5    Installing and Updating Hardware Product Kits

This chapter provides the following information:

5.1    Overview of Hardware Product Kits

All hardware requires modules in the kernel to support it. Without this kernel support, the operating system cannot interact with the hardware, and the hardware may fail to function altogether. Hardware product kits provide the kernel modules required for the operating system to interact with newly supported hardware and eliminates the need to update to a new version of the operating system in order to use the new hardware.

Hardware product kits are distributed on CD-ROM and can be installed either directly from the CD-ROM or can be loaded onto a Remote Installation Services (RIS) area for RIS clients that are using the network to perform a Full Installation. Refer to Sharing Software on a Local Area Network for information about loading a hardware product kit into a RIS area.

Your system must be running or installing Version 4.0F, Version 4.0G, or Version 5.0A of the operating system to install hardware product kits using the procedures described in this chapter.

5.2    Adding a Hardware Product Kit to a Running System

To add a piece of hardware to a system that is running the operating system, the hardware product kit must be located on a CD-ROM. Installation from a RIS server is not supported.

Figure 5-1 depicts the user actions and bootlink process that installs a hardware product kit onto a system that is already running Version 5.0A of the operating system. The step-by-step procedure and actual prompts are documented in Section 5.2.1.

Figure 5-1:  Bootlinking a Hardware Product Kit to a Running System

  1. Use the shutdown -h now command to shut down the system to console mode

  2. Power down the system, connect the new piece of hardware, and power up the system after the new hardware is in place.

  3. Boot the system from the generic kernel file using the boot -fl fa -fi "/GENERIC" system_disk command.

    The optional system_disk argument is the console device name of your running system disk. You only need to include this argument if the bootdef_dev console variable is not set to the disk containing the / (root) file system.

  4. When prompted, enter the CD-ROM console device name and the full path to the hardware product kit for all hardware kits you intend to install. Kit names are supplied on the instructions you received with the kit.

    Note

    A typical example of a full path to a hardware product kit is: 

    /PROD_NAME/usr/opt/PROD_VERSION/sys/hardware/kit_name

  5. The boot process continues from the loaded system as the base operating system kernel modules are linked.

  6. For each hardware product kit name you supplied in Step 4, the boot process prompts you to insert the hardware kit distribution media. When you press the [Return] key, the hardware kernel modules from the hardware product kit are linked into memory.

  7. The kernel link is complete and the kernel is running in random access memory, not on disk. This kernel contains the same modules as the kernel on the disk in addition to the new hardware support modules.

  8. The boot process continues and prompts you to insert the distribution media for the hardware kit so that the software associated with the new hardware can be installed.

  9. If a kernel build is required, you will be prompted to build a new statically-linked, machine-specific kernel. This kernel is written to disk in the /usr/sys/conf/SYSTEM_NAME file. The system reboots with the new kernel to complete the bootlink process.

  10. The hardware product kit installation process is complete. Log into the system.

5.2.1    Procedure for Installing a Hardware Kit onto a Running System

Use this procedure to install a hardware product kit onto a system that is running Version 4.0F, Version 4.0G, or Version 5.0A of the operating system.

  1. Before you begin, make sure you know the CD-ROM console device name and the name of the hardware product kit. The kit name is included as part of the installation instructions you received with the kit itself.

  2. Log in as the user root or use the su command to gain superuser privileges.

  3. As a safety precaution, use the method of your choice to back up the user data on the system.

  4. Use the shutdown command to halt your system and bring it down to console mode: 

    # shutdown -h now

  5. Power down the system and connect the new hardware.

  6. Power up the system after the new hardware is connected. If the system automatically reboots, shut down the system to console mode again.

  7. Determine the console device name of the CD-ROM drive in which you intend to insert the hardware kit CD-ROM if you do not already know it: 

    
>>> show dev

    Output will be similar to the following: 

    dka0.0.0.1001.0        DKA0        RZ28D    0010
dka500.5.0.0.1001.0    DKA500      RRD46    0557
dva0.0.0.0.1           DVA0
ewa0.0.0.1000.0        EWA0        hw_ethernet_address
pka0.7.0.1001.0        PKA0        SCSI Bus ID 7 5.01
pkb0.7.0.1001.0        PKB0        SCSI Bus ID 7 5.01

    CD-ROM drives are designated by the characters CDROM or RRD. In this example, the console device name of the RRD46-type CD-ROM drive is DKA500.

    Write it down: _________________

  8. Enter the following command to bootlink the generic kernel from the /GENERIC file: 

    
>>> boot -fl fa -fi "/GENERIC" system_disk

    Note

    The optional system_disk argument is the console device name of your running system disk. You only need to include this argument if the bootdef_dev console variable is not set to the disk containing the / (root) file system.

  9. Enter the console device name of the CD-ROM device (that you obtained in Step 7) into which you later will insert the hardware product kit CD-ROM: 

    
Enter Device Name, or <return> if done:

  10. Enter the full path of the hardware product kit at the following prompt: 

    
Enter Hardware Kit Name, or <return> if done with device_name:

    Note

    A typical example of a full path to a hardware product kit is: 

    /PROD_NAME/usr/opt/PROD_VERSION/sys/hardware/kit_name

  11. Insert the hardware product kit CD-ROM into the drive and press the [Return] key at the following prompt: 

    Insert media for kit 'device_name:hw_kit_name'
hit <return> when ready, or 'q' to quit this kit

    The boot utility reads the hardware product kit information into memory.

  12. Do one of the following when you are prompted to enter the name of another hardware product kit:

  13. Do one of the following when you are prompted to enter another device name:

  14. Press the [Return] key at the following prompt because you are adding hardware support to a running system and the system disk is your boot media. 

    Insert boot media, hit <return> when ready:

    The generic kernel modules are read and displayed so that the bootlink process can build the kernel into memory in the next step.

  15. Insert the hardware product kit CD-ROM into the drive and press the [Return] key at the following prompt: 

    
Insert media for kit 'device_name:hw_kit_name'
hit <return> when ready, or 'q' to quit

    The kernel modules for the new hardware are read and the bootlink process builds the kernel in memory. This step is repeated for every device and hardware product kit you entered in Steps 9 and 10.

  16. Press the [Return] key at the following prompt because the boot media is still your installed system disk: 

    
Insert boot media, hit <return> when ready:

    Note

    If you installed more than one hardware product kit from different media on the same device, the boot utility may prompt you for the location of some of the hardware support subsets. If you see this prompt, load the appropriate CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive and enter the appropriate system device name, such as /dev/disk/cdrom0c.

    The following processing occurs when you press the [Return] key:

    1. The system is brought up to single-user mode to load and configure the software subsets for the new hardware product.

    2. The /GENERIC file is rebuilt to include the kernel modules for the new hardware product.

    3. The kernel configuration and kernel build phase takes place.

  17. Enter a name for the kernel configuration file at the following prompt if your system requires a kernel rebuild. The default response is the system name in upper case letters. 

    Enter a name for the kernel configuration file. [SYSTEM_NAME]:

    You have the option to use the default response or to give the configuration file a new name. No matter what you decide, the system will confirm your selections before continuing.

    If you decide to change the name of the kernel configuration file, the existing kernel configuration file is not overwritten. Retaining multiple kernel configuration files allows you to build kernels for different purposes.

    Proceed to the next step after you have confirmed the name of the kernel configuration file to select optional kernel components to build into the kernel.

  18. If the Kernel Option Selection Menu is displayed, select the optional kernel components you want to build into the kernel.

  19. Enter n at the following prompt because you do not want to edit the configuration file at this time: 

    
Do you want to edit the configuration file? (y/n): n

    The kernel build and configuration process begins when you answer this question.

  20. Log on to the system. Your new hardware product is fully installed, configured, and ready to use or access.

5.3    Procedure to Install Hardware Kits During a Full Installation

Follow this procedure to install a hardware product kit during a Full Installation:

  1. Perform the preinstallation tasks described in the Installation Guide.

  2. Use the shutdown command to halt the system if the system is not already at the console mode prompt (>>>): 

    # shutdown -h now

  3. Power off the system, install or connect the new hardware, and power on the system.

  4. Set the processor-specific console variables described in the Installation Guide, but do not boot the system using the instructions in the Installation Guide.

  5. Enter one of the following boot commands at the console prompt:

  6. During the boot process, the boot utility issues the following prompt: 

    
Enter Device Name, or <return> if done:

  7. Enter the full path and kit name of the hardware product kit you are installing: 

    
Enter Hardware Kit Name, or <return> if done with device_name:

    The full path and kit name are included with the paperwork that was shipped with the hardware product kit.

  8. The boot utility issues the following prompt: 

    
Insert media for kit 'device_name:hw_kit_name'
hit <return> when ready, or 'q' to quit this kit:

    The boot utility reads the hardware product kit into memory.

  9. Do one of the following when prompted to enter another hardware product kit name:

  10. Do one of the following when prompted to enter another device name:

  11. Provide the boot media when the boot utility reissues the following prompt: 

    Insert boot media, hit <return> when ready:

    The generic kernel modules are read so that the bootlink process can build the kernel in memory in the next step.

  12. The boot utility issues the following prompt: 

    Insert media for kit 'device_name:hw_kit_name'
hit <return> when ready or 'q' to quit:

    The kernel modules for the new hardware product are read, and the bootlink process builds the kernel in memory.

  13. The boot utility issues the following prompt: 

    
Insert boot media, hit <return> when ready:

    The system is brought up to single-user mode, and the Full Installation user interface is displayed.

  14. Enter the responses requested by the Full Installation interface as described in the Installation Guide. When you are finished answering all questions, confirm and start the software load.

  15. After the system reboots from the newly installed system disk, perform Steps 6 through 13 again to build the new kernel in memory. This step is not necessary for RIS installations because the hardware is already loaded.

    Note

    If you installed more than one hardware product kit from different media on the same device, the boot utility may prompt you for the location of some of the hardware support subsets. If you see this prompt, load the right hardware CD-ROM into the drive and enter the CD-ROM system device name, such as /dev/disk/cdrom0c

    The following processing occurs:

    1. The system is brought up to single-user mode to load and configure the software subsets for the new hardware product.

    2. The /GENERIC file is rebuilt to include the kernel modules for the new hardware product.

    3. The kernel configuration and kernel build phase takes place.

  16. Log in as root.

  17. Check the installation logs for errors. These logs are located in the /var/adm/smlogs directory after the system has been installed.

  18. Perform the system setup tasks described in the Installation Guide.

5.4    Updating Hardware Product Kits

The following topics describe how the Update Installation process handles hardware product kits.

5.4.1    Checking for Previously Installed Hardware Product Kits

During an Update Installation, the update process checks for previously-installed hardware product kits. This check happens during the analysis phase of the Update Installation, which is described in the Installation Guide. If the Update Installation process finds an installed hardware product kit, it is checked for compatibility with the new version of the operating system. One or more of the following conditions may apply:

5.4.2    Bootlinking Hardware Product Kits During an Update Installation

If the Update Installation detected a hardware product kit in the analysis phase that has to be reinstalled, the system bootlinks the hardware support kernel modules. During the bootlink process, the boot utility issues a series of prompts similar to the following, and you respond as shown:

  1. Enter the console device name for your CD-ROM drive, such as DKA500 at the following prompt: 

    Enter Device Name, or <return> if done:

  2. Enter the name of the hardware product kit that you want to update and press the [Return] key at the following prompt: 

    Enter Hardware Kit Name, or <return> if done with device_name:

  3. Insert the CD-ROM into the drive and press at the following prompt 

    
Insert media for kit 'device_name:hw_kit_name
hit <return> when ready, or 'q' to quit this kit

    When you press the [Return] key, the boot utility reads the hardware product kit information into memory.

  4. Do one of the following when you are prompted to enter another kit name:

  5. Do one of the following when you are prompted to enter another device name:

  6. Because you are adding hardware support to a running system and the system disk is your boot media, just press the [Return] key at the following prompt: 

    Insert boot media, hit <return> when ready:

    The generic kernel modules are read so that the bootlink process can build the kernel in memory in the next step.

  7. Insert the CD-ROM into the drive and press the [Return] key at the following prompt: 

    
Insert media for kit 'device_name:hw_kit_name', press Return when ready:

    When you press the [Return] key, the hardware product kit kernel modules are read and the bootlink process builds the kernel in memory.

  8. Because the boot media is still your installed system disk, press the [Return] key at the following prompt: 

    
Insert boot media, press <return> when ready:

5.4.3    Loading and Configuring a Hardware Product Kit During an Update Installation

If your system bootlinked a hardware product kit as described in Section 5.4.2, the Update Installation process loads and configures the hardware kernel modules at this point in the process, and you see prompts similar to the following:

  1. If your hardware product kit CD-ROM is not in the drive or if additional kits are located on other media, you may see a prompt similar to the following: 

    The Update Installation has detected that the hardware support listed
below is loaded on your system and is not supported in the new
release of the Operating System (nnn). In order for the update to
complete successfully, you must provide the distribution media that
contains the nnn version of the hardware support listed below. The
Update Installation procedure will verify that the media you provide
contains the correct software.
 
	KIT_NAME_1
	KIT_NAME_2
 
     
    .
    .
    .
    Enter kit locations (e.g: /dev/rz3a or /mnt):

    If you press the [Return] key without entering a location for the listed kits, you see a prompt similar to the following: 

    If you choose to continue the update without providing the necessary
hardware support media, the following hardware will not function
after the Update Installation completes. Also, without the necessary
hardware support the Update Installation may not complete successfully and
may leave your system in an unusable state. Compaq recommends that
you do not continue with the Update Installation without the appropriate
hardware support.
 
	KIT_NAME_1
	KIT_NAME_2
 
     
    .
    .
    .
    Do you want to continue? (y/n) [n]:

  2. Make sure the hardware product kit CD-ROM is loaded into the CD-ROM drive.

  3. In response to the Enter kit locations prompt, enter the system device name or mount point of the CD-ROM drive where the hardware product kit is located and press the [Return] key. You will see a series of load progress messages, then a series of configuration progress messages.

    Note

    Until all required hardware kits are loaded and configured, the process returns to Step 1.