🚀 go-pugleaf

>Does anybody have experience in running Linux on an IBM Netfinity
>server? I'm looking for any advice about that...

I don't have any good answer, but I do know that you should make your
desire to run Linux on your server KNOWN to your IBM sales rep.  The
reason I say this is because I know for a fact IBM is considering
writing drivers and supporting Linux on their Netfinity line,
so your voice added to the rest could possibly get them over the
hump.

-- 
JR

Pierre Moret wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Does anybody have experience in running Linux on an IBM Netfinity
> server? I'm looking for any advice about that...
> 
> Thanks in advance!
> --Pierre, pierre@skyweb.ch

Can't comment on the Netfinity.. but I have 2.0.30 and 2.035 running on
IBM PC server 300's and PC 350-P100 without problem (other than the
adapted problem with RH 5.1 that others are having). 

I would expect that if you get a vanilla Netfinity (no proprietary RAID
or SCSI cards) you should be okay

trevor
calgary alberta canada

Pierre Moret wrote in message <3629FA51.5D22ECFA@skyweb.ch>...
>Does anybody have experience in running Linux on an IBM Netfinity
>server? I'm looking for any advice about that...


We have loaded Linux on several Netfinity 3000 systems with no problems.
They are nice systems: very well designed & built.  We used the PC Server
family too.

I don't recall any major "gotchas".  The standard disks are large (was
4.3GB, now it might be 9GB) so be aware of the "large disk" difficulties &
remedies (there's a HOWTO on the subject).  They seem to incorporate the
2940-ultra-ULTRA-wide controller, so use a recent kernel/distribution.  I
think they also incorporate the IBM EtherJet PCI 10/100 adapter: our Caldera
installation detects that & loads the appropriate drivers, but others seem
to have trouble figuring out which driver to use: it's the "eepro100"
driver.

An earlier response suggested you let IBM know, to encourage them to add
Linux support.  That sounds like a good idea.  If you follow up on that, and
find out who to talk to, would you pass that info on to me?  I would like to
add my voice: we have a couple dozen PC Servers & Netfinitys in the field
running Linux and IBM is totally unaware of it.

Thanks.

-Lee Allen

trevorc@home.com wrote:
> 
> Can't comment on the Netfinity.. but I have 2.0.30 and 2.035 running on
> IBM PC server 300's and PC 350-P100 without problem (other than the
> adapted problem with RH 5.1 that others are having).
> 
> I would expect that if you get a vanilla Netfinity (no proprietary RAID
> or SCSI cards) you should be okay

I've just contacted some well-informed source inside IBM, and I was told
that they are currently running extensive tests with Linux on the
Netfinity in order to certify their machines for our OS of choice!
Sounds good!

--Pierre

PS: I'm going to order a Netfinity 3000, and will post my comments.

Lee Allen wrote:
> We have loaded Linux on several Netfinity 3000 systems with no problems.
> They are nice systems: very well designed & built.  We used the PC Server
> family too.

Great! Thanks for the good news, I've just ordered one of these
(Netfinity 3000, Pentium II, 400MHz, 128MB, etc). Seems like I shouldn't
get into trouble when installing Linux! :-)

And thanks for the tips about the Ethernet adapter. Will definitely save
me some time!

> An earlier response suggested you let IBM know, to encourage them to add
> Linux support.  That sounds like a good idea.  If you follow up on that, and
> find out who to talk to, would you pass that info on to me?  I would like to
> add my voice: we have a couple dozen PC Servers & Netfinitys in the field
> running Linux and IBM is totally unaware of it.

My contact is a close friend working for IBM as a marketing manager.
I've just asked him if he could give me the e-mail address of the right
person to contact about this topic. Will post it as soon as I get
something new!

Thanks for the feedback
--Pierre

>I've just contacted some well-informed source inside IBM, and I was told
>that they are currently running extensive tests with Linux on the
>Netfinity in order to certify their machines for our OS of choice!
>Sounds good!
>
>--Pierre

That's excellent news.  Now, any news on whether they will do
the same for the Thinkpads? I'm thinking MWAVE in particular,
it's a real waste having the thing and not being able to use it.



--
Rich Payne
(Speaking for myself, not my employer)
payner at timken dot com

Looking for Alpha-Linux info?
http://adam.cheshire.net/~rdp/alpha
>
>PS: I'm going to order a Netfinity 3000, and will post my comments.