Installing Solaris

Solaris network installation is done via JumpStart. Instead of using JumpStart directly, most people use JET (the JumpStart Enterprise Toolkit), which makes it much easier.

Installing JET

If /opt/SUNWjet exists, JET is already installed and you can skip this step.

Obtain jet.pkg from Sun and install it:

# pkgadd -d jet.pkg all

Edit /opt/SUNWjet/etc/jumpstart.conf. Set JS_Default_Root_PW to the hash of the root password (from /etc/shadow), and JS_CLIENT_MANAGEMENT to dhcp. The rest can be left at defaults, which will put install files in /export/install.

Edit /opt/SUNWjet/Products/base_config/solaris/make_dhcp to set the DHCP network config, and change /var/tmp to /var/dhcp, then run it. This will configure the DHCP server.

Adding Solaris media

For each version of Solaris you want to install, you need to add the media to JET:

# lofiadm -a /export/sol-10-u7-ga-x86-dvd.iso 
/dev/lofi/1
# mount -Fhsfs /dev/lofi/1 /mnt2
# /opt/SUNWjet/bin/copy_solaris_media -d Solaris_10_Update_7 -n s10_u7 /mnt2
Copying Solaris image....
Verifying target directory...
Calculating the required disk space for the Solaris_10 product
Calculating space required for the installation boot image
Copying the CD image to disk...
Copying Install Boot Image hierarchy...
Copying /boot netboot hierarchy...
Install Server setup complete
 
Added Solaris image s10_u7 at the following location:
        Media:          /export/install/media/Solaris_10_Update_7

removing directory ./26661
# umount /mnt2
# lofiadm -d /dev/lofi/1
# /opt/SUNWjet/bin/list_solaris_locations                                   
Version         Location
-------         --------
s10_u7          /export/install/media/Solaris_10_Update_7

Adding an install client

Create a client template:

# /opt/SUNWjet/bin/make_template ms5

If there's already a client template for another machine in /opt/SUNWjet/Templates, you can copy that instead of creating a new one.

Edit /opt/SUNWjet/Templates/ms5 and configure the client as needed.

Create the actual client:

# /opt/SUNWjet/bin/make_client ms5   

Installing the client

Tell the client to do a PXE boot; usually that means pressing a key during the BIOS POST. The system will perform a network installation: