Creating floppies using an Unix system

Linux Installation and Configuration Guide for AlphaServer

4.Copy the file "\disks\install" from the CD-ROM to the \Linux directory on the PC.

5.Insert a blank, formatted floppy into the PC.

6.Run the following command from the DOS command shell:

C:\Linux> rawrite

Enter source file name: aboot

Enter destination drive: a

Label this floppy "AlphaServer Linux BOOT Floppy".

7.Run the following command from the DOS command shell: C:\Linux> rawrite

Enter source file name: install

Enter destination drive: a

8.Label this floppy "AlphaServer Linux RAMDISK Floppy".

With those two floppies in hand, you are now prepared to begin the installation process on your AlphaServer.

To create the BOOT and RAMDISK floppies, you will need to make use of a computer, which has Internet access. The instructions below detail the process. Note that depending upon what version of unix and vendor computer you are using to perform this process, some minor variations in the process may be required. The exact commands shown here are for Digital UNIX, and should be similar to most other popular UNIX systems.

1.Insert the Linux CD-ROM into the computer, and mount it: $ mount /cdrom

2.Insert a blank, formatted floppy into the computer, and copy the BOOT kernel to it: $ dd if=/cdrom/disks/aboot of=/dev/fd0

3.Insert a blank, formatted floppy into the computer, and copy the RAMDISK to it: $ dd if=/cdrom/disks/install of=/dev/fd0

With those two floppies in hand, and the CD-ROM removed from the computer, you are now prepared to begin the installation process on your AlphaServer.

Firmware Inspection and Upgrade

After powering up your AlphaServer computer, type the command "show version". Check that the version string printed is "V5.4-2 May 19 1999 14:25:16" or newer, and that the first letter of the version string is a "V". If this is not the case, you should upgrade your firmware. Instructions on how to do this can be found at http://ftp.digital.com/pub/Digital/Alpha/firmware/ along with the latest firmware images.

System Resource Manager Configuration

There are several pieces of information that you need to configure in the SRM subsystem, as well as device identifiers that you should make note of, prior to beginning the installation process. The steps that follow take you through that process.

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