Solaris 10 6/06 Installation Guide: Custom JumpStart and Advanced Installations

System Requirements and Recommendations

Table 3–1 Memory, Swap, and Processor Recommendations


Requirement Type	Size
Memory to install or upgrade	SPARC: 256 MB is the recommended size. 128 MB is the minimum size. x86: 512 MB is the recommended size. 256 MB is the minimum size. Note – Some optional installation features are enabled only when sufficient memory is present. For example, if you install from a DVD with insufficient memory, you install through the Solaris installation program 's text installer, not through the GUI. For more information about these memory requirements, see Table 3–2.
Swap area	512 MB is the default size. Note – You might need to customize the swap space. Swap space is based on the size of the system's hard disk.
Processor requirements	SPARC: 200–MHz or faster processor is required. x86: 120–MHz or faster processor is recommended. Hardware floating-point support is required.

You can choose to install the software with a GUI or with or without a windowing environment. If there is sufficient memory, the GUI is displayed by default. Other environments are displayed by default if memory is insufficient for the GUI. 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, it automatically displays in a console-based environment. Table 3–2 describes these environments and lists minimal memory requirements for displaying them.

Table 3–2 Memory Requirements for Display Options


Memory	Type of Installation	Description
SPARC: 128–383 MB x86: 256–511 MB	Text-based	Contains no graphics, but provides a window and the ability to open other windows. If you install by using the `text` boot option and the system has enough memory, you are installing in a windowing environment. If you are installing remotely through a `tip` line or using the `nowin` boot option, you are limited to the console-based installation.
SPARC: 384 MB or greater x86: 512 MB	GUI-based	Provides windows, pull-down menus, buttons, scrollbars, and iconic images.