Configuring HP-UX For Peripherals

18 Chapter1

Getting Started

Peripheral Conﬁguration in its Simplest Terms

NOTE Often, if you anticipate having to add a new external peripheral device,

you can conﬁgure the device drivers into the kernel at a time when no

one else is on the system. Then, when the peripheral arrives, you can

physically install it with minimal user disruption.

Using SAM to Conﬁgure Peripherals

The HP-UX System Administration Manager (SAM) provides the easiest

way to:

• view your system's conﬁguration

• conﬁgure the peripheral device's drivers into the kernel

• regenerate the kernel after conﬁguring the software

To invoke SAM, type /usr/sbin/sam.

SAM's user interface and online help system allow you to discover the

conﬁguration information as you proceed through its screens. Once you

provide SAM with basic information about the device being conﬁgured,

SAM performs the following tasks:

• checks your currently running kernel conﬁguration ﬁle for the

required device drivers

• reports whether or not the drivers are present

• adds the drivers if necessary

• re-conﬁgures the kernel

For some devices, SAM also automates other necessary steps. For

example, when adding a terminal to your system, SAM edits the

/etc/inittab ﬁle to add the terminal entry. You have to perform this

step manually if you are not using SAM to conﬁgure the terminal.

Using HP-UX Commands to Conﬁgure Peripherals

You must use HP-UX commands to conﬁgure peripherals into the system

if the device cannot be automatically conﬁgured or if SAM is not on your

system.

Virtually all Hewlett-Packard disk drives, tape drives, printers, plotters