To Create a Boot Server on a Subnet

You can install the Solaris software from the network from any install server on the network. However, a system that needs to use an install server on another subnet requires a separate boot server on its own subnet. A boot server contains enough of the boot software to boot systems from the network, and then the install server completes the installation of the Solaris software.

1. On the system you intend to make the boot server for the subnet, log in and become superuser.

   The system must include a local CD-ROM drive or have access to the remote Solaris 8 CD images. If you use a name service, the system must also be in the NIS, NIS+, DNS, or LDAP name service. If you do not use a name service, you must distribute information about this system by following your site's policies.

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   Note –

   This procedure assumes that the system is running the Volume Manager. If you are not using the Volume Manager to manage diskettes and CDs, refer to System Administration Guide, Volume I for detailed information about managing removable media without the Volume Manager.

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2. Decide if you want to mount the Solaris 8 Software 1 of 2 CD from the CD-ROM drive or from an image on an NFS server.

   • If you want to mount the Solaris 8 Software 1 of 2 CD from the CD-ROM drive, insert the Solaris 8 Software 1 of 2 CD into the CD-ROM drive.

   • If you want to mount the Solaris 8 Software 1 of 2 CD from an image on an NFS server, follow these steps.

     1. Mount the Solaris 8 Software 1 of 2 CD image.

        # mount -F nfs -o ro server_name:path /mnt

        In this command, server_name:path is the host name and absolute path to the CD image.

     2. Change directory to the mounted CD image:

        # cd /mnt

3. Change to the Tools directory on the Solaris 8 Software 1 of 2 CD image by typing:

   # cd Solaris_8/Tools

4. Copy the boot software to the boot server.

   # ./setup_install_server -b boot_dir_path

   In this command, boot_dir_path specifies the directory where the boot software is to be copied. The directory must be empty. The -b options specifies to setup the system as a boot server.

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   Note –

   The setup_install_server command indicates whether or not there is enough disk space available for the Solaris 8 Software CD images. To determine available disk space, use the df -kl command.

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5. Eject the Solaris 8 Software 1 of 2 CD.

6. Insert the Solaris 8 Installation CD into the system's CD-ROM drive.

7. Use the modify_install_server command to copy the Solaris Web Start interface software to the install server:

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   x86 only –

   modify_install_server is located in the s2 directory on the Solaris 8 Installation Intel Platform Edition CD or the Solaris 8 Installation Multilingual Intel Platform Edition CD.

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   # ./modify_install_server install_dir_path installer_miniroot_path

   In this command, install_dir_path specifies the directory where the Solaris Web Start interface is to be copied. installer_miniroot_path specifies the directory on the CD in the CD-ROM drive from which the Solaris Web Start interface is to be copied.

SPARC: Example—Creating a Boot Server on a Subnet

The following example illustrates how to create a boot server on a subnet. These commands copy the boot software from the Solaris 8 Software 1 of 2 SPARC Platform Edition CD image to /export/install/boot on the system's local disk.

# cd /cdrom/cdrom0/s0/Solaris_8/Tools
# ./setup_install_server -b /export/install/boot

In this example, the CD is inserted and automatically mounted before you issue the command. After you issue the command, the CD is removed.