System information

412 Logical Partitions on System i5
– IPL source: The IPL source indicates where to look for the initial boot file. A
*NWSSTG setting indicates that the initial boot file is in the bootable disk partition of
the first disk linked to the Network Server Descriptor. A *STMF setting indicates that
the initial boot file is a stream file located in the IFS. When the setting is *STMF the
path indicated by 2 is used.
– IPL stream file: The IPL stream file is used when 1 is set to *STMF. The path indicates
the path to the initial boot file.
– IPL parameters: The IPL parameters field defines parameters that are sent directly to
the Linux kernel. The IPL parameters are defined in the Linux-distributor
documentation.
3. After you complete the fields, press Enter to create the Network Server Descriptor.
13.7.2 Network Server Storage Space
The Network Server Storage Space (NWSSTG), also referred to as virtual disk, provides the
disk resource to the Linux partition. The Network Storage Space is an object within the
Integrated File System (IFS) that is abstracted to the Linux partition such that it appears, and
is used, as an actual disk drive.
Note: The installation of Linux is typically performed with IPL Source set to *STMF.
Post-installation changes the setting to *NWSSTG to boot off of the Linux kernel written to
the virtual disk by the installation program.
Note: The initial boot file for an installation of Linux is indicated in the documentation
provided with the distribution
Note: Both Novell / SuSE SLES 9 and Red Hat RHEL 4 support graphic-based
installations. The IPL parameters field can be used to indicate that a graphical-based
installation is requested.
Note: The parameters defined in IPL parameters are sent directly to the Linux operating
system; therefore, you must enter them exactly as specified in the Linux documentation
including upper/lower case.