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System Administration Guide

x86: Boot Subsystems

Booting an x86 system uses a Solaris Boot Options screen to specify the way in which a system should be booted.

Additionally, identifying attached devices or booting from the network or a local CD-ROM drive uses the Configuration Assistant/Boot Diskette.

Table 10-3 describes both interfaces used to boot all levels on an x86 system.

Table 10-3 x86: x86 Boot Subsystems

Boot Subsystem 

This Subsystem Menu Displays ... 

Configuration Assistant/Boot Diskette 

Solaris Device Configuration Assistant, identifies device attaches to the system. 

Solaris Boot Screen, presents a list of bootable devices such as disk, network, or CD-ROM.  

Solaris Boot Option Screen 

A list of boot options. The system automatically boots to run level 3 if you don't select an option (after a five-second time out) from this menu. The other options enable you to specify boot options or enter the boot interpreter (see boot(1M)).

During the boot process, the boot subsystem menus display different device and booting options. If the system receives no response after several time-out periods, it continues to boot automatically using default selections. You can stop the boot process when the boot subsystem menus are displayed or let it continue automatically.

The following section provides examples of each subsystem screen. Screen displays will vary based on system configurations.

x86: Configuration Assistant/Boot Diskette

During the Configuration Assistant phase, the system:

During the Boot phase, the system:

Examples of device configuration during each phase are provided below. Device output will vary based on each system configuration.

Configuration Assistant Phase

During this phase, the Configuration Assistant attempts to identify devices on the system.


Solaris Device Configuration Assistant 
 
The Solaris(TM) 2.6 (Intel Platform Edition) Device Configuration 
Assistant scans to identify the devices on the system, lists 
identified devices, and enables you to boot the Solaris software 
from a specified device. This program must be used whenever you 
install the Solaris operating environment or change the hardware 
on the system. 
 
> To perform a full scan and identify all the devices on the system, 
  choose Continue.         
 
> To perform a partial scan and identify only the automatically
  detected devices, choose Partial Scan. (Choose Partial Scan if a
  full scan has previously failed.) 
                                                                                                    F2_Continue    F4_Partial Scan    F6_Help

Scanning Devices Phase

During this phase, all devices connected to the system are scanned.


Scanning Devices  
 
The system is being scanned to identify all devices on the system.  
If the scanning stalls, press the system's reset button. When the 
system reboots, choose Partial Scan or Help. 
                                                                                                                    Building driver list --    
           |        |         |         |         |         |   
           0       20        40        60        80       100                                                                                      Please wait ...

Identifying Devices Phase

During this phase, all devices connected to the system are identified in this example.


Identified Devices  
 
The following devices have been identified in this system. To 
identify devices that on not in this list, choose Device Tasks. 
                           
    ISA: Bidirectional parallel port 
    ISA: Floppy disk controller 
    ISA: IDE controller
    ISA: Intel EtherExpress network card
    ISA: Motherboard 
    ISA: PS/2 mouse 
    ISA: Serial controller
    ISA: Serial controller 
    ISA: System keyboard    
    ISA: VGA Compatible Display Adapter  
 
 
F2_Continue    F3_Back    F4_Device Tasks    F5_Boot Solaris

Solaris Boot Phase

During this phase, you can select a device from which to boot. Select the Boot Tasks option to change the default boot device.


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
------------------------------------------------------------------         
  [ ]  DISK: IDE(ATA) QUANTUM FIREBALL1080A 
             target: 0; port: 1F0-1F7, 3F6-3F7; irq: 14      
  [ ]  NET : Intel EtherExpress network card
             port: 300-30F; irq: 5        
 
Esc-2_Boot Solaris    Esc-3_Back    Esc-4_Boot Tasks    Esc-6_Help

Solaris Boot Options Phase

During this phase, you can boot the system with a specific option or let it boot to run level 3 by default.


 
                     <<< Current Boot Parameters >>>
Boot path: /isa/ata@1f0,0/cmdk@0,0:a
Boot args: 
 
Type    b [file-name] [boot-flags]       to boot with options
or      i                                to enter boot interpreter
or                                       to boot with defaults
 
                  <<< timeout in 5 seconds >>>
 
Select (b)oot or (i)nterpreter: