How to Create a Boot Server on a Subnet

You can install Solaris software over the network from any install server on the network. However, a system that needs to use an install server on another subnet requires a separate boot server on its own subnet. A boot server contains enough of the boot software to boot systems over the network, and then the install server takes over to install the Solaris software.

1. On the system that will be the boot server for the subnet, log in and become root.

   This system must have a local CD-ROM drive or have access to a remote Solaris CD image. The system must also be in the NIS or NIS+ name service. (If your site doesn't use the NIS or NIS+ name service, you must distribute information about this system by following your site's policies.)

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   Note -

   This procedure assumes that the system is running Volume Management. For detailed information about managing CDs without Volume Management, see the System Administration Guide.

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2. Determine your next step based on where you want to access the Solaris CD image from.

   You must use the Solaris CD image of the same release and platform type that is being used to install the systems.

   If You Want To...	Then ...
   Mount the Solaris CD on the boot server's CD-ROM drive	Insert the Solaris CD into the CD-ROM drive. Mount the Solaris CD (if needed). Note - Volume management automatically mounts the Solaris CD on /cdrom/cdrom0/s0 or /cdrom/cdrom0/s2.
   NFS-mount a Solaris CD image from a remote install server	Mount the Solaris CD image. # mount -F nfs -o ro server_name:path /mnt where server_name:path is the host name and absolute path to the Solaris CD image. Change directory to the mounted Solaris CD image. # cd /mnt

3. Change directory to the Tools directory on the Solaris CD image.

   # cd Solaris_2.6/Tools

4. Copy the boot software to the boot server by using the setup_install_server command.

   # ./setup_install_server -b boot_dir_path

   -b	Specifies that the system will be set up as a boot server.
   boot_dir_path	Specifies the directory where the boot software will be copied. The directory must be empty.

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   Note -

   The setup_install_server command will indicate if you do not have enough disk space to copy the platform dependent information. Use the df -kl command to determine available disk space.

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Example-Creating a Boot Server on a Subnet

The following example creates a boot server on a subnet by copying the boot software from the Solaris CD image to /export/install/boot on the system's local disk.

# cd /cdrom/cdrom0/s0/Solaris_2.6/Tools
# ./setup_install_server -b /export/install/boot

Where to Go Next

The boot server is now set up to boot supported systems on a subnet. To continue, go to "Setting Up Systems to Be Installed Over the Network".