Hardware support

Integrated xSeries Server support

Only certain models of the Integrated xSeries Server are supported for the installation of Linux. For more information on supported Integrated xSeries Servers, go to the following Web site:

http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/iseries/integratedxseries/ixs_system_config.html Link outside information center

To determine the maximum number of Integrated xSeries Servers you can install on a particular model of the iSeries™, go to the following Web site:

http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/iseries/integratedxseries/ixs_model_support.html Link outside information center

A USB diskette drive is required to load the initial IBM-supplied drivers if you are installing Linux on an Integrated xSeries Server.

Note that you also need to connect an SVGA-compatible monitor, keyboard, and mouse to the Integrated xSeries Server to act as the Linux console.

Integrated xSeries Adapter support

Only certain xSeries server models are supported for the installation of Linux. For more information on supported xSeries servers, go to the following Web site:

http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/iseries/integratedxseries/xseriesmodels/ Link outside information center

Note: Pay particular attention to the footnoted material for your model.

You cannot connect an xSeries model that is not on this list to iSeries. The xSeries needs a CD-ROM drive and a diskette drive to install Linux. To determine the maximum number of Integrated xSeries Adapters you can connect to a particular model of the iSeries, go to the following Web site:

http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/iseries/integratedxseries/ixa_overview.html Link outside information center

If your xSeries model for integration on iSeries, you then need to check the hardware compatibility lists for Red Hat or SUSE as follows:

For Red Hat: http://bugzilla.redhat.com/hwcert On this page you will see a Quick Search text field. Input the word xSeries and click Search. You will see a list of xSeries models listed in a table with an associated Red Hat version. Click on your specific xSeries to see details on the certification summary and details.
For SUSE: http://developer.novell.com/yessearch/Search.jsp On this page input the following and click Search.
Keywords: xSeries

Company: IBM Novell

Product: SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server N for x86

Where the N is 8 or 9 for SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server.

You will see a list of xSeries models/types. Click on the Bulletin number for your specific xSeries to see details on configurations and requirements for install.

If your xSeries hardware is certified, then you have a fully supported Linux environment. Make sure you record any special install instruction from the distributor for your model.

If your xSeries model is not on the Red Hat or SUSE certified hardware list, this does not mean that you cannot successfully install Linux. It means that your xSeries model has not been specifically tested with the Linux distribution.

Attention: The distributors provide special instructions for the installation of their Linux distributions on supported xSeries models. You must follow these special instructions for installation on the Integrated xSeries Server or Integrated xSeries Adapter.

Note: Although Linux distributions can be capable of supporting more that 8 processors, only 8 processors are supported on an Integrated xSeries Adapter-attached xSeries server.