This chapter applies to the Sun Fire X4600 and X4600 M2 servers, unless otherwise noted.
About Solaris OS Installation
This chapter describes some of what you need to know to install the Solaris Operating System (Solaris OS) for x86/x64 platforms on a Sun Fire X4600 server. It points you to the Solaris OS documentation for more detailed information.
This chapter contains instructions for installing the Solaris 10 operating system from the network or media. If you are configuring the preinstalled Solaris 10 5/08 operating system that is shipped with the server, refer to the Sun Fire X4600 and Sun Fire X4600 M2 Server Installation Guide (819-4341).
| Note - This chapter is intended for experienced system administrators who are familiar with using the Solaris OS on an x86/x64 platform.
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Overview
This Solaris release supports systems that use the SPARC and x86 families of processor architectures: UltraSPARC, SPARC64, IA-32, AMD64.
The supported SPARC-based systems are listed in the Solaris Sun Hardware Platform Guide at http://docs.sun.com. The supported x86 based systems appear in the Solaris Hardware Compatibility List at http://www.sun.com/bigadmin/hcl.
In this document the term “x86” refers to the Intel 32-bit family of microprocessors and compatible 64-bit and 32-bit microprocessors made by AMD. For supported systems, see the Solaris Hardware Compatibility List.
The minimum Solaris OS for a Sun Fire X4600 server is Solaris 10 5/08 for the x86/x64 family of 64-bit and 32-bit AMD processors.
| Note - The Solaris 10 Operating System box contains the CD and DVD media and documentation that you will need to install the Solaris OS software for both SPARC and x86/x64 platforms. For a Sun Fire X4600 server, use the media for x86 platforms.
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The Sun Fire X4600 server supports the following Solaris OS installation methods:
- Install on one server from DVD or CD-ROM media interactively with the Solaris installation program.
- Install on one or several servers over the network with Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) technology and the following installation methods:
- Solaris installation program over the network from remote DVD or CD images
- JumpStart
installation
- Diskless boot
- Installation using a serial console
- Boot from the preinstalled Solaris 10 5/08 OS image on the hard drive (refer to the Sun Fire X4600 Server Installation Guide, 819-4341).
The Solaris Installation Program on the Solaris 10 Operating System DVD or CD can be run with a graphical user interface (GUI) or as an interactive text installer in a console session. The Solaris Device Configuration Assistant is included in the Solaris Installation Program.
Use TABLE 3-1 to identify the tasks you need to perform to install the Solaris OS.
TABLE 3-1 Task Map for Initial Solaris OS Installation
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Task
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Description
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Instructions
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Set up your server.
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Install your server hardware and configure the service processor.
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Sun Fire X4600 Server Installation Guide (819-4341)
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Review the Sun Fire X4600 Server Product Notes.
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The Product Notes contain late-breaking news about the Solaris OS software and patches.
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Sun Fire X4600 Server Product Notes (819-4347)
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Review the system requirements.
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Verify that your server meets the minimum system requirements.
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TABLE 3-2
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Gather the information you need to install the Solaris OS.
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The type of information you need to collect depends on your environment and the method you choose to install the Solaris OS.
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About Solaris OS Installation.
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Locate the Solaris OS documentation.
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The Solaris OS documentation included with your software contains most of what you need to know about installation.
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Where to Find Solaris 10 Information.
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Install the Solaris OS.
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Choose an installation method and locate the installation instructions.
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TABLE 3-3.
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TABLE 3-2 Minimum System Requirements
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Requirement
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Description
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Hardware requirements
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The server hardware and the initial service processor configuration (if used) must be installed before you install the Solaris OS.
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Minimum Solaris OS
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Solaris 10 5/08 for x86/x64 platforms or later compatible versions.
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Memory to install
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1 Gbytes is the recommended size. 256 Mbytes is the minimum size.
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Disk space
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12 Gbytes or greater.
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Swap area
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512 Mbytes is the default size.
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x86/x64 processor requirements
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x86/x64 120-MHz or faster processor is recommended. Hardware floating point support is required.
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BIOS
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Industry standard x86/x64 BIOS (resident in FLASH). The BIOS must be able to boot from CD or DVD media.
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TABLE 3-3 Installation Methods
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Method
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Description
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Instructions
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Install from DVD or CD-ROM media.
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Use the Solaris Installation Program on the CD or DVD media to install one server interactively.
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Follow the instructions for x86 installation in Solaris 10 Installation Guide: Basic Installations at
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/817-0544
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Install from the network by using PXE.
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You need to use PXE to install the Solaris OS over the network from remote DVD or CD images or to automate the installation process and install several systems with a JumpStart installation.
To boot over the network by using PXE, you need to set up an install server and a DHCP server, and configure the BIOS on each server to boot from the network.
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Follow the instructions for an x86 PXE installation, in Solaris 10 Installation Guide: Network-Based Installations at
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/817-5504
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Use a serial console to install the Solaris OS in a PXE-based network installation.
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Follow the instructions for an x86 PXE installation in Solaris 10 Installation Guide: Network-Based Installations at
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/817-5504
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Boot the Solaris OS on a Sun Fire X4600 server without a hard drive. Use this method with a PXE-based network installation.
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Follow the instructions for an x86 PXE installation in Solaris 10 Installation Guide: Network-Based Installations at
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/817-5504
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Boot from the preinstalled image.
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Depending on your configuration, a Solaris OS image may be preinstalled on a hard drive.
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Sun Fire X4600 Server Installation Guide
(819-4341)
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| Note - The Solaris OS provides additional programs for installation, such as booting over a wide area network (WAN), but the Sun Fire X4600 server supports only those methods listed in this document.
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Where to Find Solaris 10 Information
Solaris 10 OS documentation is available from the web at: http://docs.sun.com/
Select Solaris 10 to display the list of documents in the Solaris 10 Documentation Collection. Make sure to follow instructions specific to x86 systems, where specified.
Solaris 10 documentation is also available on the Solaris Documentation DVD included with your Solaris OS software.
| Sun Fire X4600 and X4600 M2 Servers Linux, ESX, and Solaris OS Installation Guide
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819-4345-23
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Copyright © 2009 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved.