IBM NetVista thin
client & RedHat 7.1
Setup Instructions
These instructions enable
RedHat 7.1 on IBM NetVista thin client models 2800 and 2200, booting from
a Linux server. The instructions will outline the process of creating a
Linux boot image on the server, modifying the boot image specifically for
the thin client, and booting the thin client.
Prerequisites:
-
PC installed with some Linux
distribution - this will also be your boot server for the thin clients.
-
Approximately 1.3GB of available
disk space - based on RPMs installed
-
NetVista thin client boot monitor
dated 7/16/01 or later (included in this package, files bflash.2200
for NS2200 and bflash.2800 for NS2800, and installed in the client
boot directory)
-
NetVistaLTC.tar.gz
- downloadable package containing the necessary files and scripts to create
the Linux client boot image.
-
RedHat 7.1 CD's or RedHat 7.1
nfs exported
Package
Contents: NetVistaLTC.tar.gz
Kernel Binaries:
-
kernel.2x00, the 2200
and 2800 share the same kernel now
-
kernel.2200 and kernel.2800
are links to kernel.2x00 for backwards compability
Configuration Files:
-
rc.sysinit.IBM_NS.boot:
Base rc.sysinit configuration file added in /etc/rc.d directory - it calls
other rc.IBM_NS.* files.
-
rc.IBM_NS.dev:
new configuration file added in /etc/rc.d directory
-
rc.IBM_NS.tmp:
new configuration file added in /etc/rc.d directory
-
rc.IBM_NS.var:
new configuration file added in /etc/rc.d directory
-
rc.IBM_NS.net:
new configuration file added in /etc/rc.d directory
-
rc.IBM_NS.hardware:
new configuration file added in /etc/rc.d directory
-
S2x00-kernel-2.2.18.config
kernel 2.2.18 configuration file to build the kernel
-
patches needed to build
kernel
-
IBM-NetVista-kernel-2.2.18.patch
-
e2compr-0.4.39-patch-2.2.18
-
initrd-tftp-0.2.patch
-
lpp-2.2.18-4.ibm
-
ramdisk-NetVista.patch
Installation Programs:
-
rh_install.sh:
script to create the Linux client boot directory
-
RPM_LISTS/rh7x_rpm.list.1
and RPM_LISTS/rh7x_rpm.list.2:
List of RedHat 7.1 RPMs to be installed for the client boot image
IBM Setup Utility Files (located
in the Common/COMMON_FILE_CHANGES/IBM directory):
-
IBMSetup - config
tool to setup up network station
Modified Base Linux Files:
-
/etc/inittab:
Modified to use rc.sysinit.IBM_NS.boot, instead of rc.sysinit.
-
/etc/fstab: Modified
to remove entries for hard drive, and add an entry for the root NFS mount
point.
-
/etc/X11/XF86Config:
X-server configuration file, replaced by one supplied with this package.
-
Disable some services in the
/etc/rc.d/init.d directory by renaming them with a ".sav" suffix:
-
apmd, atd, crond, kudzu, network,
sendmail, etc.
Server
Setup of Client Code:
At this point you should
have a Linux server installed with appropriate software (see Prerequisites
above). You should have downloaded the NetVistaLTC.tar.gz
file to the /tmp directory on your Linux server.
Create Client Boot
Directory
Export Client Boot
(BOOT_DIR) and Machine-specific (MACHINE_DIR) Directories
-
The client boot directory
and the machine specific directory (if specified) are already added to
/etc/exports file.
However, if you wish to
manually add/modify/verify the entries, do the following:
-
On your server, edit the /etc/exports
file. An example of what the entry looks like:
/nstation/linux
*(rw,no_root_squash)
You may want to restrict access
to your server by replacing * in the above entry line, to appropriate
domain name (example: *.austin.ibm.com). In fact, some Linux distributions
do not like unresticted access and have problems running NFS with unrestricted
access.
-
Verify the file system is exported
by issuing the following command:
Linux
kernels:
The Linux kernels for
models 2800 and 2200 are supplied with this package and installed for you.
If you care for some adventure,
here's where you can build your own kernel
for the thin clients. We used the same process to build the kernels included
in this package.
Booting the thin client
from the Server:
After the installation has
completed, it is time to boot the IBM NetVista
Linux thin client.
Feedback:
Note: Before submitting anything to IBM via this Web site, please read
the terms and conditions regarding
information and material you give us.
Send comments and suggestions regarding these instructions to the NetVista
thin client Linux Team (nclinux@us.ibm.com). IBM may not respond to
all correspondence received.
Disclaimer:
The information provided within these instructions, web site and related
communications are provided on an "AS-IS" basis.
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(Last update: 08/08/01)