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C H A P T E R  3

Solaris Operating System Installation

This chapter includes information about installing the Solaris 10 OS and server‐specific drivers on your Sun Netra X4250 server.

This chapter includes the following sections:

Installing the OS

This section provides guidelines for installing the Solaris 10 OS. Perform the tasks in the order given.

OS Installation Overview

The procedures in this chapter cover the installation of the Solaris OS and supported drivers for a new installation. See TABLE 3-1 for the Solaris OS installation task map. Perform the tasks in the order given.


TABLE 3-1   Task Map for Initial Solaris OS Installation  
Step Task Description Instructions
1. Set up your server. Install your server hardware and configure the service processor. Sun Netra X4250 Server Installation Guide
2. Prepare your server for OS installation. Set the display environment. If necessary, erase the primary boot disk. Chapter 1, “Operating System Installation And Preparation”
3. Set up your system for a RAID or non-RAID configuration based on the SAS controller card. The Sun Netra X4250 server supports the LSI SAS controller card. Chapter 2, “RAID Configuration”
4. Review the Sun Netra X4250 Server Product Notes. The product notes contain late-breaking news about the Solaris OS software and patches. Sun Netra X4250 Server Product Notes
5. Install the Solaris OS. Choose an installation method and locate the installation instructions. OS Installation Methods
6. Install the server-specific drivers from the Tools and Drivers DVD. Install the server-specific drivers needed to run the Solaris 10 OS on the Sun Netra X4250 server. Installing Server-Specific Drivers
7. Install patches, if necessary. Patches are available from the SunSolveservice mark Patch Portal at http://www.sunsolve.sun.com Sun Netra X4250 Server Product Notes

OS Installation Methods

This section details the three methods you can use to install the Solaris OS on a Sun Netra X4250 server. See Choosing an OS Installation Method for a description of each method.

The installation methods are:


Method Section or Procedure
Install from CD/DVD media. To Use Direct Installation With CD/DVD Media and a Monitor

 –or–

To Use Direct Installation With CD/DVD Media and the Serial Port
Install from network using PXE. To Install Using JumpStart Network Installation
Install from a serial console. To Install Using the Serial Console
Install from a local console or RKVMS. To Install Using a Local Console
Install from KVMS over IP. To Install Using Remote Console With Virtual CD/DVD


Note - The Solaris OS provides additional programs for installation, such as booting over a wide area network (WAN), but the Sun Netra X4250 server supports only those methods listed in this document.


Additional Solaris 10 OS documentation is available at http://docs.sun.com/.

procedure icon  To Use Direct Installation With CD/DVD Media and a Monitor

This procedure is for an installation using CD/DVD media and a monitor connected to the Sun Netra X4250 server video port.

  1. Insert the Solaris 10 OS CD/DVD media into the CD/DVD drive.

  2. Power on the server.

    The system boots from the Solaris 10 OS CD/DVD.

  3. Follow the installation wizard to complete the installation.

procedure icon  To Use Direct Installation With CD/DVD Media and the Serial Port

This procedure describes how to redirect the system output to the serial port and install the Solaris 10 8/07 OS using direct installation with CD/DVD media.

  1. Connect either a terminal or a laptop running terminal emulation software directly to the serial port.

    For information about connecting to the ILOM using a serial connection, see the Sun Integrated Lights Out Manager 2.0 User’s Guide.

    Use the following terminal settings:

    • 8, N, 1 – eight data bits, no parity, one stop bit

    • 9600 baud rate

    • Disable software flow control (XON/XOFF)

    Press Enter.

  2. Log in to the CLI.

    The CLI prompt appears.

  3. Type the following command at the CLI prompt:


    start /SP/console

  4. Boot the system and press F2 (F4 on the remote keyboard) to enter the BIOS Setup Utility.

  5. Use the right arrow key to navigate to the Server tab.

    The left and right arrow keys enable you to access the BIOS Setup Utility menu tabs.

  6. Use the down arrow key to highlight the External Serial Port.

    Select SYS in the option box.

  7. Use the down arrow key to highlight the Remote Access.

    Set Remote Access to Enable, if not already set.

  8. Press F10 to save the changes and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.

    The system processor output should be displayed to the serial port.

  9. Insert the Solaris CD/DVD media.

    The installation process begins, and the Solaris OS GRUB menu appears.

  10. To install the Solaris OS select ttya at the GRUB menu.

  11. If you need to use SSH to remotely access the SP and manage the Solaris OS, using the start /SP/console command, perform the following steps:

    1. After the Solaris OS is installed, log in to the server as root (superuser).

    2. Edit the following lines in the /boot/solaris/bootenv.rc file to read as follows:

      setprop console ’ttya’ setprop ttya-mode 9600,8,n,1,-

    3. Edit the following line in the /boot/grub/menu.lst file to read as follows:

      kernel /platform/i86pc/multiboot -B console=ttya

  12. Reboot the system with the following command:


    reboot -- -r

  13. Press F2.

  14. Navigate to the Server tab.

  15. Use the down arrow key to highlight the External Serial Port.

    Select SP in the option box.

  16. Use the down arrow key to highlight the Remote Access.

    Set Remote Access to Enable, if not already set.

  17. Save and exit the BIOS Setup Utility.

    The SP output is now redirected to the serial port.

  18. Log in to the ILOM and type:


    –> start /SP/console

procedure icon  To Install Using JumpStart Network Installation

JumpStart is a Solaris OS installation tool that enables you to boot and install the OS over a network. The system that you use as an installation server must have a CD/DVD drive. The system must also be part of the site’s network and name service. If you use a name service, the server must already be in a name service, such as NIS, NIS+, DNS, or LDAP. If you do not use a name service, you must distribute information about this server by following your site’s policies.


Note - For basic instructions on setup and configuration for network installations, go to http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/817-5504.


  1. On the system that is to become the installation server, log in as root (superuser).

  2. Insert the Solaris 10 OS installation media in the server's CD/DVD drive.

  3. Open a terminal window.

    Type the commands in this procedure in the terminal window at the system prompt.

  4. Create a directory for the CD image:


    # mkdir -p install_dir_path

    where install_dir_path is the directory where the CD image is to be copied.

  5. Change to the Tools directory on the mounted disk: 


    # cd /cdrom/cdrom0/Solaris_10/Tools

  6. Copy the image in the drive to the installation server's hard drive:


    # ./setup_install_server install_dir_path

    where install_dir_path is the directory where the CD image is to be copied.


    Note - Executing the setup_install_server command shows whether you have enough disk space available for the Solaris 10 software disc images. To determine available disk space, use the df -kl command.


  7. Change directories to root (/):


    # cd /

  8. Eject the Solaris 10 OS installation media.

  9. Proceed with the instructions in To Install Using the Serial Console or To Install Using a Local Console.

procedure icon  To Install Using the Serial Console

This procedure is needed only if you want to force the installation output to the serial port.


Note - These steps are only for the installation output. If you want the system output to be forced out the serial port after installation, you must either follow the steps in Appendix A or create a finish script that performs the steps.


The system that you use as an installation server must include a CD/DVD drive and be part of the network and name service. If you use a name service, the system must already be in a name service, such as NIS, NIS+, DNS, or LDAP. If you do not use a name service, you must distribute information about this system by following your site's policies.

  1. On the system that is to become the installation server, log in as root (superuser).

  2. Insert the Solaris 10 (or later version) media in to the server CD/DVD drive.

  3. Create a directory for the CD image:


    # mkdir -p install_dir_path

    where install_dir_path is the directory where the CD image is to be copied.

  4. Change to the Tools directory on the mounted disk:


    # cd /cdrom/cdrom0/Solaris_10/Tools

  5. Copy the image in the drive to the installation server's hard disk:


    # ./setup_install_server install_dir_path

    where install_dir_path is the directory where the CD image is to be copied.


    Note - The setup_install_server command indicates whether you have enough disk space available for the Solaris 10 software disc images. To determine available disk space, use the df -kl command.


  6. Change directories to root (/):


    # cd /

  7. Eject the Solaris 10 media.

  8. Edit the files that are located in the miniroot on the network installation image that was created by setup_install_server.

    To edit a Solaris 10 for x86 miniroot, your server must be running the Solaris 10 (or later) for x86 release.

    1. If the installation server is not running the Solaris 10 for x86 release, log in as superuser to another system on the network that is running the Solaris 10 for x86 release.

      • If your installation server is running the Solaris 10 for x86 release, continue to Step b.

      • If you need to use a new server running the Solaris 10 for x86 release, complete the following steps:

      1. Change to the Tools directory of the installation image that you created in Step 5:


        # cd install_server_path/install_dir_path/Solaris_10/Tools

        where install_server_path is the path to the install server system on your network (for example, /net/installserver-1) and install_dir_path is the directory where the CD image was copied.

      2. Create a new installation image and place that image on the system that is running the Solaris 10 for x86 release:


        # ./setup_install_server remote_install_dir_path

        where remote_install_dir_path is the path on the Solaris 10 x86 system in which to create the new installation image.

        This command creates a temporary installation image on the Solaris 10 x86 system to enable you to patch this image.

    2. Modify the server files to enable serial console redirection.

      Edit the following lines in the /destination_dir/boot/solaris/bootenv.rc file to read as follows:

      setprop input-device ttya setprop output-device ttya setprop console ttya setprop ttya-mode 9600,8,n,1,-

  9. Type:


    # add_install_client -B console=ttya, input-device=ttya,\   output-device=ttya

    The output of the installation is pushed to the serial port.

  10. Install the Solaris 10 OS.

procedure icon  To Install Using a Local Console

  •   See the instructions at http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/817-5504.

    This installation method includes directing the server output to the local console or to a remote console (RVKM) when the local CD/DVD drive is used.


    Note - Before performing a remote installation, use the ILOM web-based interface (web GUI) to disable the session timeout function.


procedure icon  To Install Using Remote Console With Virtual CD/DVD

This method uses the Integrated Lights Out Manager’s (ILOM) Remote Console application and a remote networked server to install the OS onto the Sun Netra X4250 server. The CD/DVD drive of the remote system (virtual CD-ROM) is used to access the OS media. The output of the Sun Netra X4250 server is displayed on the remote system (remote console).

Specific details on the ILOM Remote Console application can be found in the Sun Integrated Lights Out Manager 2.0 User’s Guide.

Requirements for Remote Console installation include:

  • Remote server connected to the network.

  • One of the following browsers on the remote system – Internet Explorer, Mozilla, or Firefox.

  • CD/DVD drive connected to the remote server.

  • Media for installing the OS of your choice.

  • SP of the Sun Netra X4250 server set up as instructed in the Sun Netra X4250 Server Installation Guide.

  • You must be logged in to the remote server as root or as a user with administrator privileges.

  1. On a remote system, open a browser and enter the IP address of the service processor for the Sun Netra X4250 server on which you want to install the OS.

    The ILOM login screen appears.

  2. Enter a user name and password that has administrator privileges.

    The ILOM main screen appears.

  3. Change the session timeout.

    1. From the main menu, click the System Information tab and then click the Session Time-Out submenu tab.

      The Session Time-Out screen appears.

    2. Select 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 3 hours, and then click Apply.

  4. From the main menu, click the Remote Control tab and then click the Redirection tab.

    The Redirection screen appears with a Launch Redirection button.

  5. Click the Launch Redirection button.

    A JavaRconsole screen appears asking “Do you want to run the application?”.

  6. Click the Run button.

    The Sun ILOM Remote Console screen is displayed.

  7. Click the Device tab and select CD-ROM.

    The CD-ROM Selection screen is displayed.

  8. Choose or type the CD-ROM drive that you are using to install the OS.

  9. Insert the OS CD/DVD to be installed on the Sun Netra X4250 server into the remote CD/DVD drive.


    Note - If the local server has a CD/DVD drive, ensure that the CD/DVD drive does not contain a bootable disk. Or configure the server’s BIOS so that the virtual CD/DVD drive is higher on the boot list than the local CD/DVD drive.


  10. Install the OS.

    The instructions for installing the OS are the same as the instructions for using a local CD/DVD drive and monitor. See To Use Direct Installation With CD/DVD Media and the Serial Port.

Installing Server-Specific Drivers

You can use the methods described in the following sections to install server-specific drivers onto your Solaris 10 Sun Netra X4250 server:

procedure icon  To Use the Driver Installation Script

The driver installation script is available on the Sun Netra X4250 Server Tools and Drivers DVD image.

procedure icon  To Install the Drivers Using Remote Console

This method is for installing the drivers on a server without an attached DVD drive or monitor.

procedure icon  To Install Drivers Directly Onto the Server

If your server has an on-board DVD drive or attached DVD drive, you can install the drivers directly, using the Sun Netra X4250 Server Tools and Drivers DVD.

  1. Log in to the server as root (superuser).

  2. Insert the Tools and Drivers DVD into the DVD drive.

    The DVD is automatically mounted by the Solaris 10 OS.

  3. Change to the /cdrom/cdrom0/drivers/sx86 directory:


    # cd /cdrom/cdrom0/drivers/sx86

  4. Run the installation script:


    # sh install.sh

    The AST2000 VGA drivers are now installed.

    The script prompts you to reboot the server for changes to take effect.

  5. Reboot the server.

Installing the RAID Management Utility Software

LSI does not provide Solaris OS support for its RAID management software. If your server is equipped with an LSI SAS3081E-R controller card, you must manage RAID using the controller card’s BIOS.



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