Installing and Configuring UnixWare 2.0
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

17 Feb 1995

UnixWareŽ 2.0 has been designed with a simpler, faster installation. Thanks to
several new utilities, much of the installation process has been automated.
This AppNote examines the new installation features of UnixWare 2.0. After
detailing the hardware requirements, the AppNote goes through the installation
process step-by-step. This information is intended as a supplement to the
UnixWare installation manual.

1. Introduction
2. New Installation Features
3. Hardware Requirements
4. The Installation Process
5. Ensuring Hardware Compatibility
6. Conclusion


1. Introduction
---------------

UnixWare 2.0 installation has been re-engineered to give you a simpler, faster
installation process. In fact, Novell is aware of a claim that you can install
the base system on a Pentium machine in about 18 minutes. We're not suggesting
that you should expect this result yourself; we're just pointing out that the
process is probably not as difficult as you might assume. As you read this
AppNote, notice how many times the word "automatic" appears.

First, we'll look at installation features new to UnixWare 2.0. Next, we'll
take a look at hardware requirements. Then we'll go step-by-step through the
installation process. After that, we'll tell you where to obtain further help
if you need it.

This AppNote is designed as a supplement to the UnixWare installation guide.
The most important step in ensuring a successful installation is also the most
neglected: read the manual. Your installation manual provides detailed
information on installation procedures. This documentation is quite good, so
don't set it aside and ignore it. The Release Notes are also required reading.
They contain last-minute documentation changes, discuss software notes, and
specify how to get UnixWare support.

This AppNote assumes you have a working familiarity with Unix-Ware, but have
never installed it. You need not have a background in NetWare to perform this
installation.


2. New Installation Features
----------------------------

In terms of installation, several changes in the 2.0 version make installation
easier.

- The installation process has a new user interface (it isn't a GUI, but it is
  better).
- You need only one boot diskette rather than three.
- User interaction takes place up front. Since all questions are provided at
  the beginning, no intervention is required during file installation.
- The installation process is faster, via CD-ROM,tape, or the network. (If you
  plan to do a network installation, be sure you have an install server,
  properly configured, on your network.)
- Hardware support is improved.
- You can perform a network installation via TCP/IP as well as IPX/SPX.
- The auto configuration feature simplifies setting up your system.
- The Device Configuration Utility (DCU) simplifies some tedious installation
  tasks.

2.1. Autoconfiguration
----------------------

UnixWare's new autoconfiguration utility works for EISA, MCA, and PCI
controllers. (ISA cards are limited in that they carry no information on board.)

This new utility provides several advantages:

- Automatic detection of boards and their configuration parameters
- Dynamic assignment of drivers to new boards
- New administrative tools to change configuration
- Dynamic configuration of drivers during their initialization
- Installation using multiple SCSI boards
- No user prompting required in most cases
- New Device Configuration Utility (DCU)
- Platform hardware configuration setup assumed
- Minimizes hardware knowledge required of user
- Simplifies hardware configuration and system installation

How Autoconfiguration Fits into System Installation. Here is the process that
autoconfiguration performs:

- Boots the installation diskette
- Installs host bus adapter (HBA) diskettes (as needed)
- Optionally runs DCU interactively
- Loads HBA drivers
- Specifies network card (if card is readable, reconfigures it)

2.2. The Device Configuration Utility (DCU)
-------------------------------------------

Like the new autoconfiguration, the new DCU is important enough to UnixWare 2.0
installation to discuss separately. The DCU is an interactive administrative
tool that's called during network installation. The DCU provides several useful
functions:

- Provides an interface during installation
- Runs from /etc/inittabto assign drivers to new boards
- Lets you select and deselect software drivers during installation
- Lets you modify your hardware configuration information
- Lets you enable or disable hardware instances
- Lets you perform hardware parameter conflict checking
- Is called by pkgadd post-install scripts to update configuration files

The DCU rarely asks you to alter values. If fact, we advise that under normal
conditions, you make no changes. If you enter incorrect values, your
installation may fail, or the system may be unable to recognize your devices.
You may even disable your devices by using incorrect values. On the other hand,
if a device halts your installation process, rather than physically removing
the board you can use the DCU to "logically" remove the device, allowing
installation to proceed.


3. Hardware Requirements
------------------------

The minimum hardware requirements specify what you need for successful
installation and execution of UnixWare. These minimum requirements may be
inadequate under certain conditions. Keep your specific needs in mind when you
make decisions about minimum hardware configurations.

Application Server: Intel 386 25MHz processor
                    16MB of RAM
                    160 MB available disk space

Personal Edition  : Intel 386 25MHz processor
                    12MB of RAM
                    140 MB available disk space

3.1. Adequate RAM and Disk Space
--------------------------------

Minimum disk requirements refer to the space required to successfully install
the operating system; this minimum space requirement doesn't include adequate
space for file storage. If you plan to use an application server as a file
server, you'll have to make a judgment call to gauge the actual space
requirements. You might base the disk requirements on past configurations, or
discuss your needs with software vendors.

Basing a multiuser system on minimum CPU configuration such as a 386/25 will 
lead to poor performance. A Personal Edition supporting one user, running
a non-graphic application or serving as a NetWare client, might work
satisfactorily with such a CPU, but a more realistic system sports a minimum
486/33 or Pentium CPU.

Available RAM is critical to performance. More RAM allows for less swapping and
provides better support for users and for development efforts. Swapping occurs
when RAM becomes full. The system uses swap space to transfer portions of RAM
to disk, so reducing the swapping that occurs leaves the system free to
concentrate on user production instead of on system overhead.


4. The Installation Process
---------------------------

You will need to know ahead of time your system IP values, DNS, and network
frame type. You'll have to enter these values when you reach the network
adapter configuration stage of the installation.


4.1. Performing the Hardware Setup
----------------------------------

Complete the following steps to set up your hardware before you install
UnixWare 2.0.

1. Before beginning the actual installation of UnixWare 2.0, be sure that all
   your network devices are properly attached and powered up.
2. Configure all devices, making certain that no hardware conflicts exist to
   create problems during installation.
3. If your system is EISA, PCI, or MCA, make certain the device configuration
   utilities are accurate.
4. If appropriate, register any ISA boards so you can take advantage of
   UnixWare's auto configuration abilities.

4.2. Booting from Floppy Diskette
---------------------------------

Complete the following steps to boot from diskette.

1. Power off the system.
2. Place the UnixWare Install diskette into the appropriate drive and turn the
   power on. This process installs the mini kerneland begins the installation
   process.

4.3. Setting Up the Environment
-------------------------------

Complete the following steps to set up your environment.

1. To set up the environment, you must configure and designate the keyboard
   type.
2. You also have the option to load host bus adapter(HBA) drivers. If your
   system has a SCSI adapter, you must load the HBA diskette when prompted. If
   you're unsure of the configuration, load the HBA diskette anyway; the
   installation process automatically loads and configures the drivers.

    A new feature of UnixWare 2.0 is that the device drivers are dynamically
    bound to the hardware configuration. This means that you no longer must set
    the hardware at specific values during installation.

3. At this point, the installation process gives you the option to invoke the
   DCU. This interactive administrative tool facilitates the installation
   process. You can choose to invoke the utility or to proceed.
4. The installation process automatically loads and checks the hardware drivers.

4.4. Choosing the Installation Type
-----------------------------------

You've completed the necessary access to the installation diskette. You can now
choose to do a local installation, with a CD-ROM or QIC tape device, or to do
a network installation over either TCP/IP or SPX. Only installed devices will
appear as choices; for example, if there is no QIC tape drive, such a device
won't appear as an installation choice.

To install UnixWare 2.0 over a network connection, an install server must be
enabled somewhere on the network. If you need to set up an install server, you
can use the icon located on the UnixWare Application Server in the
Administration Tools window. On-line help is available, but the utility is
reasonably straightforward.

If your network supports both protocols, choose the TCP/IP option. If the
install server as been properly configured with the network host names, IP
addresses, and IP router information, all networking values will be supplied
automatically to the local installation. This information further simplifies
the installation process.

4.5. Partitioning the Disk
--------------------------

To place an operating system on the hard drive, you must allocate the
appropriate system partition and size. The installation process lets you choose
to use the entire hard disk as the active UNIX partition, or to select a custom
disk configuration. The custom option gives you an FDISK utility you can use to
view and change the partitions on the hard drive.

Remember to reserve enough disk space for the operating system as well as for
user and application space.

4.6. Using the Installation Menu
--------------------------------

The installation menu gives you a final opportunity to make last changes to the
system before any modifications are written to the hard drive. The choices on
the menu are "Package Selection", "Disk Configuration", "Disk Operations" and
"Return to Previous Menu."

1. The "Package Selection" option lets you customize the UnixWare operating
   system. "Packages" are software modules that add functionality to the OS.
   (Appendix D of the Installation Handbook discusses these packages in detail.)

   The installation process can recognize package dependencies. In other words,
   if you select a package that depends on a package you haven't yet selected,
   the system makes you either select the independent package or deselect the
   dependent package. The installation process also informs you if the number
   of packages you've selected exceed the disk space available. You must then
   deselect some packages.

2. The "Disk Configuration" submenu gives you three options.
   The "Disk Partitions" option is actually the FDISK utility.
   The "File Systems" option lets you customize file system types and file
   system sizes. If you have more than one hard drive, it lets you place the
   file systems on selected disks.

   The default file system for the root and user file systems is vxfs,
   a journaling file system that provides system fault tolerance and the
   recommended file system type. However, if you need backward compatibility
   with a legacy file system,the s5 and ufs file systems are available to you.

3. The "Disk Operations" option lets you disable the scanning of the hard drive.

4. The "Return to Previous Menu" option needs no explanation.

   At this point in the installation process, all options and parameters are
   complete. Once you select the "Accept All Settings and Install Now" option
   on this menu, the system begins the unassisted operating system installation.

4.7. Checking the Disk
----------------------

Next, this automatic utility simply shows you a bar graph indicating what
percentage of the task has been completed. It requires no user intervention.
The capacity of the hard drive determines how long this process takes.

We recommend that you do not disable this step. It maps the bad blocks on the
hard drive so the OS won't use them. A complete check of a 511MB SCSI disk
drive, for example, takes 5 minutes.

4.8. Creating File Sys-tems and Copying Files
---------------------------------------------

This automatic process also requires no user intervention. Once the bad blocks
are mapped, the system begins to create file systems and to copy files. How
long this process takes is determined by the speed of the I/O subsystem and
the number of packages you selected. Copying the default packages on a 486/50,
for example, takes about half an hour.

4.9. Rebooting the System
-------------------------

Once all files have been copied to the hard drive, the system automatically
reboots. When it comes back up, the kernel rebuilds. Installation continues.

4.10. Configuring the Network Adapter
-------------------------------------

Complete the following steps to configure your network adapter.

1. Choose the "NICs" package. You'll see the "Network Interface Card Selection"
   screen. This screen lists all network adapters supported on UnixWare 2.0.

2. Choose the appropriate adapter and quantity. UnixWare's installation process
   then loads the drivers.

3. If the adapter is EISA, PCI, or MCA, UnixWare's installation process
   automatically configures it. If you have an ISA adapter, you'll be prompted
   for configuration values.

4. At this point, you can enter system IP values, DNS, and network frame type.
   If there is a bootup server in the network, you can prompt it at this point
   for the appropriate values. Press <F8< for the reboot server, and it will
   let you enter these values.

4.11. Configuring the Mouse
---------------------------

The mouse selection screen gives you an interactive setup utility, complete
with test. UnixWare supports bus, serial, and PS/2 mice.

4.12. Setting Up the System Owner
---------------------------------

UnixWare installation lets your system define two users: the system owner and
the root user. When you set up the system, you become the system owner. You
choose your user ID, user name, user number, and password.

4.13. Setting Up the Root Account
---------------------------------

The root account is the most powerful user on the system. The installation
process automatically sets up this account. Only the password is then required
in order to use it.


5. Ensuring Hardware Compatibility
----------------------------------

Since UnixWare has many dependencies on the hardware, it's imperative that you
use compatible hardware. This requirement represents a paradigm shift from
operating systems such as DOS and NetWare, where hardware support is taken for
granted.

To ensure compatible hardware, you can pursue several avenues. For example,
Novell has instituted the 'YES, It Runs with UnixWare" branding program to
assure compatibility with the UnixWare operating system. Look for the
certification "branded" on the product.

To distribute Novell product certification information, Novell Labs offers
a FaxBack system. Novell's FaxBack is on-line 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You can reach it in the US at (800) 414-LABS or at (801) 429-2776. By calling
the FaxBack and obtaining the Master Index catalog, you can quickly obtain
specific information on UnixWare and NetWare when you call back and request
a specific document number.

6. Conclusion
-------------

With UnixWare 2.0, installation is easier and faster than ever. Thanks to
several new utilities, much of the installation process has been automated.
Make sure your hardware is compatible, use the installation manual, and make
the choices you need to make before you start. Your UnixWare installation will
be smooth and problem-free.
