Configuring the Preinstalled Solaris 10 Operating System

C H A P T E R 3

This chapter explains the steps for configuring the Solaris trademark 10 Operating System (OS) that has been preinstalled on your server, if ordered. The preinstalled version is Solaris 10 5/08 or later.

Note - If you connect a monitor to the Sun Blade X6440 server module, you will not see the output of the preinstalled Solaris 10 image on the monitor when you power on the server. You will see the BIOS power-on self-test (POST) and other boot information output. This is because the server ships with its console redirected to the serial port. You can choose an option to send the output to VGA (video port). For more information, see (Optional) To Redirect the Console Output to the Video Port.

This chapter includes the following topics:

Before You Begin

Configuring the Preinstalled Solaris 10 Operating System

Solaris 10 Operating System User Information

Using the Solaris Installation Program

Reinstalling the Solaris Operating System

Downloading the Solaris Operating System

Before You Begin

Before you begin configuring the preinstalled Solaris 10 OS, do the following:

Perform initial configuration of the server’s ILOM and determine the server’s network settings, as described in Chapter 2.

Gather the information that you will need for the configuration, as listed in Installation Worksheet.

Tip - To find the server module, PCI ExpressModule, and SP MAC addresses, see the Customer Information Sheet included with the system box, or see the server, PCI EM, and SP MAC addresses printed on their respective labels.

Installation Worksheet

Use the worksheet in TABLE 3-1 to gather the information that you need to configure the preinstalled Solaris 10 OS. You need to collect only the information that applies to your application of the system.

TABLE 3-1 Worksheet for Solaris 10 Configuration
Information for Installation		Description or Example	Your Answers: Defaults (*)
Language		Select from the list of available languages for the Solaris 10 software.	English*
Locale		Select your geographic region from the list of available locales.
Terminal		Select the type of terminal that you are using from the list of available terminal types.
Network connection		Is the system connected to a network?	Networked Non-networked*
DHCP		Can the system use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to configure its network interfaces?	Yes No*
If you are not using DHCP, note the network address:	IP address	If you are not using DHCP, supply the IP address for the system. Example: `129.200.9.1`
	Subnet	If you are not using DHCP, is the system part of a subnet? If yes, what is the netmask of the subnet? Example: `255.255.0.0`	255.255.0.0*
	IPv6	Do you want to enable IPv6 on this machine?	Yes No*
Host name		A host name that you choose for the system.
Kerberos		Do you want to configure Kerberos security on this machine? If yes, gather the following information: Default realm: Administration server: First KDC: (Optional) Additional KDCs:	Yes No*
Name service	Name service	If applicable, which name service should this system use?	NIS+ NIS DNS LDAP None*
	Domain name	Provide the name of the domain in which the system resides.
	NIS+ and NIS	Do you want to specify a name server, or let the installation program find one?	Specify One Find One*
	DNS	Provide IP addresses for the DNS server. You must enter at least one IP address, but you can enter up to three addresses. You can also enter a list of domains to search when a DNS query is made. Search domain: Search domain: Search domain:
	LDAP	Provide the following information about your LDAP profile: Profile name: Profile server: If you specify a proxy credential level in your LDAP profile, gather the following information: Proxy-bind distinguished name: Proxy-bind password:
Default route		Do you want to specify a default route IP address, or let the Solaris installation program find one? The default route provides a bridge that forwards traffic between two physical networks. An IP address is a unique number that identifies each host on a network. You have the following choices: You can specify the IP address. An `/etc/defaultrouter` file is created with the specified IP address. When the system is rebooted, the specified IP address becomes the default route. You can let the Solaris installation program detect an IP address. However, the system must be on a subnet that has a router that advertises itself by using the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) for router discovery. If you are using the command-line interface, the software detects an IP address when the system is booted. You can select None if you do not have a router or do not want the software to detect an IP address at this time. The software automatically tries to detect an IP address on reboot.	Specify One Detect One None*
Time zone		How do you want to specify your default time zone?	Geographic region* Offset from GM Time zone file
Root password		Choose a root password for the system.

Configuring the Preinstalled Solaris 10 Operating System

Note - Before you perform this procedure, you need to set up the service processor. If you have not done so, see Chapter 2.

Use the information that you gathered in Installation Worksheet as you perform the configuration.

After configuring the server module ILOM, you can configure the preinstalled Solaris 10 Operating System (OS) by using the service processor to connect to the system console.

To Configure the Preinstalled Solaris 10 OS

You can connect to the service processor using a serial terminal, or the Ethernet, as described in Connecting to the Server Module ILOM.

If you connect to the service processor using a serial terminal, you can use one of the following options:

To capture the serial port output, on a client running the Solaris OS, type:

$tip -9600 /dev/ttya

On a client running the Windows OS, start a program such as Hyperterminal.

On a client running the Linux OS, start a program such as Minicom, a text-based serial communication program that is included in the Linux distributions. For more information, see the man pages included in the Linux distribution.

1. Connect and log in to the service processor using one of the methods described in Connecting to the Server Module ILOM.

The server module ILOM CLI prompt appears.

2. Verify that the communication properties of the service processor are set to the defaults. For example:

-> show /SP/serial/host
/SP/serial/host
    Targets:
 
    Properties:
        commitpending = (Cannot show property)
        pendingspeed = 9600
        speed = 9600
 
    Commands:
       cd
       show

3. If the speed is anything other than 9600, change it by entering the command:

-> set /SP/serial/host pendingspeed=9600 commitpending=true

4. Start the serial console mode by entering the following command:

-> start /SP/console

Only accounts with Administrator privileges are enabled to configure the SP.

5. When the prompt appears, type y:

Are you sure you want to start /SP/console (y/n)? y

Caution - Electrocution or equipment damage possible if an electrically conductive object is used to activate the recessed Power button.

6. Turn on the server module by using a pointed non-conducting object or stylus to press the recessed Power button on the front panel.

POST messages appear on your screen as the OS boots.

7. Follow the Solaris 10 preinstallation on-screen prompts.

8. Use the information gathered in Installation Worksheet to help you enter the system and network information as you are prompted.

The screens that are displayed vary, depending on the method that you selected for assigning network information to the server (DHCP or static IP address).

After you have entered the system configuration information, the server completes the boot process and displays the Solaris login prompt.

(Optional) To Redirect the Console Output to the Video Port

The server module’s console is automatically directed to the serial port. GRUB, the open source boot loader, is the default boot loader in the Solaris OS for x86-based or x64-based systems. The boot loader is the first software program that runs after you power on a system.

1. Use a cable to connect the serial port of the host server (either through the chassis SER MGT port or through a dongle cable’s serial port) to the video port of the client system.

2. From the GRUB menu, you have the option of displaying the installation process to a VGA connection (video port) as shown here:

*******************************************************************
* Solaris 10 5/08 s10x_u5wos_10 X86  - Serial Port (ttya)         *
* Solaris 10 5/08 s10x_u5wos_10 X86  - Graphics Adapter           *
* Solaris failsafe                                                *
*                                                                 *
*                                                                 *
*                                                                 *
*                                                                 *
*                                                                 *
*******************************************************************

To display output to the video port, choose the following option:

Solaris 10 5/08 s10x_u5wos_10 X86 - Graphics Adapter

Solaris 10 Operating System User Information

This section provides pointers to information about the Solaris 10 Operating System.

Solaris 10 User Documentation

You can access the various collections of the Solaris 10 OS user documentation at:

http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/prod/solaris.10

Solaris 10 OS Training

Sun provides flexible training options that accommodate your personal schedule and learning style. The training options include instructor-led, web-based online, CD-ROM, and Live Virtual Class. For Solaris 10 Training and Certification options at a glance, go to:

http://www.sun.com/training/catalog/solaris10.html

Using the Solaris Installation Program

The documentation listed in this section provides instructions for using the Solaris installation program and is available at the following web site:

http://docs.sun.com/

Follow the instructions for x86-based systems, not SPARC-based systems. For more information, see the Solaris 10 Release and Installation Collection for the version of the Solaris 10 Operating System that you have installed. This documentation is available at:

http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/prod/solaris.10

After you configure the preinstalled Solaris OS, the Solaris installation program reboots the system and prompts you to log in. The system displays the message of the day, indicating the preloaded software that comes with your system:

Sun Java Enterprise System (Java ES)

Sun Studio 11

Sun Java Enterprise System

Sun Java Enterprise System (Java ES) is a set of software components that provide services needed to support enterprise-strength applications distributed across a network or Internet environment.

Sun Studio 11

Sun Studio 11 includes high-performance, optimizing C, C++, and Fortran compilers for the Solaris OS on SPARC and x86/x64 platforms. It also includes command-line tools and a NetBeans trademark -based integrated development environment (IDE) for analyzing application performance and debugging mixed source language applications. The tools offer multi-platform support, compatible with gcc, Visual C++, C99, OpenMP, and Fortran 2003.

Reinstalling the Solaris Operating System

If you want to reinstall the Solaris OS or to install a different version of the Solaris OS, you can do so in one of several ways, including by using DVD and network (using the Jumpstart Enterprise Toolkit [JET]).

For step-by-step procedures, see the Solaris 10 Installation Guide: Basic Installations (820-0176). See also the Sun Blade X6440 Server Module Operating System Installation Guide (820-3962).

Downloading the Solaris Operating System

If you need to reinstall software, you can download the software from the following sites:

To download the Solaris 10 Operating System, go to:

http://www.sun.com/software/solaris/get.jsp

To download patches, go to:

http://sunsolve.sun.com/pub-cgi/show.pl?target=home