HP Workstation x2000 User manual

Getting Started Guide
HP x2000 Linux Workstation
Manufacturing Part Number: A7230-90001
Edition E0701
© Copyright 2001 Hewlett-Packard Company.

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HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY
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Palo Alto, California 94304 U.S.A.

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First Edition: July 2001
Printing Division:
Hewlett-Packard Co.
Technical Computer Division
3404 E. Harmony Rd.
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Printed in the U.S.A.

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Contents
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1. Setting Up and Using Your Linux Workstation
Setting Up Your x2000 Linux Workstation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Installation Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Connecting Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Connecting the Power Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Connecting Multimedia Accessories (if supplied). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Working In Comfort and Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Preparing Your Work Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Your Work Posture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Additional Ergonomic Issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Starting and Stopping Your Linux Workstation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Starting Your Workstation for the First Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Initializing Your Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Stopping Your Linux Workstation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Setting Hardware Passwords in the HP Setup Program . . . . . . . . . . . .25
To Set a Password. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
If You Forget Your User Password. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Configuring Your Workstation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Starting the HP Setup Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Main Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Advanced Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Security Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Boot Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Power Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Viewing Your Workstation Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Using Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Software and Driver Availability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Additional System Information and Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

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Contents
2. Linux System Setup and Recovery
Configuring Your Linux Workstation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Setting the Root Password (required) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Changing Boot/Network Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Setting Up Network Authorization Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Xserver Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
DNS Parameters Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
System Time, Timezone and Date Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Setting Keyboard Language (required) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Netscape Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Recovering Your Linux System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
The Linux Rescue Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Booting Single User Mode Directly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
3. Troubleshooting Your Workstation
Solving Hardware Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Troubleshooting Tips: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
If You Lose the Key. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Need More Help?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Using HP MaxiLife to Diagnose Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Pre-Boot Check Error Messages. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
POST Phase Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Pre-Boot Diagnostics Audio Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
If You Miss the Beep Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
HP DiagTools Hardware Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Where Can I Get e-DiagTools? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Starting e-DiagTools from the Utility Partition
on your Hard Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Starting e-DiagTools from the CD-ROM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Contents
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Running HP e-DiagTools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Producing a Support Ticket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
HP Customer Care Center Phone Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
A. Regulatory Information and Warranty
Regulatory Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
FCC (for USA only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
HP Hardware Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Three Year Limited Hardware Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Limitation of Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Limitation of Liability and Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Obtaining On-Site Warranty Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Customer Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Obtaining Parts Warranty Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
HP Telephone Support Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
HP Software Limited Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
HP Software Product License Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

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Contents

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Preface
This guide describes how to set-up and use your HP X2000 Linux
Workstations (herein referred to as “Linux Workstation” or simply
“Workstation”). These Workstations feature the Red Hat Linux
Operating System, pre-installed by Hewlett-Packard.
Red Hat Linux is a popular open source operating system that gives you
the ability to develop custom tools and applications or select from a
growing number of commercial software and freeware solutions.
Important Warnings
Avoiding Electrical Shocks
WARNING To avoid electrical shock, do not open the power supply. There
are no user-serviceable parts inside.
To avoid electrical shock and harm to your eyes by laser light, do
not open the laser module. The laser module should be serviced
by service personnel only. Do not attempt to make any
adjustment to the laser unit. Refer to the label on the CD-ROM
for power requirements and wavelength. This product is a class I
laser product.
Removing and Replacing the Cover
WARNING For your safety, never remove the Workstation cover without
first disconnecting the power cord from the power outlet and
removing any connection to a telecommunications network. If a
Power Protection Device is fitted to your Workstation, you must
shut down your computer using the on/off switch, then remove
the power cord before removing the Workstation’s cover. Remove
the Power Protection Device cables before any servicing
operation. Always replace the cover before switching the

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Workstation on again.
Safety Information
WARNING There is a danger of explosion if the battery is incorrectly
installed. For your safety, never attempt to recharge,
disassemble, or burn an old battery. Replace the battery with the
same or equivalent type, as recommended by the manufacturer.
The battery in this Workstation is a lithium battery that does not
contain any heavy metals. However, to protect the environment,
do not dispose of batteries in household waste. Return used
batteries either to the shop from which you bought them, to the
dealer from whom you purchased your Workstation, or to HP so
that they can either be recycled or disposed of in the correct
way. Returned batteries will be accepted free of charge.
If You Have a Modem
• Do not attempt to connect this product to the phone line during a
lightning storm. Never install telephone jacks in wet locations unless
the telephone line has been disconnected at the network interface.
Never touch uninsulated telephone wires or terminals unless the
telephone line has been disconnected at the network interface. Use
caution when installing or modifying telephone lines. Avoid using a
telephone (other than a cordless type) during an lightning storm.
There may be a risk from lightning.
• Never touch or remove the communications board without first
removing the connection to the telephone network.
• Use minimum Nº 26 AWG wire for telephone cable.
WARNING Some parts inside the computer may be hot, wait for them to cool
down before touching them.