Setting Up Linux; Linux-Ready Systems; Hp Linux Driver Discs - HP Z8 G4 User Manual

5

Setting up Linux

This chapter describes how to set up and restore the Linux operating system.
HP offers a variety of Linux solutions for HP computer customers:
HP certifies and supports Red Hat® Enterprise Linux® (RHEL) on HP computers.
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HP certifies and supports SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED) on HP computers.
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HP certifies and supports Canonical Ubuntu on some HP computers.
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HP offers a SLED 11 preload on some Z series computers.
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HP offers an Ubuntu preload on some Z series computers.
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CAUTION:
is successfully installed. Adding hardware might cause errors and prevent the operating system from
installing correctly.
NOTE: After you set up the operating system, be sure that the latest BIOS, drivers, and software updates are
installed. See
NOTE: To create recovery media, you must have either a high-quality blank USB flash drive or an external
optical drive with DVD writer capability. If you use an optical drive, you must use only high-quality blank DVD-
R, DVD+R, DVD-R DL, or DVD+R DL discs. Do not use rewritable discs such as CD±RW, DVD±RW, double-layer
DVD±RW, or BD-RE (rewritable Blu-ray) discs; they are not compatible with HP Recovery Manager software. A
compatible external optical drive may be purchased from HP.

Linux-ready systems

The Linux-ready option provides a system with a minimally-functional OS preload (for example, FreeDOS). It is
intended for situations where the customer is going to install an OS when the system arrives. The option does
not include a license for any operating system.
The Linux-ready option does not include the Linux operating system, which the user must supply. Commercial
Linux distributions are available for purchase from vendors such as Red Hat and SUSE. A variety of other Linux
distributions are available for free (e.g., Ubuntu). To view supported configurations and operating systems, go
to http://www.hp.com/support/linux_hardware_matrix.

HP Linux driver discs

Driver ISO images that support proper use and behavior of some Linux OSes on HP computers may be
available on the HP website. Such images include tested drivers that augment and/or replace those found in
RHEL, SLED, Ubuntu, or other OSes. Each image is specific to a particular Linux OS release.
These images also can be downloaded using the following steps:
1. Go to http://www.hp.com/support/workstation_swdrivers.
2. Select your computer model.
3. Select the desired operating system.
4. Select the Obtain Software link for the appropriate package (typically the most recent revision).
26 Chapter 5 Setting up Linux
Do not add optional hardware or third-party devices to the computer until the operating system
Updating the computer on page 29.