Servers Required for Network Installation

As shown in Figure 7-1, systems that install Solaris software over the network require:

• Install server - A networked system that provides a Solaris CD image for systems on the network to install from. You can create an install server by copying the Solaris CD to the server's hard disk or by mounting the Solaris CD from its CD-ROM drive.

  By copying Solaris CDs, you enable a single install server to provide Solaris CD images for multiple releases, including Solaris CD images for different platforms. For example, a SPARC install server could provide the Solaris 2.6 and Solaris 7 CD images for SPARC systems, and the same SPARC install server could also provide the Solaris 7 CD image for x86 systems.

• Name server - A system that manages a distributed network database (such as NIS or NIS+) containing information about users and other systems on the network.

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  Note -

  The install server and name server may be the same or separate systems.

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• Boot server - A system used to boot the system to be installed over the network. A boot server and install server are typically the same system. However, if the system to be installed is on a different subnet than the install server, a boot server is required on that subnet.

  A single boot server can provide Solaris boot software for multiple releases, including the Solaris boot software for different platforms. For example, a SPARC boot server could provide the Solaris 2.6 and Solaris 7 boot software for SPARC systems, and the same SPARC boot server could also provide the Solaris 7 boot software for x86 systems.

• OS server - A system that provides Solaris operating environment software including services and/or file systems.

Figure 7-1 Network Installation Servers