Linux best practices using HP Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) and Software Delivery Repository (SDR)

• hpacucli: A command line utility for configuring HP Smart Array controllers.

• fibreutils: Utilities and scripts for HP-supported Fibre Channel HBAs. Note that Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.3 requires

Fibreutils-3.x (or higher).

• hp-fc-enablement: Emulex and QLogic utilities for SAN management.

Getting support for components

We support all of the drivers, utilities, management agents, and firmware that are available in the SPP and SDR. We also

support all of the HP-optimized drivers available in the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server or Red Hat Enterprise Linux

distributions. You have the choice to use none, some, or all of the components from any of these sources.

Unless the Red Hat or SUSE Technical Exception matrices note an exception, you can receive technical support for

contents of an SPP for a maximum of one year from the SPP version (release date), not one year from the SPP

installation. For example, if you install the contents of SPP 2011.09.0, your support period ends on September 30, 2012.

The SPP and the SPP Supplement for Linux support the current Linux version and the previous version for one year,

which includes major and minor Linux releases. However, since typical Linux update cycles are 18 months and we

support the SPP for one year, there might be SPPs that may not have new content.

For example, an SPP may support:

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.8/5.7 and 6.2/6.1

• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11-SP2/11-SP1 and 10-SP4

Review the Red Hat and SUSE technical exceptions at

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/linux/hplinuxcert.html.

The Release Notes list the Linux OS versions that each SPP or SPP Linux Supplement supports. The Release Notes are

available on the SDR at

http://downloads.linux.hp.com/SDR or on the SPP download page at

www.hp.com/go/spp/download.

Conclusion

You can obtain and install HP drivers, utilities, and firmware for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and Red Hat Enterprise

Linux distributions from the SPP or the SDR. You choose whichever alternative works best for you or combine them to

meet the needs of your environment. No matter which method you choose, we give you the freedom to decide which

method works best for your environment.