[elrepo] CentOS 7.9 driver for Lenovo P620 NIC

[James Pearson]

OK, I think I now have what I need working

The docs at <https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/6/html/installation_guide/sect-preparing_an_initial_ram_disk_update-x86> got me part of the way - but I also had to add 'inst.dd=/dd.iso' to the PXE config 'append' line - i.e. something like (using the above RHEL 6 docs example):

 label el7-dd
 kernel el7/vmlinuz
 append initrd=el7/initrd.img,el7/dd.img inst.dd=/dd.iso ...

(dd.img is a gzip'd cpio archive containing just dd.iso at the top level directory)

I actually found out about this by accident, when one of my test installs dropped me into a dracut shell and I noticed my 'dd.iso' in the root directory ...

However, it does seem strange that there is no mention of using a driver disk via PXE boot installs in the RHEL 7 install docs ?

Thanks

James Pearson
________________________________________
From: Manuel Wolfshant <wolfy at nobugconsulting.ro>
Sent: 17 October 2021 00:00
To: EL Repo General Mailing List; James Pearson
Subject: Re: [elrepo] CentOS 7.9 driver for Lenovo P620 NIC

On 10/17/21 12:03 AM, James Pearson wrote:
> I did try it - but couldn't get it to work - although I don't have access to the PC at the moment (I'm testing using a VM - which, of course, doesn't have the NIC in question) - but once the installer is booted in the VM, I can't find the new kernel module in the install instance ?

The logs should include references to the attempt of loading the driver
even if it is not needed and therefore not used


>
> I'm probably doing something wrong - but I guess in the meantime, I'll see if using a USB stick with the update driver ISO image works ...
>
DUD on a stick certainly works. when done right .


> Thanks
>
> James Pearson
> ________________________________________
> From: Manuel Wolfshant <wolfy at nobugconsulting.ro>
> Sent: 16 October 2021 21:40
> To: EL Repo General Mailing List; James Pearson; elrepo at lists.elrepo.org
> Subject: Re: [elrepo] CentOS 7.9 driver for Lenovo P620 NIC
>
>
> On October 16, 2021 11:08:42 PM GMT+03:00, James Pearson <james-p at moving-picture.com> wrote:
>> Thanks for the info - however, I would like the driver disk to be obtained from the tftp server along with the kernel/initrd images
>>
>> The RHEL 6 install docs seems to suggest this is possible - but I can't find similar info in the RHEL 7 install docs, so I'm guessing this isn't possible with EL 7 ?
>>
>> Do I have to hack the install initrd image to add the new driver?
>>
> As far as I know, https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/6/html/installation_guide/sect-preparing_an_initial_ram_disk_update still works
>
>
>> Thanks
>>
>> James Pearson