RED HAT LINUX 6.0: SMP NOT DETECTED DURING INSTALL

Subject: RED HAT LINUX 6.0: SMP NOT DETECTED DURING INSTALL
New Netfinity server RETAIN Tip: 

    Record number:       H167338
    Device:              D/T8680
    Model:               M
    Hit count:           UHC00000
    Success count:       USC0000
    Publication code:    PC50
    Tip key:
    Date created:        O99/09/21
    Date last altered:   A99/09/28
    Owning B.U.:         USA


Abstract: RED HAT LINUX 6.0: SMP NOT DETECTED DURING INSTALL

TEXT:

SMP not detected in Red Hat Linux 6.0 during install

SYMPTOMS:

Linux unable to automatically detect the presence of multiple processors in some IBM servers during install.

PROBLEM ISOLATION AIDS:

•  The system is any of the following IBM servers:

•  The system is configured with two (2) or more Processors.
•  NOS affected:

FIX:

Red Hat has stated they will fix this issue in a future version.

WORKAROUND:

1.  After the installed system has restarted, login as root.
2.  If the 2.2.5-15smp SMP kernel is not present in the /boot directory,
    mount the Red Hat 6.0 Linux CD and install the SMP support package as follows:

             # mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom
             # cd /mnt/cdrom/RedHat/RPMS
             # rpm -i --force kernel-smp-2.2.5-15.i686.rpm
    

3.  Create a new ram-disk image by running the command:

             # mkinitrd -f /boot/initrd-2.2.5-15smp.img 2.2.5-15smp
    

4.  Edit /etc/lilo.conf to add a new entry for the SMP kernel.
    Copy the existing entry and make necessary changes.
    Example of a new SMP kernel entry:

         image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.2.5-15smp
              label=linux-smp
              root=/dev/sdxx
              initrd=/boot/initrd-2.2.5-15smp.img
              append="noapic"
              read-only
    

     Note the following:

   •  Do NOT remove the existing entry.
   •  Do NOT make any changes to the root line in the new entry.
   •  The first kernel entry in /etc/lilo.conf is loaded by default.
   •  The append line must be added due to the current lack of support for multiple APICS.

5.  Update the master boot record and the LILO boot loader by running the command:

              # lilo -v
    

6.  If no errors were reported, reboot the system and remove all media.
7.  At the LILO boot prompt, hit 'Tab' for kernel options.
    Type the label of the SMP kernel (example, linux-smp) to boot the new kernel.
8.  To verify that the SMP kernel boots properly, run the following command
    to display information about each processor:

              # cat /proc/cpuinfo
   

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