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Creating a Multi-Boot Disk for Machines With AMD Opteron ProcessorsBy Craig Winter AbstractSun Microsystems Inc.'s new 64-bit Opteron machines can be configured to run the Solaris Operating System (x86 Platform Edition) and several distributions of Linux, all from a single internal disk drive. This is made possible by correctly partitioning the disk drive at the time of the first OS installation, to allow space for two or more different operating systems. When all of the operating systems are properly installed, the user can choose which one to run from the Linux GRUB Boot Loader, as the machine is being booted. IntroductionThis article presents step-by-step procedures for loading the Solaris 10 OS on x86 platforms, and one or two 64-bit Linux operating systems, on machines based on 64-bit AMD Opteron processors. Installations were done on generic Opteron-based workstations and confirmed on a Sun Fire V20z server and Sun Java Workstation W1100z and W2100z workstations. The three operating systems illustrated here are:
For this exercise, a single 80 Gbyte IDE internal hard drive is used to hold a version of the Solaris 10 OS on x86 platforms and up to two distributions of Linux. Correct partitioning of the disk during the initial installation allows each operating system to be loaded on the same drive and still remain separate from the others. An overview of each of the three configurations follows, along with links to step-by-step instructions for each installation. Overview of the Installation Procedures1. SuSE 9.0 Linux, Solaris 10 OS on x86 Platforms, and Red Hat 3.1 Linux For this configuration it is recommended that SuSE 9.0 be installed first. Its Expert Partitioner can then be used to easily and correctly allocate space for the four main partitions that are needed on the disk. Three large partitions are set up for the three operating systems, and a fourth smaller partition is reserved for Linux swap space. The following partition table shows how the SuSE Expert Partitioner is used to set up the disk, to accommodate three operating systems and swap space for Linux: Device Size F Type Mount Start End Label /dev/hda 76.6GB HDS 0 10010 /dev/hda1 24.0GB Linux swap 0 3133 /dev/hda2 24.0GB F Linux native (Ext3) /RedHat 3134 6267 RedHat /dev/hda3 24.0GB F Linux native (Ext3) / 6268 9401 SuSE /dev/hda4 2.0GB F Linux swap swap 9402 10010 The partition that will be used for the Solaris OS is set up, but not
formatted at this time. It will be formatted during the Solaris OS installation.
All three Linux partitions are formatted during the SuSE installation. SuSE
knows to install itself on the " The Solaris 10 OS on x86 platforms is the second operating system to be installed. Care must be taken to ensure that the correct partition is selected for the Solaris OS installation, as the Solaris OS will not install on a partition that contains a Linux file system. Only one Solaris partition may be present on the disk during the installation. During the Solaris OS installation, the Select Disks screen will appear.
Select the
Partition Type Size Start Cylinder
================================================================
1 SOLARIS 24577 1
2 Other 24577 12484
3 Other 24577 24967
4 SOLARIS 2048 37450
========================================================
Capacity: 78531 MB
Allocated: 24577 MB
Rounding Error: 0 MB
Free: 53954 MB
The number 4 Red Hat 3.1 is the final installation. The Red Hat Partitioning table needs
be modified in order to format the Red Hat "
Device Mount Type Format Size Start End
Point
/dev/hda1 Linux swap 24584 1 3134
/dev/hda2 / ext3 F 24584 3135 6268
/dev/hda3 /SuSE ext3 24576 6269 9401
/dev/hda4 swap F 2047 9402 9662
When the Red Hat installation is done, its GRUB Boot Loader will be active.
The See the step-by-step installation instructions for SuSE 9.0 Linux, Solaris 10 OS on x86 platforms, and Red Hat 3.1 Linux. 2. Solaris 10 OS on x86 Platforms and Red Hat 3.1 Linux The Solaris 10 OS on x86 platforms is the first operating system to be loaded. During the Solaris OS installation, the Select Disks screen will appear. Select the
Partition Type Size Start Cylinder
================================================================
1 Other 78531 1
2 <unused> 0 0
3 <unused> 0 0
4 <unused> 0 0
========================================================
Capacity: 78531 MB
Allocated: 0 MB
Rounding Error: 0 MB
Free: 78531 MB
The number 1 partition should be deleted and recreated as Type
Partition Type Size Start Cylinder
================================================================
1 SOLARIS 36866 1
2 <unused> 0 0
3 <unused> 0 0
4 <unused> 0 0
========================================================
Capacity: 78531 MB
Allocated: 36866 MB
Rounding Error: 1 MB
Free: 41664 MB
From this point on, the Solaris OS installation proceeds normally. Red Hat 3.1 is the next installation. The Partitioning table should be modified to format the Red Hat partition and the Linux swap partition. The Solaris partition is left alone. The table should then resemble the following:
Device Mount Type Format Size Start End
Point
Free Free space 2 1 1
/dev/hda1 Linux swap 36865 1 4700
Free Free space 7 4701 4701
/dev/hda2 / ext3 F 36860 4702 9400
/dev/hda3 swap F 4801 9400 10011
Free Free space 5 10012 10012
When the Red Hat installation is done, its GRUB Boot Loader will be active.
The See the step-by-step installation instructions for the Solaris 10 OS on x86 platforms and Red Hat 3.1 Linux. 3. Solaris 10 OS on x86 Platforms and SuSE 9.0 Linux The Solaris 10 OS on x86 platforms is the first operating system to be loaded. During the Solaris OS installation, the Select Disks screen will appear. Select the
Partition Type Size Start Cylinder
================================================================
1 Other 78531 1
2 <unused> 0 0
3 <unused> 0 0
4 <unused> 0 0
========================================================
Capacity: 78531 MB
Allocated: 0 MB
Rounding Error: 0 MB
Free: 78531 MB
The number 1 partition should be deleted and recreated as Type
Partition Type Size Start Cylinder
================================================================
1 SOLARIS 36866 1
2 <unused> 0 0
3 <unused> 0 0
4 <unused> 0 0
========================================================
Capacity: 78531 MB
Allocated: 36866 MB
Rounding Error: 1 MB
Free: 41664 MB
From this point on, the Solaris OS installation proceeds normally. SuSE 9.0 is the next installation. The Partitioning table should be modified to format the SuSE partition and the Linux swap partition. The Solaris OS partition is left alone. It should then resemble the following table: Device Size F Type Mount Start End Label /dev/hda 76.6GB WDG 0 155060 /dev/hda1 36.0GB Linux swap 0 74899 /dev/hda2 36.0GB F Linux native (Ext3) / 74900 149798 SuSE /dev/hda3 2.5GB F Linux swap 149799 155060 /dev/hda5 33.9GB Linux native 74900 145615 /dev/hda6 2.0GB Linux native 145616 149779 /dev/hda7 35.9GB Linux native 149780 224671 When the SuSE installation is done, its GRUB Boot Loader will be active. The
See the step-by-step installation instructions for the Solaris 10 OS on x86 platforms and SuSE 9.0 Linux. ConclusionThese instructions have shown three ways to install multiple operating systems on a single internal disk drive. This allows an application developer to access several different operating environments on a single Opteron-based machine. About the AuthorCraig Winter is a Staff Engineer for the HPTC Group in Market Development Engineering at Sun Microsystems, Inc. Unless otherwise licensed, code in all technical manuals herein (including articles, FAQs, samples) is provided under this License. |
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