Solaris 7 (Intel Platform Edition) Installation Library

Chapter 4 Using Solaris Web Start

This chapter explains how to use the Solaris Web Start utility to install the contents of the Solaris software product box only. For information about using Web Start to install software from a product CD after installation of the Solaris operating environment, see "Adding Software With Solaris Web Start".

For instructions on what to do, turn to "Running Solaris Web Start".

For background and reference information, turn to:

Before using Solaris Web Start, be sure to refer to the Solaris Release Notes to find out if there are limitations of this installation method for your system.

For general instructions on planning installations or choosing an installation method, refer to Chapter 1, Planning and Starting Your Installation.

What Is Solaris Web Start?

Solaris Web Start is the Sun point-and-click "virtual assistant" for installing software.

Through Solaris Web Start, you can easily select and install all the software in your Solaris software product box, including the Solaris software group, Solstice^TM utilities, and other co-packaged software.

Use Solaris Web Start to select exactly the software combination to suit your needs, or just click the Default Installation button to install the default software selections immediately.

How Does Solaris Web Start Work?

Solaris Web Start lets you choose the software you want to install on your machine and creates a profile that reflects your software selections (or the default selections). Solaris Web Start uses the Solaris JumpStart^TM utility to read the profile automatically, thus installing the Solaris software and the other selected software products with minimal intervention.

About Solaris Web Start's Default Behavior and Limitations

Table 4-1 summarizes what Solaris Web Start does and does not let you do, as well as what it does by default.

Table 4-1 Solaris Web Start's Default Behavior and Limitations


By Default ...	Lets You ...	Doesn't Let You ...
Creates `root` and swap partitions on the system disk	Change the size of partitions	--
Sets up the system disk	Set up other disks using Lay Out File Systems in the Customized Installation option	--
Creates an `/opt` partition for co-packaged software	Create additional partitions and file systems	Store co-packaged software in a partition other than `/opt`
Installs English versions of the Solaris operating environment	Choose additionally to install localized Solaris versions	Omit installation of the English version of the Solaris operating environment

Solaris Web Start determines dynamically what products to install by default. This decision is based on:

Which product box you purchased
Whether you're installing a server or a desktop system
What Solaris language you're installing
How large your computer's boot disk is

The Solaris Web Start interface always reflects the appropriate defaults for your situation. These defaults are summarized in tabular form when you select the Default Installation option.

Product-Specific Defaults

Some default decisions are made by Solaris Web Start on a per-product basis. For Solaris Documentation, Solaris Web Start installs both the server and data packages. If you want only one of these packages, install it manually after running Solaris Web Start.

Limitations of Default Installation on Multiple-Disk Systems

If you are installing software on a system that has multiple disks, you should be aware that the Default Installation option sets up only the system disk. Other disks will not be recognized by the operating system unless you manually set up file systems on them, mount the file systems, and create entries for them in /etc/vfstab. For details, see the "Managing File Systems" chapter of System Administration Guide, Volume I, as well as the reference manual page for format.

If you want Solaris Web Start to set up all the disks in your system, use the Customized Installation option and select all those disks using Lay Out File Systems.

About Using Solaris Web Start With an Install Server

The typical way to install Solaris software on a computer is through the system's CD-ROM drive. However, you can install Solaris over the network instead of from the system's CD-ROM drive.

Doing this involves setting up an install server: a machine on which an image of Solaris software exists. This image can be transferred over the network to other computers, so you can easily perform replicated installations.

The details of setting up an install server and performing network-based installations are beyond the scope of this document (see Solaris Advanced Installation Guide). However, having set up an install server with a Solaris image, you can use Solaris Web Start in conjunction with it.

Getting Started

When you boot a system to start the installation, choose to boot from an install server on the network (NET) instead of the system's CD-ROM (CD). This will bring up Solaris Web Start.

Solaris Web Start Install Server Process

Use Solaris Web Start in the usual way, selecting the desired software and configurations, or accepting the defaults.

Solaris Web Start checks your selections against the image on the install server. If the software you request exists on the install server, it is transferred over the network and installed on the client. If a particular program you requested does not exist on the install server, Solaris Web Start prompts you to supply the appropriate CD-ROM.

About Manual File System Layout

Solaris Web Start lays out file systems for you automatically. It mirrors what the Solaris Interactive Installation program does.

The file system configurations that Solaris Web Start automatically provides will be adequate for virtually any situation. However, you might consider laying out file systems manually if:

There are other products, not included in your product box, that you need to install, and these products must share the same file systems (root, /usr, and /swap) used by the co-packaged software in the product box.
Your experience has been that the file systems provided by Solaris Interactive Installation do not work for your situation.

If you do need to lay out file systems manually, Solaris Web Start gives you the tools to do so easily. A series of simple screens break down the job of setting up file systems into manageable chunks in which you:

Select which disks you want
Select which file systems you want
Create, rename, move, delete, expand, or shrink file systems
View a summary of your choices and confirm them

Note -

Editing file systems requires advanced system administrator's knowledge. You should not alter file system layouts unless you are experienced in this area.

Running Solaris Web Start

You can use Solaris Web Start to install the Solaris software on a new system or over a previously installed system. You can't use Solaris Web Start to upgrade a system from a previous version of the Solaris software.

Caution -

Installing Solaris over a previous installation wipes out all the software and data that was previously stored on the system disk. Depending on the size of the system disk and on what software you choose to install, Solaris Web Start may also wipe out existing data on other disks.

Insert the Solaris CD into the system's CD-ROM drive.

Insert the Solaris Device Configuration Assistant diskette into the system's boot diskette drive (usually the A: 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

If you choose to boot from an install server on the network, you must have an install server set up. See "About Using Solaris Web Start With an Install Server" for more details.

Select Solaris Web Start.

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.

Follow the instructions that appear on your computer's screen.