About Network Installations

After you configure the installation server, you can run the virt-install command described in the virt-install(1M) from dom0. Use the -d option to add_install_client to specify that the client use DHCP. If the -d option is not specified, the client uses bootparams. For xVM paravirtualized guests, both approaches work. Use your site-specific tool for setting up the appropriate DHCP parameters for the client.

Network Installation

To do a network installation, use the -l option and provide a path to the network installation image. When giving a machine name or IP address, the domU must be able to get to that install machine directly, not go through a router to another net. For example:

-l nfs:install:/export/xvm/xvmgate-70i72-nd

You can also use an IP address instead of a machine name. For example:

-l nfs:172.20.25.12:/export/xvm/xvmgate-70i72-nd

Example 39–1 Network Installation

virt-install -n gath-01 -r 1000 --nographics -f /dev/dsk/c1t0d0s3 \
-m "aa:04:03:35:a8:06" -p \
-l nfs:install48:/export/xvm/xvmgate-70i72-nd

ISO Image Installation

To use the ISO image, use the -l option with a full path to the ISO image. If a full path is given instead of the nfs:mach_name:path format of a network installation, then virt-install assumes that this is an ISO image:

-l /net/install/export/xvm/solarisdvd.iso

Example 39–2 ISO Image

virt-install -n gath-01 -r 1000 --nographics -f /dev/dsk/c1t0d0s3 \
-m aa:04:03:35:a8:06 -p \
-l /net/install48/export/xvm/solarisdvd.iso

You can quote arguments to options. While arguments, such as the path to an ISO image, are generally not quoted on the command line, quotes might be used in scripts.

-l "/net/install48/export/xvm/solarisdvd.iso"

JumpStart Installation

JumpStart configuration files are manually created and managed. You can initiate a custom JumpStart through network installation after setting up the server. When you create a profile server, you must ensure that systems can access the JumpStart directory on the profile server during a custom JumpStart installation. Each time that you add a system for network installation, use the add_install_client command to specify the profile server. You use the add_install_client command to create the /etc/bootparams entry for the domU.

To do a JumpStart with virt-install, use the --autocf option. For example:

--autocf nfs:install:/export/jumpstart/jump-user/x86

You cannot use a full path such as:

--autocf /net/install/export/jumpstart/jump-user/x86

Example 39–3 JumpStart

virt-install -n gath-01 -r 1000 --nographics -f /dev/dsk/c1t0d0s3 \
-m aa:04:03:35:a8:06 -p \
-l /net/install48/export/xvm/xvmgate-70i72/solarisdvd.iso
--autocf nfs:install:/export/jumpstart/jump-user/x86