5 – Red Hat Linux Driver Installation Installing the Driver

Q

■BUILD_KERNEL.txt

■README.qla4xxx

Perform the following steps to create a driver disk from the QLogic web site:

1.Download the qla4xxxsrc-v1.xx.tgz file from the QLogic Web site.

2.If What would you like to do with this file? displays, select Save this file to disk.

3.Insert a blank disk.

4.Download the file to the disk.

5.3

Installing the Driver

There are two ways to install the Red Hat Linux driver:

■Build a custom kernel that loads the driver automatically (see section 5.3.1).

■Build the driver from the source code (see section 5.3.2). The driver must then be loaded by one of the following methods:

❑Manually (see section 5.3.2.3)

❑Through a RAMDISK image, which you must build (see section 5.3.2.4)

5.3.1

Building a Custom Kernel to Load the Driver Automatically

The following instructions are an example of how to compile the driver into the Red Hat Linux kernel. You may need to make some adjustments to the instructions depending on your system hardware or software configuration. The kernel source tree is referenced as /usr/src/linux.

Before building a custom kernel, do the following:

■Verify that both kernel-headers and kernel-source RPMs are already installed by typing the following:

#rpm -qa grep kernel

■If the kernel-headers and kernel-source RPMs are not installed, install them from the Red Hat distribution CD by typing the following commands:

#rpm -i kernel-source*

#rpm -ikernel-headers*(not required for Red Hat Linux 7.3)

Perform the following steps to build a custom kernel:

1.Create a new QLogic directory under the kernel source tree, then copy the qla4xxxsrc-v1.xx.tgz file from the driver disk you created in section 5.2 to the new directory. Extract the driver source and additional information files from the .tgz file. Finally, remove Makefile, the contents of which are not needed

5-2

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Q-Logic 4000 SERIES manual Installing the Driver, Building a Custom Kernel to Load the Driver Automatically
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4000 SERIES specifications

The Q-Logic 4000 Series represents a significant advancement in storage networking solutions, particularly designed to meet the high demands of modern data centers. As businesses continue to accumulate vast amounts of data, the need for efficient, high-performance storage solutions becomes more pronounced. This series shines in delivering flexibility, scalability, and high availability.

One of the standout features of the Q-Logic 4000 Series is its support for advanced protocols such as Fibre Channel and Ethernet. This versatile capability enables seamless integration within diverse environments, whether organizations are operating on traditional storage area networks (SANs) or transitioning to more cost-effective, high-speed Ethernet-based storage solutions. The flexibility in protocol support allows businesses to tailor their infrastructure to their specific needs without being tied to a single technology.

The Q-Logic 4000 Series also boasts a robust performance, featuring high IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) capabilities that cater to I/O-intensive applications and large-scale virtualized environments. This efficiency is crucial for workloads such as database management, big data analytics, and mission-critical applications. Additionally, the series employs advanced technologies such as hardware offload and flow control mechanisms, resulting in reduced CPU usage and improved overall system performance.

High availability is another critical characteristic of the Q-Logic 4000 Series. The products are engineered with redundancy and failover mechanisms that ensure continuous operation, thereby reducing downtime and bolstering business continuity. Built-in features such as link aggregation and adaptive load balancing further enhance reliability and performance, allowing organizations to maintain optimal operations even amidst traffic fluctuations.

Scalability is a central theme in the design of the Q-Logic 4000 Series. The architecture supports linear scaling, enabling users to grow their networking capabilities in alignment with their expanding data needs. This characteristic is particularly beneficial for companies anticipating growth, as it allows them to invest in the system incrementally.

Security features within the Q-Logic 4000 Series also receive significant attention. The implementation of encryption technologies and secure access protocols ensures that sensitive data remains protected from unauthorized access and cyber threats.

In summary, the Q-Logic 4000 Series positions itself as a cutting-edge solution in the storage networking landscape, combining advanced technologies, high performance, and robust security features. Whether for a growing enterprise or an established data center, these products deliver a compelling solution for modern storage challenges.
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