How to Boot ZFS From Alternate Media

If a problem prevents the system from booting successfully or some other severe problem occurs, you will need to boot from a network install server or from a Solaris installation CD, import the root pool, mount the ZFS BE, and attempt to resolve the issue.

1. Boot from an installation CD or from the network.

   • SPARC:

     ok boot cdrom -s ok boot net -s

     If you don't use the -s option, you will need to exit the installation program.

   • x86: Select the network boot or boot from local CD option.

2. Import the root pool and specify an alternate mount point. For example:

   # zpool import -R /a rpool

3. Mount the ZFS BE. For example:

   # zfs mount rpool/ROOT/zfsBE

4. Access the ZFS BE contents from the /a directory.

   # cd /a

5. Reboot the system.

   # init 6