Chapter 3. Quick Configuration and Installation Instructions

Your SGI machine comes with a base Linux distribution and the SGI ProPack 1.2 for Linux - 230 Edition overlay software preinstalled. This chapter describes how to install the software from the CD if at some time you need to reinstall it.


Caution: The SGI ProPack 1.2 for Linux - 230 Edition software supports only two base Linux distributions:


Do not attempt to install SGI ProPack 1.2 for Linux - 230 Edition over any other base Linux distribution.

If you do need to install software, be aware that you must install a base Linux distribution using the base distributor's installation tools and then install the SGI ProPack 1.2 for Linux - 230 Edition software using its installer as described in this chapter.

You should configure the base Linux distribution as described in the installation manual for the base distribution.

Before you install or configure your system, please read Chapter 1, “Release Features”, and Chapter 2, “Software Overview”, so that you understand the features of SGI ProPack 1.2 for Linux - 230 Edition and how to configure them. Also read the file README.FIRST, located on the software CD, and the SGI ProPack 1.2 for Linux - 230 Edition Errata, located at http://support.sgi.com/linux .

Configuring the X Windows System

The Red Hat Linux 6.1 and SuSE Linux 6.3 distributions both include version 3.3.5 of the XFree86 implementation of the X Window System. This implementation does not contain software drivers for the Silicon Graphics VPro graphics subsystem in the SG230.

When installing Red Hat Linux 6.1 or SuSE Linux 6.3 on a SG230 system, you should configure the system not to start the X Window System, and run instead in text console mode. You can then run the SGI ProPack for Linux - 230 Edition INSTALL script in text console mode.

The Silicon Graphics VPro accelerated OpenGL implementation that is included in SGI ProPack 1.2 for Linux - 230 Edition requires XFree86 version 4.0. The SGI ProPack 1.2 for Linux - 230 Edition INSTALL script removes XFree86 3.3.5, and then installs and configures XFree86 4.0.

If you install Red Hat 6.1 on an SG230 system, choose “Skip X configuration” when the Red Hat installer prompts you to configure XFree86 3.3.5. When the installation is complete, the system should reboot into text console mode.

If you install SuSE 6.3 on an SG230 system, choose “No” when the SuSE Linux 6.3 installer prompts you to start “fine” to configure XFree86 3.3.5.

At the end of a SuSE 6.3 installation on a SG230 system, the software might fail in an attempt to start XFree86 3.3.5, resulting in an unintelligible video image. If this happens, simply press the hardware Reset button on the SG230 front panel, and the system should reboot into text console mode.

Installing SGI ProPack 1.2 for Linux - 230 Edition from a CD

Should you need to install SGI ProPack 1.2 for Linux - 230 Edition from CD, first ensure that either Red Hat 6.1 or SuSE 6.3 is installed, and then use the procedure in this section.

The installation procedure has buttons that will allow you to go back to the previous screen or to quit the installation. To use these buttons, press the Tab key to highlight the one you want to use and press Enter.

  1. Log in as root.

  2. Mount the SGI ProPack 1.2 for Linux - 230 Edition CD by executing one of the following commands:

    For Red Hat 6.1 - mount -t iso9660 /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom

    For SuSE 6.3 - mount -t iso9660 /dev/cdrom /cdrom

  3. Change directories to the root directory for the mounted CD. On Red Hat 6.1, this is, /mnt/cdrom. On SuSE 6.3, it is /cdrom.

  4. At this point, you can access README.FIRST. This file contains information you must read before proceeding with the installation.

  5. Execute ./INSTALL

  6. Select the language you want to use for the installation procedure. The default is English. Use the up and down arrow keys to select your language of choice and press the Tab key to highlight OK and press Enter.

  7. The Welcome screen appears. Highlight OK and press Enter.

  8. The Package Group Selection screen appears. This screen allows you to select the type of package you want to install. You select a package by using the up and down arrow keys and pressing the Space bar to select the one you want. When you select a package, RPMs for that package will be installed after you press the Tab key to highlight OK and press Enter.

    You may also choose “Select individual packages,” which lets you choose the specific RPMs that you want to install.

  9. You may see the Package Dependencies screen, which tells you if there are additional packages required beyond those you selected. Review the packages. If you want to install them (you should install them unless there is some important reason not to do so), press the Tab key to highlight OK and press Enter.

  10. The Installation to Begin screen appears. It tells you that a log of the installation will be placed in /tmp/install.log. Press the Tab key to highlight OK and press Enter.

  11. The installation begins. You will see the Package Installation screen, which tells you which packages are being installed and logs the time it takes to install them.

  12. After all non-graphics software components have been installed, the INSTALL program will prompt you to press y or Enter to begin the installation of the Visual Workstation graphics software components.

  13. After all software components have been installed, the INSTALL program will prompt you to press y or Enter to reboot the system.

Recreating Your Preinstalled System

Should you need to recreate your system , install your base distribution of the Red Hat 6.1 or SuSE 6.3 operating system as described in the distributor's installation instructions and then install the SGI ProPack 1.2 for Linux - 230 Edition from the CD as described in this section.

Before you install or configure your system, please read Chapter 1, “Release Features”, and Chapter 2, “Software Overview”, so that you understand the features of SGI ProPack 1.2 for Linux - 230 Edition and how to configure them. Also read the file README.FIRST, located on the software CD, and the SGI ProPack 1.2 for Linux - 230 Edition Errata, located at http://support.sgi.com/linux .