Solaris Advanced Installation Guide

x86: How to Perform a Custom JumpStart Installation

Check Table 3-3 to make sure the system to be installed is set up for a custom JumpStart installation.

Table 3-3 x86: Setting Up a System for a Custom JumpStart Installation: Task Map


Task	Description	For Instructions, Go To
Determine if you need to preserve an existing operating system and user data	If the system has an existing operating system that uses the entire disk, you will have to preserve the existing operating system so it can co-exist with the Solaris software. This decision will determine how to specify the `fdisk` keyword in the system's profile.	Appendix F, x86: Preserving Existing Operating Systems and User Data

Check if the system is supported	Check the hardware documentation to see if the system is supported for Solaris 2.6.	"Supported Hardware" in the Information Library for Solaris 2.6 (Intel Platform Edition)

Decide how to upgrade the system if it has a previous version of Solaris installed	If the system has a previous Solaris release installed, you need to determine how to upgrade the system. Make sure you know what to do before and after you upgrade a system; this will help you set up your profiles, begin scripts, and finish scripts.	Chapter 4, Upgrading a System

Check if the system has enough disk space for the Solaris software	Optional. There are many considerations when planning disk space, such as deciding which software group you want to install.	Appendix A, Planning Disk Space

Preconfigure system configuration information	Optional. You can use the `sysidcfg` file or the name service to preconfigure installation information (for example, `locale`) for a system, so you won't be prompted to supply the information during the installation.	Chapter 6, Preconfiguring System Configuration Information

Prepare system for custom Jumpstart installation	You need to do some initial setup work before you can install a system using custom JumpStart.	Chapter 8, Preparing Custom JumpStart Installations

Set up system to install over the network	For network installations only. To install a system from a remote Solaris CD image, you need to set up the system to boot and install from an install server or boot server.	Chapter 7, Preparing to Install Solaris Software Over the Network

If the system is part of a network, make sure an Ethernet connector or similar network adapter is plugged into your system.

If you are installing a system connected through a tip line, make sure that your window display is at least 80 columns wide and 24 rows long.

Otherwise, the character installation interface will be displayed improperly. You can use the stty command to determine the current dimensions of your tip window.

Insert the Configuration Assistant diskette or profile diskette into the system's boot diskette drive (usually the a: drive).

Note -
If you are using a profile diskette to perform a custom JumpStart installation, you must insert the profile diskette (which is also a copy of the Configuration Assistant diskette) into the system's a: diskette drive.

If you are using the system's CD-ROM drive to install the Solaris software on the system, insert the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.

If the system is off, turn it on. If the system is on, reboot it.

The Device Configuration Assistant program runs to identify the system's devices.

Boot from the system's CD-ROM drive (CD) or from an install server on the network (NET).

Boot Solaris
 
Select one of the identified devices to boot Solaris.
 
> To make a selection, use the arrow keys, then press Enter to mark it [X]. 
 
 
  Boot Solaris               
  -------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  [ ]  NET : Xircom Pocket Ethernet parallel port card
             Port: 3BC-3BF; IRQ: 7 
  [ ]  DISK: IDE(ATA) QUANTUM FIREBALL1080A 
             Target: 0; Port: 1F0-1F7, 3F6-3F7; IRQ: 14             
  [ ]  CD  : IDE(ATA) IBM-H2344-A4
             Target: 0; Port: 1F0-1F7, 3F6-3F7; IRQ: 14

Select the custom JumpStart installation method.

Select the type of installation you want to perform:
 
         1 Solaris Interactive
         2 Custom JumpStart
         3 Solaris Web Start
 
Enter the number of your choice followed by the <ENTER> key.
 
If you enter anything else, or if you wait for 30 seconds,
an interactive installation will be started.

If you have any problems from this point, go to Chapter 5, Troubleshooting.

If prompted, provide information about the system.

After booting, the Solaris installation program may prompt you to provide configuration information about the system. If you have preconfigured all the system configuration information, you can skip this step and go to Step 10.

Wait as the Solaris software installs on the system.

After the installation is finished, a log of how the Solaris software was installed on the system is saved to a file, as shown in Table 3-4.

Table 3-4 Installation Log Locations


If the System Was Installed Using The ...	Then the Log Is Saved To ...
Initial installation option	Before the system reboots: `/a/var/sadm/system/logs/install_log` After system reboots: `/var/sadm/system/logs/install_log`
Upgrade option	Before the system reboots: `/a/var/sadm/system/logs/upgrade_log` After system reboots: `/var/sadm/system/logs/upgrade_log`

If the system's profile allocated space for diskless clients or AutoClient systems, use Solstice Host Manager to complete the setup of those clients.