Install Server Requirements

Any system that meets these requirements can be used as an AI install server, including laptops, desktops, virtual machines, and enterprise servers. The install server can be either an x86 machine or a SPARC machine. An x86 install server can install both SPARC and x86 clients, and a SPARC install server can install both SPARC and x86 clients.

AI Server Hardware Requirements

The following requirements assume the Oracle Solaris 11 OS is already installed. If you need to install or update the Oracle Solaris 11 OS on your AI install server, check Chapter 4, Using the Text Installer and Chapter 3, Using the LiveCD for memory and disk space requirements.

Memory

The minimum requirement to operate as an AI install server is 1 GB of memory.

Disk space

Additional disk space required to operate as an AI install server depends on how many install services you set up. You need a separate install service for each different client architecture that you plan to install and for each different version of the Oracle Solaris 11 OS that you plan to install on client systems. Each net image is approximately 300-400 MB.

AI Server Software Requirements

Operating system

Install the Oracle Solaris 11 OS on the AI server. To install the Oracle Solaris 11 on the AI server, see Part II, Installing Using Installation Media.

Static IP address

Configure the AI server to use a static IP address. See How to Configure an IP Interface in Oracle Solaris Administration: Network Interfaces and Network Virtualization.

Default router

Ensure that your AI server has a default route set by using the netstat(1M) command to show network status. If your AI server does not have a default route set, you can set a static default route by populating the /etc/defaultrouter(4) file with the IP address of a static default route for your server's network.

Multicast DNS

Optional: Enable the svc:/network/dns/multicast SMF service. Use the svcs(1) command to check the status of the service, and then use the svcadm(1M) command to enable the service if necessary. See Example 8-1.

Software package repository

Ensure that the install server can access an IPS software package repository. AI requires the install/installadm package.

DHCP

Set up DHCP. The AI server can also be the DHCP server. Alternatively, you can use a DHCP server that is already set up in this network. You need different DHCP configurations for each client architecture. Create an Install Service Including Local DHCP Setup shows an example of setting up DHCP on the install server. For more information about DHCP configuration, see Part II, DHCP, in Oracle Solaris Administration: IP Services.

Example 8-1 Enable Multicast DNS

The following commands check the status of the svc:/network/dns/multicast SMF service and then enable the service.

# svcs /network/dns/multicast
STATE         STIME    FMRI
disabled      10:19:28 svc:/network/dns/multicast:default
# svcadm enable /network/dns/multicast
# svcs /network/dns/multicast
STATE         STIME    FMRI
online        13:28:30 svc:/network/dns/multicast:default