>>> On 8/31/2010 at 02:08 PM, Keith Gooding <[email protected]> wrote: 
> Thank you for you quick reply Mark.
> 
> I am not using AutoYast so it must be a manual install - I just created the 
> parmfile and used the sample VM exec provided with the Redbook to punch the 
> kernel+parmfile+intrdr and ipl from the card reader. I can see the FBA 
> devices 
> on the DASD Disk Management screen and they appear as type 9336 with 
> 'formatted=yes' after I click 'activate'. The install fails if I try to 
> format them.

Yes.  The dasdfmt command only works on ECKD disks, not FBA or SCSI.  By 
definition, FBA devices need no formatting.

> On the subsequent 'Installations Settings' panel under "Partitioning" 
> there is a red message "No automatic proposal possible.Specify mount points 
> in 
> the 'Partitioner' dialogue".

That's something that was done deliberately for System z.  I got them to change 
that for SLES11 SP1.  You do get a default partitioning proposal there, just as 
on other architectures.  The default is not what most people wind up using, 
however, and that's true of all architectures as well.  I just wanted System z 
to not be different in this regard.  Makes it easier for other people to take 
pot shots.

> It seems to think there is a full-volume 
> partition 
> /dev/dasda1 etc on each volume (I have not created any partitions) and an 
> attempt to delete the partition results in message 'Operation not permitted 
> on 
> disk /dev/dasda. The partitioning on your disk is either not readable by 
> partd 
> or is not supported by this tool. etc. I used 'expert' mode to delete the 
> partition before adding new ones but eventually the install filed with 
> 'unsupported disk type'.

This is normal.  FBA devices (emulated or otherwise) can only have one 
partition, and the FBA driver creates it for you automatically.

> Maybe I should consider Autoyast as a way to set up (near) clones. I found 
> that 
> using native FCP was awkward when making clones and VM EDEVICES seemed to 
> provide an easier method (I am not sure how inefficient edevices are but in 
> many 
> cases it does not matter)

In terms of I/O performance, they can be drastically less efficient.  In terms 
of system administration effort, they can be much more efficient.  You need to 
decide which is more important to your business on a case-by-case basis.


Mark Post

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