x86: Keyboard Configuration Automated

Starting with this release, the sysidkbd tool configures your USB language and its corresponding keyboard layout on x86 systems.

With the new sysidkbd tool, the following procedure occurs:

• If the keyboard is self-identifying, the keyboard language and layout automatically configures during installation.

• If the keyboard is not self-identifying, the sysidkbd tool provides you with a list of supported keyboard layouts during installation, so that you can select a layout for keyboard configuration.

Previously, the USB keyboard assumed a self-identifying value of one during the installation. Therefore, all of the keyboards that were not self-identifying always configured for a U.S. English keyboard layout during installation on SPARC.

PS/2 keyboards are not self-identifying. You will have to select the keyboard layout during the installation.

JumpStart Specifications: If the keyboard is not self-identifying and you want to prevent being prompted during your JumpStart installation, select the keyboard language in your sysidcfg file. For JumpStart installation, the default is for a U.S. English keyboard layout. To select another language and its corresponding keyboard layout, set the keyboard keyword in your sysidcfg file .

For more information, see the Solaris Express Installation Guide: Network-Based Installations.

This feature was introduced for SPARC systems in the Solaris Express 10/06 release. See SPARC: New sysidkbd Tool Configures Your Keyboard.