The Solaris installation programs for x86 based systems use the GRUB boot loader. This procedure describes how to install a standalone x86 based system with the GRUB bootloader from CD or DVD media. For overview information about the GRUB boot loader, see Chapter 6, GRUB Based Booting for Solaris Installation, in Solaris 10 11/06 Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade.
If you want to install the Solaris OS on a machine or domain that does not have a directly attached DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive, you can use a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive that is attached to another machine. For detailed instructions, refer to Appendix B, Installing or Upgrading Remotely (Tasks), in Solaris 10 11/06 Installation Guide: Network-Based Installations.
Perform the following tasks before you begin your installation.
Ensure that you have the following media.
If you are installing from a DVD, use the Solaris Operating System for x86 Platforms DVD.
If you are installing from CD media, use the following:
Solaris Software CDs.
Solaris Languages for x86 Platforms CD – The installation program prompts you for this CD if necessary to support languages for specific geographic regions.
If you want to upgrade a system that has non-global zones installed, you cannot use the Solaris Software CDs. You must use the Solaris Operating System DVD or a DVD-based network installation image.
Check your system BIOS to make sure you can boot from CD or DVD media.
Acquire any install time updates (ITUs) or drivers that you need to install the Solaris OS on your hardware. To determine if you need an ITU or additional drivers, see your hardware documentation.
Verify that your system meets the minimum requirements.
Your system should meet the following requirements.
Memory – 512 Mbytes or greater
Disk space – 6.8 Gbytes or greater
Processor speed – 120 MHz or greater with hardware floating point
For detailed information about system requirements, see System Requirements and Recommendations.
If you are installing the Solaris OS on a system that is not produced by Sun Microsystems, Inc., check the Solaris Hardware Compatibility List at http://www.sun.com/bigadmin/hcl before you begin to install.
Gather the information you need to install the Solaris OS.
For a nonnetworked system, gather the following information.
Host name of the system that you are installing
Language and locales that you intend to use on the system
For a networked system, gather the following information.
Starting with the Solaris 10 11/06 release, you have the option during an initial installation to change the network security settings so that all network services, except Secure Shell, are disabled or restricted to respond to local requests only. This security option is only available during an initial installation, not during an upgrade. An upgrade maintains any previously set services. If necessary, you can restrict network services after an upgrade by using the netservices command. See Planning Network Security in Solaris 10 11/06 Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade.
The network services can be enabled after installation by using the netservices open command or by enabling individual services by using SMF commands. See Revising Security Settings After Installation in Solaris 10 11/06 Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade.
Host name of the system that you are installing
Language and locales that you intend to use on the system
Host IP address
Subnet mask
Type of naming service (for example, DNS, NIS, or NIS+)
Domain name
Host name of the name server
Host IP address of the name server
Root password
For information that you need to gather to install your system, see Checklist for Installation. If you are upgrading your system, see Checklist for Upgrading in Solaris 10 11/06 Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade.
(Optional) Back up your system.
If you want to preserve any existing data or applications, back up the system. For detailed instructions about how to back up your system, see Chapter 24, Backing Up and Restoring File Systems (Overview), in System Administration Guide: Devices and File Systems.
Insert the appropriate media in your system.
If you boot from the Solaris Operating System DVD or the Solaris Software - 1 CD, insert the disc. Your system's BIOS must support booting from a DVD or CD.
You might need to manually set your BIOS to boot from a DVD or CD. See your hardware documentation for more information about how to set the BIOS.
Boot the system by shutting it down and then turning it off and on.
If you need to manually set the BIOS to boot from CD or DVD, type the appropriate key sequence to interrupt your system boot process.
Modify the boot priority in the BIOS, and exit the BIOS to return to the installation program.
A memory test and hardware detection are executed. The screen refreshes. The GRUB menu is displayed.
GNU GRUB version 0.95 (631K lower / 2095488K upper memory) +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Solaris | | Solaris Serial Console ttya | | Solaris Serial Console ttyb (for lx50, v60x and v65x) | | | | | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Use the ^ and v keys to select which entry is highlighted. Press enter to boot the selected OS, 'e' to edit the commands before booting, or 'c' for a command-line. |
Select the appropriate installation option.
If you want to install the Solaris OS from CD or DVD on your current system, select Solaris, then press Enter.
Select this option if you want to install the system by using the default values.
If you want to install the Solaris OS and send the screen output to serial console ttya (COM1), select Solaris Serial Console ttya.
Select this option if you want to change the system display to a device that is connected to serial port COM1.
If you want to install the Solaris OS and send the screen output to serial console ttyb (COM2), select Solaris Serial Console ttyb.
Select this option if you want to change the system display to a device that is connected to serial port COM2.
If you want to install the Solaris OS with specific boot arguments, follow these steps.
You might want to use specific boot arguments to customize the system configuration during the installation.
On the GRUB menu, select the installation option you want to edit, then press e.
Boot commands that are similar to the following text are displayed in the GRUB menu.
kernel /boot/multiboot kernel/unix -B install_media=cdrom module /boot/x86.miniroot |
Use the arrow keys to select the boot entry that you want to edit, then press e.
The boot command that you want to edit is displayed in the GRUB edit window.
Edit the command by typing the boot arguments or options you want to use.
The command syntax for the Grub edit menu is as follows.
grub edit>kernel /boot/multiboot kernel/unix/ \ install [url|ask] -B options install_media=media_type |
For information about boot arguments and command syntax, see Chapter 8, Installing From the Network (Command Reference), in Solaris 10 11/06 Installation Guide: Network-Based Installations.
To go back to the GRUB menu, press Enter.
The GRUB menu is displayed. The edits you made to the boot command are displayed.
To begin the installation, type b in the GRUB menu.
The Solaris installation program checks the default boot disk for the requirements to install or upgrade the system. If the Solaris installation cannot detect the system configuration, the program prompts you for any missing information.
When the check is completed, the installation selection screen is displayed.
The installation selection screen displays the following options.
Select the type of installation you want to perform: 1 Solaris Interactive 2 Custom JumpStart 3 Solaris Interactive Text (Desktop session) 4 Solaris Interactive Text (Console session) 5 Apply driver updates 6 Single user shell Enter the number of your choice followed by the <ENTER> key. Alternatively, enter custom boot arguments directly. If you wait 30 seconds without typing anything, an interactive installation will be started. |
To install the Solaris OS, choose from the following options.
To install with the Solaris interactive installation GUI, type 1, then press Enter.
To install with the interactive text installer in a desktop session, type 3, then press Enter. You can also type b - text at the prompt.
Select this installation type to override the default GUI installer and run the text installer.
To install with the interactive text installer in a console session, type 4, then press Enter. You can also type b - text at the prompt.
Select this installation type to override the default GUI installer and run the text installer.
If you want to perform an unattended custom JumpStart installation (option 2), see Solaris 10 11/06 Installation Guide: Custom JumpStart and Advanced Installations.
For detailed information about the Solaris installation GUI and text installer, see System Requirements and Recommendations.
The system configures the devices and interfaces, and searches for configuration files. The kdmconfig utility detects the drivers that are necessary to configure the keyboard, display, and mouse on your system. The installation program begins. Go to Step 6 to continue the installation.
To perform system administration tasks before your installation, choose from the following options.
To update drivers or install an install time update (ITU), insert the update media, type 5, then press Enter.
You might need to update drivers or install an ITU to enable the Solaris OS to run on your system. Follow the instructions for your driver update or ITU to install the update.
To perform system administration tasks, type 6, then press Enter.
You might want to launch a single user shell if you need to perform any system administration tasks on your system before you install. For information about system administration tasks you can perform prior to installation, see System Administration Guide: Basic Administration.
After you perform these system administration tasks, the previous list of options is displayed. Select the appropriate option to continue the installation.
Decide if you need to modify the configuration settings.
If the kdmconfig utility cannot detect the video driver for your system, the kdmconfig utility selects the 640x480 VGA driver. The Solaris installation GUI cannot be displayed with the 640x480 VGA driver. As a result, the Solaris installation text installer is displayed. To use the Solaris installation GUI, use the kdmconfig utility to select the correct video driver for your system.
If you do not need to modify the configuration settings, let the Window System Configuration for Installation screen time out. Go to Step 12.
If you need to modify the configuration settings follow these steps,
Press the ESC key.
You must press the ESC key within five seconds to interrupt the installation and modify device settings.
The kdmconfig – Introduction screen is displayed.
Examine the configuration information on the kdmconfig – View and Edit Window System Configuration screen, and determine which devices you need to edit.
Select the device you want to change, and press F2_Continue.
Select the appropriate driver for the device, and press F2_Continue.
Repeat Step a through Step b for each device you need to change.
When you are finished, select No changes needed – Test/Save and Exit and press F2_Continue.
The kdmconfig Window System Configuration Test screen appears.
Press F2_Continue.
The screen refreshes and the kdmconfig Window System Configuration Test palette and pattern screen appears.
Move the pointer and examine the colors that are shown on the palette to ensure that they are displayed accurately.
If the colors are not displayed accurately, click No. If possible, press any key on the keyboard, or wait until kdmconfig exits the kdmconfig Window System Configuration Test screen automatically. Repeat Step a through Step h until the colors are displayed accurately and you can move the pointer as expected.
If the colors are displayed accurately, click Yes.
After a few seconds, the Select a Language screen is displayed.
Select the language you want to use during the installation, and press Enter.
After a few seconds, the Solaris Installation Program screen appears.
If you are running the Solaris GUI installation program, the screen that is shown in Figure 2–5 is displayed.
If you are running the Solaris text installer in a desktop session, the screen that is shown in Figure 2–6 is displayed.
Click Next to begin the installation. If you are prompted, answer any remaining configuration questions.
If you preconfigured all of the system information, the installation program does not prompt you to enter any configuration information. See Chapter 2, Preconfiguring System Configuration Information (Tasks), in Solaris 10 11/06 Installation Guide: Network-Based Installations for more information.
If you did not preconfigure all the system information, the installation program prompts you for this information on several screens. Use the Checklist for Installation to help you answer the configuration questions.
One configuration question asks you whether you want to enable network services for use by remote clients. The default response is “Yes, I would like to enable network services for use by remote clients.”
Selecting “No” provides a more secure configuration in which Secure Shell is the only network service provided to remote clients. Selecting “Yes” enables a larger set of services as in previous Solaris releases. You can safely select “No” as any services can be enabled after installation. For further information about these options, see Planning Network Security in Solaris 10 11/06 Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade.
The network services can be enabled after installation by using the netservices open command or by enabling individual services by using SMF commands. See Revising Security Settings After Installation in Solaris 10 11/06 Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade.
After you answer the configuration questions, the Welcome to Solaris panel appears.
Decide if you want to reboot the system automatically and if you want to automatically eject the disc. Click Next.
The Specify Media screen appears.
Specify the media you are using to install. Click Next.
The License screen appears.
Accept the license agreement to continue the installation. Click Next.
The Solaris installation program then determines if the system can be upgraded. To upgrade, the system must have an existing Solaris root (/) file system. The Solaris installation program detects the necessary conditions and then upgrades the system.
The Select Upgrade or Initial Install screen appears.
Decide if you want to perform an initial installation or an upgrade. Click Next.
If you restored the diagnostic or service partition on your system before you started the installation, you might not be able to upgrade to the Solaris OS. For more information, see Service Partition Not Created by Default on Systems With No Existing Service Partition in Solaris 10 11/06 Installation Guide: Solaris Live Upgrade and Upgrade Planning.
If you are upgrading a system that has non-global zones installed, follow these steps.
When you are prompted to select initial installation or upgrade, choose Upgrade. Click Next.
If your system has multiple root (/) partitions, select the partition that you want to upgrade on the Select Version to Upgrade panel.
The Solaris installation program displays a message that indicates that you cannot customize your upgrade. The Solaris installation program analyzes your system to determine if the system can be upgraded. The Ready to Upgrade panel is displayed.
If your system has only one root partition, the Solaris installation program does not prompt you to select a partition to upgrade. The partition is automatically selected.
If you want to continue the upgrade, click Install Now on the Ready to Upgrade panel.
The Solaris installation program begins to upgrade your system. After the upgrade is completed, you might need to correct some local modifications that were not preserved. For more information, go to Step a in Step 15.
If you do not want to continue the upgrade, click Back to perform an initial installation.
Select the type of installation you want to perform. Click Next.
Select Default Install to install the Entire Solaris Software Group.
Select Custom Install if you want to perform the following tasks.
Install a specific software group
Install additional software
Install specific software packages
Install a specific locale
Customize the disk layout
For more information about software groups, see Disk Space Recommendations for Software Groups. For information about customizing fdisk partitions, see Partitioning Recommendations in Solaris 10 11/06 Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade.
The text installer does not prompt you to select a Default or Custom Installation. To perform a default installation, accept the default values that are provided in the text installer. To perform a custom installation, edit the values in the text installer screens.
If you are prompted, answer any additional configuration questions.
When you have provided the information that is required to install the system, the Ready to Install screen is displayed.
Click Install Now to install the Solaris software. Follow the instructions on the screen to install the Solaris software and any additional software on the system.
When the Solaris installation program is finished installing the Solaris software, the system reboots automatically or prompts you to reboot manually.
After the installation is finished, installation logs are saved in a file. You can find the installation logs in the /var/sadm/system/logs and /var/sadm/install/logs directories
If you did not select automatic reboot during the installation, reboot the system.
# reboot |
If you install multiple operating systems on your machine, you need to instruct the GRUB boot loader to recognize these operating systems in order to boot. For more information, see Modifying the Solaris Boot Behavior by Editing the GRUB Menu in System Administration Guide: Basic Administration.
If you encounter any problems during the installation or upgrade, see Appendix A, Troubleshooting (Tasks), in Solaris 10 11/06 Installation Guide: Custom JumpStart and Advanced Installations.