Planning to Create the Solaris Flash Archive for an Initial Installation

After you install the master system, the next task in the Solaris Flash installation process is to create a Solaris Flash archive. Files on the master system are copied to a Solaris Flash archive along with various pieces of identification information. You can create a Solaris Flash archive while the master system is running in multiuser mode or single-user mode. You can also create a Solaris Flash archive after you boot from one of the following:

• Solaris Operating System DVD

• Solaris Software - 1 CD

• An image of the Solaris Software CDs and the Solaris Languages CD

A Solaris Flash archive cannot be properly created when a non-global zone is installed. The Solaris Flash feature is not compatible with the Solaris Zones partitioning technology. If you create a Solaris Flash archive, the resulting archive is not installed properly when the archive is deployed under these conditions:

• The archive is created in a non-global zone

• The archive is created in a global zone that has non-global zones installed

Creating Solaris Flash Archives With RAID-1 Volumes

You can create a Solaris Flash archive when you have Solaris Volume Manager RAID-1 volumes configured. The Solaris Flash creation software removes all RAID-1 volume information from the archive to keep the integrity of the clone system. With custom JumpStart you can rebuild the RAID-1 volumes by using a JumpStart profile. With Solaris Live Upgrade, you create a boot environment with RAID-1 volumes configured and install the archive. The Solaris installation program cannot be used to install RAID-1 volumes with a Solaris Flash archive.

• For examples of RAID-1 volumes in JumpStart profiles, see Profile Examples in Solaris 10 6/06 Installation Guide: Custom JumpStart and Advanced Installations.

• For examples of Solaris Live Upgrade boot environments configured with RAID-1 volumes, see Creating a New Boot Environment in Solaris 10 6/06 Installation Guide: Solaris Live Upgrade and Upgrade Planning.

Veritas VxVM stores configuration information in areas not available to Solaris Flash. If Veritas VxVm file systems have been configured, you should not create a Solaris Flash archive. Also, Solaris install, including JumpStart and Solaris Live Upgrade do not support rebuilding VxVM volumes at installation time. Therefore, if you are planning to deploy Veritas VxVM software using a Solaris Flash archive, the archive must be created prior to configuring the VxVM file systems. The clone systems must be then configured individually after the archive has been applied and the system rebooted.