? ;9elcome to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.)E; menu? choose 'Install or upgrade an existing system'. 5ther possi/le choices include 'Install system with basic video driver' '!escue installed system' '"oot from local drive' ? or a '#emory test$' "#B# #f +our initial installation attempt fails with a won7+ 'ideo displa+? retr+ with the 'basic video driver'. "#B# *here ma+ /e some 'ariations in the order of the screens in the installation pro ram dependin on +our exact hardware confi uration and/or the choices +ou ma7e? so it;s pro/a/l+ a ood idea to read throu h the rest of this section /efore proceedin . #t will ta7e a minute or two to load. Choose '%kip' to s7ip the media test. "ext? after 2uestions re ardin ;Lan ua e; and ;=e+/oard; choice? the installation proceeds to C#nstallation 1ethod.C "$S Install et!od

#n the C#nstallation 1ethodC screen? choose N&% directory to insure that the latest SLAC, recommended 7ernel and R31s are installed. #f +ou install from a C4R51? +ou ma+ need to up rade the 7ernel after installation in order to compl+ with SLAC securit+ re2uirements. "ext? +ou will /e as7ed to confi ure *C3/#3. !nder 'nable IPv( support !nchec7 )se dynamic IP configuration /+ chec7in the #anual *onfiguration. !nchec7 'nable IPv+ support. -1o'ement and select directions are at the /ottom of the screen..

https://www.slac.stanford.edu/comp/unix/linux/install_RHEL6.html
5n the next screen C1anual *C3/#3 Confi urationC enter the IP Address? Netmask? Default gateway and Primary nameserver information i'en to +ou /+ +our 4es7top admin when +ou re2uested +our node name and #3 address. *he primar+ nameser'er is )8:.F&.)@.:%. %&R"I"': 3lease /e careful to enter this information accuratel+? /ecause errors can disrupt the networ7. "ext +ou will enter "6S setup information. *he N&% server name is lnxinstall and the !ed ,at directories are:

6or 5pteron and E1*6: s+stems:


/$ol/$ol1/g.scs.redhat/RedHat/RHEL6/6u1/x86_6

6or all other s+stems-3entium? Athlon? etc..:


/$ol/$ol1/g.scs.redhat/RedHat/RHEL6/6u1/i#86.

#f the director+ can;t /e mounted tr+ usin lnxinstall;s #3 address? 175.5#.16..7? instead of its name. Introdu(tory s(reens "ote) #f +ou want to capture a particular screen displa+ in the installation? to refer to later? +ou can press ;3rint;G;Shift;. *he screen cop+ will /e stored in /root/anaconda,screenshots/ for +ou. After the splash RHEL6 screen? the next 2uestions are:

9hat t+pe of de'ices will +our installation in'ol'e. Choose '"asic %torage Devices' #f an existin installation is disco'ered on the s+stem? +ou;ll /e as7ed if +ou want a '&resh Installation' or ')pgrade an 'xisting Installation'. Either wa+? assumin +ou ha'e /ac7ed up an+ important files? choose '&resh Installation' *he ;3lease name this computer; should /e auto,filled in. Dou should not need to ;Confi ure "etwor7; 3lease select the nearest Cit+ in +our time Bone *he root password screen. Choose a ood root password and DO"*+ $OR'E+ I+E SLAC;s post,installation tool taylor will o'erride this password. ;9hich t+pe of installation would +ou li7eH; Choose '*reate *ustom -ayout' *he default partitionin scheme used /+ the the other options is not suita/le for use in the SLAC en'ironment.

Dis, Partitions

https://www.slac.stanford.edu/comp/unix/linux/install_RHEL6.html
*he ta/le /elow shows su ested partitionin schemes for two different siBe dis7s? representin t+pical siBes of dis7s a'aila/le on older hardware still in ser'ice here at SLAC. "ewer s+stems usuall+ ha'e su/stantiall+ lar er s+stem dis7s. 1a7e sure to i'e Linux at least a - 'B root partition. #f +our root partition is less than a/out & A0? +ou should omit installin some of the software pac7a e roups recommended /elow? in order to allow room for future up rades and securit+ patches. Similarl+? if +ou install more pac7a e roups than su ested /elow? +ou will pro/a/l+ need a lar er root partition ,, perhaps )%,)( A0 if +ou install nearl+ e'er+thin . Small root partitions can ma7e it difficult or impossi/le to install re2uired securit+ patches later on. S+stems that cannot appl+ re2uired securit+ patches in a timel+ fashion ma+ /e denied access to the SLAC networ7. #f possi/le the root partion should /e at least (% A0 for modern machines with )%% A0 and lar er dis7s. Dou should also create a swap partition at least as lar e as the memor+ -twice the main memor+ is a ood rule of thum/ for the siBe of the swap partition.. #f there is sufficient space? we recommend that +ou allocate an /scswork partition of ) A0? to /e reser'ed for the exclusi'e use of 5C#5. !se the rest for scratch space> for example? +ou mi ht want to create a lar er /t2p or add a separate /scratch director+. "ote that older files in /t2p are periodicall+ remo'ed /ut files in /scratch will remain until remo'ed /+ +ou unless the s+stem is re,installed. Alwa+s choose to format +our Linux partitions. !se the new? ext: files+stem t+pe on all partitions except swap and /usr/'ice/cache/cache.. -#n earlier 'ersions of A6S? /usr/'ice/cache needed the ext( files+stem? /ut ext: is now compati/le with the A6S cache.. ext: is a Iournalin files+stem and will permit much faster reco'er+ followin crashes. WARNING! Dou should not allocate an+ partitions on the s+stem dis7 for permanent data. 0ecause of the lar e siBes of currentl+ a'aila/le dis7s? +ou ma+ /e stron l+ tempted to i nore this warnin . Howe'er? it is 'er+ ris7+ to do so? /ecause:

we do not /ac7up the data on local dis7s attached to wor7stations> the dis7s installed in wor7station,class machines are much less relia/le than those we /u+ for our fileser'ers> and? our support model assumes that it;s 5= to repartition and re,install the s+stem dis7 on short notice.

*he /est wa+ to ma7e use of extra space on +our s+stem dis7 is to allocate a lar e /tmp or /scratch partition. #f +ou need additional permanent space? please contact unix, adminJslac.stanford.edu> we will do our /est to help +ou ac2uire relia/le? /ac7ed,up stora e at a reasona/le cost. If you ignore t!is .arning/ it .ill 0e your responsi0ility to sa1e and restore your data t!e next time your system needs to 0e re2installed# "ote that partition names and num/ers? and the order of the partitions? are assi ned automaticall+. Also? the actual siBes of allocated partitions ma+ 'ar+ a little /it from what +ou

https://www.slac.stanford.edu/comp/unix/linux/install_RHEL6.html
re2uest in the A!# interface. *his ma+ ma7e it difficult to allocate e'er+ last /loc7 on the dis7. *he 5C#5 recommendation is to use LK1s and to lea'e extra room which can /e used later.

Su Partition ount Point / swap /'ar /usr/'ice/cache /tmp /scswor7

ested partition schemes for t+pical hard dis7s: Partition +ype ext: swap ext: ext: ext: ext: Partition Si3e 45 'B dis, & A0 647 'B or larger dis, )( A0

) x memor+ or ( x memor+ or at least <)( 10 at least ) A0 <)( 10 <)( 10 <)( 10 omit omit : A0 ( A0 : A0 ) A0 remainder

/scratch -or extra /tmp space. ext:

9hen +ou /e in? +ou;ll ha'e a screen that appears this wa+:

https://www.slac.stanford.edu/comp/unix/linux/install_RHEL6.html

9hen +ou are done? Dou;ll ha'e a confi uration somethin li7e this:

https://www.slac.stanford.edu/comp/unix/linux/install_RHEL6.html

*here will /e two dialo /oxes confirmin +ou want to reformat the dis7. Boot Loader Configuration Accept the defaults for the other options on this screen. Sele(ting Installation As stated /+ the installer? ;*he default installation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a des7top install.; 5ther choices include? '#inimal Desktop'? '.eb Devlopment .orkstation'? '%oftware

https://www.slac.stanford.edu/comp/unix/linux/install_RHEL6.html
Devlopment .orkstation'? and '#inimal' 3lease do not install the ;9e/ 4e'elopment 9or7station; unless +ou reall+ 7now what +ou are doin and o7a+ it with 5C#5 first. 4on;t worr+ too much a/out ettin e'er+ pac7a e +ou mi ht e'er want ,, +ou can alwa+s add additional pac7a es later. After this? the installation will /e in. #t ma+ ta7e )< minutes to o'er an hour to install the pac7a es dependin on the speed of +our machine and networ7. 5nce complete? +ou;ll /e presented with a '*ongratulations' screen. "O+E +ou;ll want to eIect +our /oot C4R51 prior to re/ootin so +ou don;t /oot /ac7 to the /oot iso ima e. *he final installation screen has a ;re/oot; /ottom on the ri ht corner. A ain? ma7e sure to remo'e an+ C4R51 left in the dri'e from the initial /oot of the installation pro ram.

Post Install
Red Hat %el(ome *he first time +ou /oot +our newl+,installed s+stem in the raphical run le'el -run le'el <. the Red Hat %el(ome s(reens ma+ automaticall+ run. #f +ou are plannin to ta+lor +our s+stem +ou can s7ip most or all of these steps ,, the+ are either unneeded or will /e handled /+ ta+lor. *he welcome screens are intended for stand,alone s+stems and uides +ou throu h a num/er of first time s+stem administration tas7s such as:

License #nformation Dou;ll need to a ree to the License a reement.

Set !p Software !pdates #f runnin *a+lor? then choose 'no'. -Dou;ll need to confirm ;"o *han7s;..

Create !ser? -a non,admin local account. In parti(ular/ a1oid (reating a lo(al a((ount .it! t!e same username as your SL&C 8"I9 a((ount or registering personally .it! RH"# If you plan to taylor t!e system/ you do not need to (reate a lo(al a((ount# Please do not# $or t!e Create User s(reen *$or.ard* 0utton .it! no additions or ad:ustments# Dou;ll need to confirm +ou want to continue without a user account.

4ate and *ime

https://www.slac.stanford.edu/comp/unix/linux/install_RHEL6.html
Accept the defaults.

=dump Accept the defaults. 4o not choose to re/oot to ena/le 7dumps.

5n the next screen? +ou;ll clic7 on ;5ther..; enter ;root; as the user and password +ou pic7ed earlier. Dou;ll see messa es related to /ein lo ed in as root? and how it;s not ideal? /ut this o7a+ for this one time. Dou;ll also see missin entitlements messa e

https://www.slac.stanford.edu/comp/unix/linux/install_RHEL6.html

+!e Linux Logi(al ;olume


0y Hein3

anager <L; =

auels!agen and

att!e. O*>eefe

#ntroduction 0asic LK1 commands 4ifferences /etween LK1) and LK1( Summar+ A/out the authors

Stora e technolo + pla+s a critical role in increasin the performance? a'aila/ilit+? and mana ea/ilit+ of Linux ser'ers. 5ne of the most important new de'elopments in the Linux (.6 7ernelLon which the Red HatM Enterprise LinuxM : 7ernel is /asedLis the Linux Lo ical Kolume 1ana er? 'ersion ( -or LK1 (.. #t com/ines a more consistent and ro/ust internal desi n with important new features includin 'olume mirrorin and clusterin ? +et it is upwardl+ compati/le with the ori inal Lo ical Kolume 1ana er ) -LK1 ). commands and metadata. *his article summariBes the /asic principles /ehind the LK1 and pro'ide examples of /asic operations to /e performed with it.

Introduction
Lo ical 'olume mana ement is a widel+,used techni2ue for deplo+in lo ical rather than ph+sical stora e. 9ith LK1? Clo icalC partitions can span across ph+sical hard dri'es and can /e resiBed -unli7e traditional ext8 CrawC partitions.. A ph+sical dis7 is di'ided into one or more ph+sical 'olumes -3's.? and lo ical 'olume roups -KAs. are created /+ com/inin 3Ks as shown in 6i ure ). LK1 internal or aniBation. "otice the KAs can /e an a re ate of 3Ks from multiple ph+sical dis7s.

https://www.slac.stanford.edu/comp/unix/linux/install_RHEL6.html

6i ure ). LK1 internal or aniBation 6i ure (. 1appin lo ical extents to ph+sical extents shows how the lo ical 'olumes are mapped onto ph+sical 'olumes. Each 3K consists of a num/er of fixed,siBe ph+sical extents -3Es.> similarl+? each LK consists of a num/er of fixed,siBe lo ical extents -LEs.. -LEs and 3Es are alwa+s the same siBe? the default in LK1 ( is : 10.. An LK is created /+ mappin lo ical extents to ph+sical extents? so that references to lo ical /loc7 num/ers are resol'ed to ph+sical /loc7 num/ers. *hese mappin s can /e constructed to achie'e particular performance? scala/ilit+? or a'aila/ilit+ oals.

https://www.slac.stanford.edu/comp/unix/linux/install_RHEL6.html

6i ure (. 1appin lo ical extents to ph+sical extents 6or example? multiple 3Ks can /e connected to ether to create a sin le lar e lo ical 'olume as shown in 6i ure 8. LK1 linear mappin . *his approach? 7nown as a linear mappin ? allows a file s+stem or data/ase lar er than a sin le 'olume to /e created usin two ph+sical dis7s. An alternati'e approach is a striped mappin ? in which stripes - roups of conti uous ph+sical extents. from alternate 3Ks are mapped to a sin le LK? as shown in 6i ure :. LK1 striped mappin . *he striped mappin allows a sin le lo ical 'olume to nearl+ achie'e the com/ined performance of two 3Ks and is used 2uite often to achie'e hi h,/andwidth dis7 transfers.

6i ure 8. LK1 linear mappin

https://www.slac.stanford.edu/comp/unix/linux/install_RHEL6.html

6i ure :. LK1 striped mappin -: ph+sical extents per stripe. *hrou h these different t+pes of lo ical,to,ph+sical mappin s? LK1 can achie'e four important ad'anta es o'er raw ph+sical partitions: ). Lo ical 'olumes can /e resiBed while the+ are mounted and accessi/le /+ the data/ase or file s+stem? remo'in the downtime associated with addin or deletin stora e from a Linux ser'er (. 4ata from one -potentiall+ fault+ or dama ed. ph+sical de'ice ma+ /e relocated to another de'ice that is newer? faster or more resilient? while the ori inal 'olume remains online and accessi/le 8. Lo ical 'olumes can /e constructed /+ a re atin ph+sical de'ices to increase performance -'ia dis7 stripin . or redundanc+ -'ia dis7 mirrorin and #/5 multipathin . :. Lo ical 'olume snapshots can /e created to represent the exact state of the 'olume at a certain point,in,time? allowin accurate /ac7ups to proceed simultaneousl+ with re ular s+stem operation

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