Solaris 10 5/09 Installation Guide: Network-Based Installations

Chapter 9 Installing From the Network (Command Reference)

This chapter lists the commands used to set up network installations. This chapter includes the following topics.

Network Installation Commands

This table describes the commands you use to install Solaris software over the network. The table also indicates to which platform the commands apply.

Command	Platform	Description
`add_install_client`	All	A command that adds network installation information about a system to an install server or boot server from the network. The `add_install_client`(1M) man page contains more information.
`setup_install_server`	All	A script that copies the current Solaris release DVD or CDs to an install server's local disk or copies the boot software to a boot server. The setup_install_server(1M) man page contains more information.
(CD media only) `add_to_install_server`	All	A script that copies additional packages within a product tree on the CDs to the local disk on an existing install server. The add_to_install_server(1M) man page contains more information.
`mount`	All	A command that enables the mounting of file systems and shows the mounted file systems, including the file system on the Solaris DVD or Solaris Software and Solaris Languages CDs. The mount(1M) man page contains more information.
`showmount -e`	All	A command that lists all the shared file systems that are located on a remote host. The showmount(1M) man page contains more information.
`uname -i`	All	A command for determining a system's platform name, for example, SUNW,Ultra-5_10, or i86pc. You might need the system's platform name when you install the Solaris software. The uname(1) man page contains more information.
`patchadd -C` `net_install_image`	All	A command to add patches to the files that are located in the miniroot, `Solaris_10 /Tools/Boot`, on a net installation image of a DVD or CD that is created by `setup_install_server`. This facility enables you to patch Solaris installation commands and other miniroot-specific commands. `net_install_image` is the absolute path name of the net installation image. Caution – Don't use the `patchadd -C` command unless you have read the `Patch README` instructions or have contacted your local Sun support office. For more information, see the following references: Chapter 7, Patching the Miniroot Image (Tasks) The patchadd(1M) man page contains more information.
`reset`	SPARC	An Open Boot PROM command for resetting the system and rebooting the machine. Or, if you boot and see a series of error messages about I/O interrupts, press the Stop and A keys at the same time, and then type `reset` at the `ok` or `>` PROM prompt.
`banner`	SPARC	An Open Boot PROM command that displays system information, such as model name, Ethernet address, and memory installed. You can issue this command only at the `ok` or `>` PROM prompt.

x86: GRUB Menu Commands for Installation

You can customize the network boot and installation of your system by editing the commands in the GRUB menu. This section describes several commands and arguments you can insert in the commands in the GRUB menu.

In the GRUB menu, you can access the GRUB command line by typing b at the prompt. A command line that is similar to the following output is displayed.

kernel /Solaris_10_x86/multiboot kernel/unix 
-B install_media=192.168.2.1:/export/cdrom0/boot
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

You can edit this command line to customize your boot and installation. The following list describes several common commands you might want to use. For a complete list of boot arguments that you can use with the -B option, see the eeprom(1M) man page.

Note –

To add multiple arguments with the -B option, separate the arguments with a comma.

Table 9–1 x86: GRUB Menu Commands and Options

Command/Option

Description and Examples

install

Insert this option before the -B option to perform a custom JumpStart installation.

kernel /Solaris_10_x86/multiboot install 
-B install_media=192.168.2.1:/export/cdrom0/boot
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

url|ask

Specifies the location of the custom JumpStart files or prompts you for the location. Insert either option with the install option.

url - Specifies the path to the files. You can specify a URL for files that are located in the following places:

Local hard disk

file://jumpstart_dir_path/compressed_config_file

For example:

kernel /Solaris_10_x86/multiboot install 
file://jumpstart/config.tar 
-B install_media=192.168.2.1:/export/cdrom0/boot
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

NFS server

nfs://server_name:IP_address/jumpstart_dir_path/compressed_config_file

For example:

kernel /Solaris_10_x86/multiboot install 
myserver:192.168.2.1/jumpstart/config.tar 
-B install_media=192.168.2.1:/export/cdrom0/boot
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

HTTP server
http://server_name:IP_address/jumpstart_dir_path/ compressed_config_file&proxy_info
- If you placed a sysidcfg file in the compressed configuration file, you must specify the IP address of the server that contains the file, as in the following example:
  kernel /Solaris_10_x86/multiboot install http://192.168.2.1/jumpstart/config.tar -B install_media=192.168.2.1:/export/cdrom0/boot module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive
- If you saved the compressed configuration file on an HTTP server that is behind a firewall, you must use a proxy specifier during boot. You do not need to specify an IP address for the server that contains the file. You must specify an IP address for the proxy server, as in the following example:
  kernel /Solaris_10_x86/multiboot install http://www.shadow.com/jumpstart/config.tar&proxy=131.141.6.151 -B install_media=192.168.2.1:/export/cdrom0/boot module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

url|ask (continued)

ask - When used with the install option, specifies that the installation program prompt you to type the location of the compressed configuration file after the system boots and connects to the network. If you use this option, you are not able to do a completely hands off JumpStart installation.

If you bypass the prompt by pressing Return, the Solaris installation program interactively configures the network parameters. The installation program then prompts you for the location of the compressed configuration file.

The following example performs a custom JumpStart and boots from a network installation image. You are prompted to input the location of the configuration file after the system connects to the network.
kernel /Solaris_10_x86/multiboot install ask -B install_media=192.168.2.1:/export/cdrom0/boot module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

dhcp

Insert this option before the -B option to instruct the installation programs to use a DHCP server to obtain network installation information that is needed to boot the system. If you do not specify to use a DHCP server by typing dhcp, the system uses the /etc/bootparams file or the naming service bootparams database. For example, you would not specify dhcp if you wanted keep a static IP address.

kernel /Solaris_10_x86/multiboot dhcp 
-B install_media=192.168.2.1:/export/cdrom0/boot
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

- text

Insert this option before the -B option to perform a text-based installation in a desktop session.

kernel /Solaris_10_x86/multiboot - text 
-B install_media=192.168.2.1:/export/cdrom0/boot
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

- nowin

Insert this option before the -B option to perform a text-based installation in a console session.

kernel /Solaris_10_x86/multiboot - nowin 
-B install_media=192.168.2.1:/export/cdrom0/boot
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

console=serial-console

Use this argument with the -B option to instruct the system to use a serial console, such as ttya (COM1) or ttyb (COM2).

kernel /Solaris_10_x86/multiboot -B console=ttya 
install_media=192.168.2.1:/export/cdrom0/boot
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

ata-dma-enabled=[0|1]

Use this argument with the -B option to enable or disable Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) or Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) devices and Direct Memory Access (DMA) during the installation.

kernel /Solaris_10_x86/multiboot -B ata-dma-enabled=0 
install_media=192.168.2.1:/export/cdrom0/boot
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

acpi-enum=[0|1]

Use this argument with the -B option to enable or disable Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI ) power management.

kernel /Solaris_10_x86/multiboot -B acpi-enum=0 
install_media=192.168.2.1:/export/cdrom0/boot
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

atapi-cd-dma-enabled=[0|1]

Use this argument with the -B option to enable or disable DMA for CD or DVD drives during the installation.

kernel /Solaris_10_x86/multiboot -B atapi-cd-dma-enabled=0
install_media=192.168.2.1:/export/cdrom0/boot
module /platform/i86pc/boot_archive

Note –

The DMA name atapi is the current variable name used for DMA. This variable is subject to change.