Preparing to Install From the Network With CD Media (Tasks)

This chapter describes how to use CD media to set up your network and systems to install the Solaris software from the network. Network installations enable you to install the Solaris software from a system that has access to the Solaris 9 disc images, called an install server, to other systems on the network. You copy the contents of the CD media to the install server's hard disk. Then, you can install the Solaris software from the network by using any of the Solaris installation methods. This chapter covers the following topics:

• Task Map: Preparing to Install From the Network With CD Media

• Creating a SPARC Install Server With CD Media

• Creating an x86 Install Server With CD Media

• Creating a Cross-Platform Install Server for CD Media

• Creating a Boot Server on a Subnet With a CD Image

• Adding Systems to Be Installed From the Network With a CD Image

Task Map: Preparing to Install From the Network With CD Media

Table 15-1 Task Map: Setting Up an Install Server With CD Media

Creating a SPARC Install Server With CD Media

The install server contains the installation image needed to install systems from the network. You must create an install server to install the Solaris software on a system from the network. You do not always need to set up a separate boot server.

• If you are using DHCP to set installation parameters or your install server and client are on the same subnet, you do not need a separate boot server.

• If your install server and your client are not on the same subnet and you are not using DHCP, you must create separate boot servers for each subnet. You could create an install server for each subnet; however, install servers require more disk space.

SPARC: To Create a SPARC Install Server With SPARC CD Media

This procedure creates a SPARC install server with SPARC CD media.

If you want to create an install server by using media of a platform different from the install server, for example, a SPARC system with x86 CD media, see Creating a Cross-Platform Install Server for CD Media.

Note - This procedure assumes that the system is running the Volume Manager. If you are not using the Volume Manager to manage media, refer to System Administration Guide: Basic Administration for detailed information about managing removable media without the Volume Manager.

1. On the system that is to become the install server, become superuser.

   The system must include a CD-ROM drive and be part of the site's network and name service. If you use a name service, the system must already be in a name service, such as NIS, NIS+, DNS, or LDAP. If you do not use a name service, you must distribute information about this system by following your site's policies.

2. Insert the Solaris Software 1 of 2 CD in the system's drive.

3. Create a directory for the CD image.

   # mkdir -p install_dir_path

   
   

   install_dir_path

   Specifies the directory where the CD image is to be copied

4. Change to the Tools directory on the mounted disc.

   # cd /cdrom/cdrom0/s0/Solaris_9/Tools

   
   

   In the previous example, cdrom0 is the path to the drive that contains the Solaris operating environment CD media.

5. Copy the image in the drive to the install server's hard disk.

   # ./setup_install_server install_dir_path

   
   

   install_dir_path

   Specifies the directory where the CD image is to be copied

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   Note - The setup_install_server command indicates whether you have enough disk space available for the Solaris Software disc images. To determine available disk space, use the df -kl command.

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6. Decide if you need to make the install server available for mounting.

   • If the install server is on the same subnet as the system to be installed or you are using DHCP, you do not need to create a boot server. Proceed to Step 10.

   • If the install server is not on the same subnet as the system to be installed and you are not using DHCP, complete the following steps.

7. Verify that the path to the install server's installation image is shared appropriately.

   # share | grep install_dir_path

   
   

   install_dir_path

   Specifies the path to the boot-server installation image

   • If the path to the install server's directory is displayed and anon=0 is displayed in the options, proceed to Step 10.

   • If the path to the install server's directory is not displayed or you do not have anon=0 in the options, continue.

8. Make the install server available to the boot server by adding this entry to the /etc/dfs/dfstab file.

   share -F nfs -o ro,anon=0 -d "install server directory" install_dir_path

   
   

   install_dir_path

   Specifies the path to the boot server installation image

9. Make sure that the install server's directory path is correctly shared.

   # ps -ef | grep nfsd

   
   

   • If the nfsd daemon is not running, start it.

     # /etc/init.d/nfs.server start

     
     

   • If the nfsd daemon is running, share the install server.

     # shareall

     
     

10. Change directories to root (/).

    # cd /

    
    

11. Eject the Solaris Software 1 of 2 CD.

12. Insert the Solaris Software 2 of 2 CD in the system's CD-ROM drive.

13. Change to the Tools directory on the mounted CD.

    # cd /cdrom/cdrom0/Solaris_9/Tools

    
    

14. Copy the CD in the CD-ROM drive to the install server's hard disk.

    # ./add_to_install_server install_dir_path

    
    

    install_dir_path

    Specifies the directory where the CD image is to be copied

15. Change directories to root (/).

    # cd /

    
    

16. Eject the Solaris Software 2 of 2 CD.

17. Insert the Solaris Languages CD in the system's CD-ROM drive.

18. Change to the Tools directory on the mounted CD.

    # cd /cdrom/cdrom0/Tools

    
    

19. Copy the CD in the CD-ROM drive to the install server's hard disk.

    # ./add_to_install_server install_dir_path

    
    

    install_dir_path

    Specifies the directory where the CD image is to be copied

20. Change directories to root (/).

    # cd /

    
    

21. Decide if you want to enable users to use the Solaris Web Start installation method to boot a system and install the Solaris 9 software from a network.

    • If no, eject the Solaris Languages CD and proceed to Step 25.

    • If yes, eject the Solaris Languages CD and continue.

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

23. Change to the directory that contains modify_install_server on the mounted CD:

    # cd /cdrom/cdrom0/s0

    
    

24. Copy the Solaris Web Start interface software to the install server.

    # ./modify_install_server -p install_dir_path installer_miniroot_path

    
    

    -p	Preserves the existing image's miniroot in install_dir_path/Solaris_9/Tools/Boot.orig
    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 from which the Solaris Web Start interface is to be copied

25. Decide if you want to patch the files that are located in the miniroot (/install_dir_path/Solaris_9/Tools/Boot) on the net install image that was created by setup_install_server. Patching a file might be necessary if a boot image has problems.

    • If no, continue.

    • If yes, use the patchadd -C command to patch the files that are located in the miniroot.

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      Caution - Don't use the patchadd -C command unless you have read the Patch README instructions or have contacted your local Sun support office.

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26. Decide if you need to create a boot server.

    • If you are using DHCP or the install server is on the same subnet as the system to be installed, you do not need to create a boot server. Proceed to Adding Systems to Be Installed From the Network With a CD Image.

    • If you are not using DHCP and the install server and the client are on a different subnet, you must create a boot server. Proceed to Creating a Boot Server on a Subnet With a CD Image.