我们公司开始计划销售NetApp公司的存储设备，为此，从去年就开始学习NetApp产品和存储技术。为了方便学习，我在我的笔记本上安装了一个NetApp系统的虚拟机。
NetApp虚拟机软件我是在网上搜索下载下来的，事实证明是可以使用的。大家也可以到网上搜一个，下载用一下。
NetApp虚拟机软件要求安装一个Linux的操作系统，我在Redhat 9和RHEL 5都安装过，系统都是可以支持的。我的笔记本主要是用来日常办公使用，操作系统用的是XP，为了安装虚拟机，没啥说的，装个VMware，弄了几个虚拟机出来，Linux系统的问题就解决了。此次我的Linux操作系统使用的是RHEL 5。由于笔记本的内存太少，所以性能很受限。VMware和RHEL的安装在这里我就不多说了。
NetApp虚拟机下载下来之后可以使用WINRAR软件解压缩，以便我们访问里面的安装指导文件。解压缩后，文件夹里有两个文件在XP下看不到，在Linux下是没有问题的。
在安装手册中，有一步是tar解压缩，在实际安装时，我没有经历这一步。
把NetApp虚拟机软件做成ISO镜像文件或者是刻录成光盘使用都是可以的。总之要能够在Linux上能够访问。这一步我就不多说了。
NetApp虚拟机软件中提供的安装指导说明好像是在RedHat 9.0系统下操作安装的，安装目录位于/mnt/cdrom下面，我用的RHEL 5.0，安装目录位于系统的/media/下面。我在安装时，安装文件的详细位置位于：media/netapp/simulator。
我不习惯在RHEL 5.0的终端中操作，所以我使用的是SecureCRT，通过SSH连接上去的。
在Xwindows下可以轻松的找到安装文件。
在Xwindows下双击安装文件setup.sh，也可以进行安装，但是系统会提示要求在终端中运行。
我是在终端下面开始安装的，运行文件：
[root@RHEL5 simulator]# ./setup.sh
不要直接输入setup，会调用另一个可执行文件的。
下面是安装的过程显示：
. version 17 (13/Jan/2004)
Where to install to? [/sim]:
Would you like to install as a cluster? [no]:
Would you like full HTML/PDF FilerView documentation to be installed [yes]:
Continue with installation? [no]: y
Creating /sim
Unpacking sim.tgz to /sim
Configured the simulators mac address to be [00:50:56:1b:49:d3]
Please ensure the simulator is not running.
Use DHCP . first boot? [yes]: n
Ask for floppy boot? [no]:
Checking the default route...
You have a single network interface called eth0 (default route) . You will not be able to access the simulator from this Linux host. If this interface is marked DOWN in ifconfig then your simulator will crash.
Which network interface should the simulator use? [default]: ?
Choose a network interface that the simulator should use.
Which network interface should the simulator use? [default]:
Your system has 244MB of free memory. The smallest simulator memory you should choose is 58MB. The maximum simulator memory is 204MB.
The recommended memory is 128MB.
How much memory would you like the simulator to use? [128]:
Create a new log for each session? [no]:
Overwrite the single log each time? [yes]:
Your simulator has 3 disk(s). How many more would you like to add? [0]: 3
Where to install to? [/sim]:
Would you like to install as a cluster? [no]:
Would you like full HTML/PDF FilerView documentation to be installed [yes]:
Continue with installation? [no]: y
Creating /sim
Unpacking sim.tgz to /sim
Configured the simulators mac address to be [00:50:56:1b:49:d3]
Please ensure the simulator is not running.
Use DHCP . first boot? [yes]: n
Ask for floppy boot? [no]:
Checking the default route...
You have a single network interface called eth0 (default route) . You will not be able to access the simulator from this Linux host. If this interface is marked DOWN in ifconfig then your simulator will crash.
Which network interface should the simulator use? [default]: ?
Choose a network interface that the simulator should use.
Which network interface should the simulator use? [default]:
Your system has 244MB of free memory. The smallest simulator memory you should choose is 58MB. The maximum simulator memory is 204MB.
The recommended memory is 128MB.
How much memory would you like the simulator to use? [128]:
Create a new log for each session? [no]:
Overwrite the single log each time? [yes]:
Your simulator has 3 disk(s). How many more would you like to add? [0]: 3
The following disk types are available in MB:
Real (Usable)
a - 43 ( 14)
b - 62 ( 30)
c - 78 ( 45)
d - 129 ( 90)
e - 535 (450)
f - 1024 (900)
Real (Usable)
a - 43 ( 14)
b - 62 ( 30)
c - 78 ( 45)
d - 129 ( 90)
e - 535 (450)
f - 1024 (900)
If you are unsure choose the default option a
What disk size would you like to use? [a]: d
Disk adapter to put disks .? [0]:
Adding 3 additional disk(s).
./makedisks: Doing for id in 16 17 18 ...\n
Creating ,disks/v0.19:NETAPP__:VD-100MB-FZ-520_:29892403:259200
Creating ,disks/v0.20:NETAPP__:VD-100MB-FZ-520_:29892404:259200
Creating ,disks/v0.21:NETAPP__:VD-100MB-FZ-520_:29892405:259200
Shelf file Shelf:DiskShelf14 updated
Complete. Run /sim/runsim.sh to start the simulator.
[root@RHEL5 simulator]#
What disk size would you like to use? [a]: d
Disk adapter to put disks .? [0]:
Adding 3 additional disk(s).
./makedisks: Doing for id in 16 17 18 ...\n
Creating ,disks/v0.19:NETAPP__:VD-100MB-FZ-520_:29892403:259200
Creating ,disks/v0.20:NETAPP__:VD-100MB-FZ-520_:29892404:259200
Creating ,disks/v0.21:NETAPP__:VD-100MB-FZ-520_:29892405:259200
Shelf file Shelf:DiskShelf14 updated
Complete. Run /sim/runsim.sh to start the simulator.
[root@RHEL5 simulator]#
到这一步，基本算是装上了。有的地方设置可能不是很合适，请大家多指点指点！谢谢！
剩下的事情就是如何学习NetApp的产品知识了。NetApp设备具有非常丰富的功能，需要进一步了解。
在安装过程中又接触到了RHEL 5.0。相比RH9确实有不同的地方，准备了解一下。
