Accessing the GUI or Console-based Installations

You can choose to install the software with a GUI or with or without a windowing environment. Given sufficient memory, the GUI is displayed by default. If the memory is insufficient for the GUI, other environments are displayed by default. You can override defaults with the nowin or text boot options. But, you are limited by the amount of memory in your system or by installing remotely. Also, if the Solaris installation program does not detect a video adapter, the program is automatically displayed in a console-based environment. The following table describes these environments and lists minimal memory requirements for displaying them.

Detailed descriptions for each installation option are as follows:

Installation with 128–383 MB minimal memory

This option contains no graphics, but provides a window and the ability to open other windows. This option requires a local or remote DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive or network connection, video adapter, keyboard, and monitor. If you install by using the text boot option and have enough memory, you are installing in a windowing environment. If you are installing remotely through a tip line or by using the nowin boot option, you are limited to the console-based installation.

Installation with 384 MB memory or greater

This option provides windows, pull-down menus, buttons, scrollbars, and iconic images. A GUI requires a local or remote DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive or network connection, video adapter, keyboard, and monitor.