Chapter 8. RHEL Installations on IBM Power Servers


You can install Red Hat Enterprise Linux on various IBM Power System servers.

8.1. Supported IBM Power Servers

You can install Red Hat Enterprise Linux on IBM Power Systems. You can find the complete list of supported IBM Power servers on the Red Hat Ecosystem Catalog.

8.2. Overview of the installation process on PowerVM LPAR by using the HMC

You can install RHEL on the PowerVM logical partition (LPAR) by using the Hardware Management Console. A Hardware Management Console (HMC) is a hardware appliance that you can use to administer IBM Power Systems servers.

The installation workflow involves the following general steps:

  1. Download the RHEL installation ISO.
  2. Prepare a bootable physical installation medium based on your installation method.
  3. Verify that the Power System is added to the HMC.

    For more information, see add or remove connections to HMC in the IBM documentation.

  4. Configure VIOS and LPAR on the managed system or configure full system LPAR based on the requirements.
  5. Log in to the HMC console.

    1. Run ssh hscroot@<HMC_IP_address> to access the LPAR console by using either the mkvterm -m <managed_system_name> -p <lpar_name> command or the vtmenu interface.
    2. Power on the LPAR by using the HMC GUI.
    3. Optional: Switch to a remote desktop session.
  6. Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
  7. Optional: Install IBM Tools Repository to use Service and Productivity tools, IBM Advance Toolchain for Linux on Power, and IBM SDK for PowerLinux.

For detailed instructions, see Installing Linux on PowerVM LPAR by using the HMC and Service and productivity tools in the IBM documentation.

8.3. Overview of the installation process on IBM Power Servers with the graphics card

You can install RHEL on IBM Power Systems servers with the graphics card.

The installation workflow involves the following general steps:

  1. Download the RHEL installation ISO.
  2. Prepare a bootable physical installation medium based on your installation method.
  3. Prepare the machine for RHEL installation.
  4. Boot the installer kernel.
  5. Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
  6. Optional: Install IBM Tools Repository to use Service and Productivity tools, IBM AdvanceD Toolchain for Linux on Power, and IBM SDK for PowerLinux.

For detailed instructions, see Installing Linux on Power Systems servers with a graphics card and Service and productivity tools in the IBM documentation.

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