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Sun N1 System Manager 1.3 Introduction

Install an OS on the Managed Servers

The capability of installing an OS on multiple managed servers from a single interface is one of the core features of the N1 System Manager. Installing an OS on a managed server for the first time is a three-step process:

  1. The N1 System Manager must have system access to an OS distribution before it can be installed on the managed servers or provisioned to diskless clients. Use the create os command to copy an OS distribution to the N1 System Manager or to provide access to a RIS server for Windows. Use the show os command to view the available OS distributions on the N1 System Manager.

    For further information, see the following:

  2. An OS profile specifies which operating system components to install, which additional files and programs to install with the operating system, and configuration information such as the root password and the disk partitioning specifications. OS profiles enable you to install and configure a group of servers consistently. You can create one or more OS profiles depending on how many different ways the servers need to be installed.

    Note –

    A default OS profile is automatically created for each newly created OS distribution, with the same name as the OS distribution.

    The browser interface provides a wizard to help you create an OS profile. You can also create an OS profile using the command line. In both instances, once an OS profile is created, you can display it in the browser interface under Task Shortcuts or by using the show osprofile command.

  3. The browser interface provides a wizard to help you install an OS distribution on a single managed server or group of managed servers. You can also use the command line load server or load group commands.

    To start the wizard that loads an OS profile onto a managed server from the browser interface System Dashboard, use one of the following methods:

    • Select the managed server or managed server group, and then choose Load an OS Profile on the Actions menu.

    • Drag the OS profile from the Task Shortcuts pane and drop it on the managed server or managed server group.

    For information about how to install a UNIX distribution, see Installing the UNIX OS on Managed Servers in Sun N1 System Manager 1.3 Operating System Provisioning Guide.

    For information about how to install a Microsoft Windows distribution, see Chapter 3, Provisioning Windows Operating Systems, in Sun N1 System Manager 1.3 Operating System Provisioning Guide.

After you perform step 1 for an particular OS and create the appropriate OS profiles mentioned in step 2, installing an OS becomes a single step, even on multiple servers.