distro_const(1M)

Name

distro_const - Utility for creating Oracle Solaris images and media

Synopsis

/usr/bin/distro_const -h

/usr/bin/distro_const build [-v] [-r checkpoint_name]
    [-p checkpoint_name] [-l] manifest

Description

The distro_const command enables users to create an image by using a specified manifest file as the blueprint for the image.

You can create any of the following images:

• A text installer image that can be used to install the Oracle Solaris operating system on either x86 systems or SPARC systems.

• An ISO image that is comparable to a Live DVD image containing the Oracle Solaris operating system.

• A SPARC AI ISO image that can be used for network installations of the Oracle Solaris OS on SPARC clients, or an x86 AI ISO image that can be used for network installations of the Oracle Solaris OS on x86 clients.

• A custom ISO image.

The distro_const build command with no options creates a full image in one step.

Options enable you to pause and resume the image creation process at various checkpoints, thus enabling you to review status of the image and to check for bugs at each stage. Checkpointing saves time during builds by allowing you to bypass lengthy steps that have already been done at least once.

When using the distribution constructor, you can create only SPARC images on a SPARC system, and you can create only x86 images on an x86 system. Also, the operating system release version on your system must be the same release version as the image that you are building.

Options

–h

–-help

Display a usage message.

Sub Commands

The distro_const command has the subcommand and options listed below. Also see the “Examples” section.

build [–v] [–r resume_checkpoint] [–p pause_checkpoint ] [–l] manifest

With no options, create a full image, using the specified manifest file as the blueprint for that image.

–v

–-verbose

Show verbose output.

–l

–-list

List all valid checkpoints at which you can choose to pause or resume building an image. This option queries the manifest manifest file for valid checkpoints. Use the names provided by this option as valid values for the other checkpointing options.

–p pause_checkpoint

–-pause pause_checkpoint

Build an image, pausing at the specified checkpoint name. Use the –l option to find valid checkpoint names. You can combine the –p and –r options.

–r resume_checkpoint

–-resume resume_checkpoint

Resume building the image from the specified checkpoint name. The specified checkpoint name must be either the checkpoint at which the previous build stopped executing, or an earlier checkpoint. A later checkpoint is not valid. Use the –l option to determine which checkpoints are resumable. You can combine the –r and –p options.

Examples

Example 1 Create an Image Using Checkpoint Options

1. Check which checkpoints are available.

   # distro_const build -l /usr/share/distro_const/dc_text_x86.xml
   
   Checkpoint           Resumable Description
   -----------          --------- -----------------------
   transfer-ips-install X         Transfer pkg contents from IPS
   set-ips-attributes   X         Set post-install IPS attributes
   pre-pkg-img-mod      X         Pre-package image modification
   ba-init              X         Boot archive initialization
   ba-config            X         Boot archive configuration
   ba-arch              X         Boot archive archival
   boot-setup           X         Set up GRUB menu
   pkg-img-mod          X         Pkg image area modification
   create-iso                     ISO media creation
   create-usb                     USB media creation

2. Start building the image and pause at the ba-init checkpoint.

   # distro_const build -p ba-init /usr/share/distro_const/dc_text_x86.xml
   

3. Restart the build from the ba-init checkpoint. Finish creating the image.

   # distro_const build -r ba-init /usr/share/distro_const/dc_text_x86.xml
   

Example 2 Create an Image in One Step

To run a complete build of an image without pausing, use the distro_const command with no options.

# distro_const build /usr/share/distro_const/dc_text_x86.xml

Attributes

See attributes(5) for descriptions of the following attributes:

ATTRIBUTE TYPE ATTRIBUTE VALUE Availability install/distribution-constructor Interface Stability Uncommitted

See also

dc_manifest(4)

Creating a Custom Oracle Solaris 11.2 Installation Image