How to Set Up an Install Server (Initial Steps)

Initial Setup

Install the OpenSolaris 2009.06 operating system (OS) on the system that you will use as your install server. Or, upgrade your OpenSolaris system to the 2009.06 release.
Use either the following x86 instructions or SPARC instructions:
- For x86 systems, download the OpenSolaris Live CD image from http://www.opensolaris.com/get/ and install the OpenSolaris OS on your system.
  Live CD images are also available at http://opensolaris.org/os/downloads/ for the current release and for OpenSolaris developer builds.
  For instructions about installing a Live CD image onto your system or upgrading an existing OpenSolaris OS, see Getting Started With OpenSolaris.
  
  Note - To use the automated installer, you must have root access on your system.
- No Live CD images are available for SPARC systems. Use the following alternate procedure to install the OpenSolaris OS on a SPARC system and set up a SPARC install server:
  Note - If you plan to install to SPARC client systems, those systems must support WAN boot. For more information, see 2. Does my SPARC Client Support WAN boot?
  1. Download an x86 Live CD image and install the OpenSolaris OS on an x86 system.
  2. Download a SPARC AI ISO image to the x86 system as described in step 4.
  3. Set up the x86 system as an install server by using the instructions below. Reference the SPARC AI ISO image in the installadm create-service command as a source image, so that SPARC clients can install the OpenSolaris OS by using this image.
  4. Boot your SPARC client as follows:
```
OK boot net:dhcp
```
    The SPARC client boots and install the OpenSolaris OS.
  5. Continue to step 2 and set up the SPARC system as an install server.
If your server is not already configured to use a static IP address, perform the following steps:
Note - Alternately, see 1. How do I Switch to a Static IP System if I Don't Have Access to the System's Desktop?
1. Go to the main task bar Menu and select System>Administration>Network to launch the Network Administration dialog box. And, select Manual to launch the Network Settings tool.
2. In the Connections tab, complete the following steps:
  1. Highlight the interface to configure with a static IP address, and select the Properties button.
  2. Check the Enable box to enable this connection.
  3. Check the Activate box to activate on boot.
  4. Enter the IP address, Subnet mask, and Gateway in the appropriate boxes.
  5. Select OK.
3. In the General tab, fill in the system's hostname and domain name.
4. In the DNS tab, if you use DNS to resolve hostnames, add the IP addresses of the DNS servers for the network.
5. In the Hosts tab, complete the following steps:
  1. Select Add to add an entry for this system's hostname.
  2. Enter the IP address in the IP Address box.
  3. Type the system's hostname on the first line in the Alias box. Then, type “<hostname>.local” on the second line in the Alias box, replacing <hostname> with your hostname. Then, type the word, “loghost,” on the third line in the Alias box. Select OK.
  4. Highlight the IPv4 loopback IP Address entry that has the address, 127.0.0.1, and select the Properties button. Remove all lines from the Aliases box, except for the line that reads “localhost.” Select OK.
  5. Highlight the IPv6 loopback IP address entry that has the address, ::1, and select the Properties button. Remove all lines from the Aliases box, except for the line that reads “localhost.” Select OK.
6. Select OK to close the Network Settings dialogue box.
7. If you use DNS to resolve hostnames, enable DNS in the name service switch file on this system as follows:
```
# cp /etc/nsswitch.dns /etc/nsswitch.conf
```
8. Reboot your system.
Install the latest SUNWinstalladm-tools package by using Package Manager, or by using the following command:
```
# pkg install SUNWinstalladm-tools
```
Download an AI ISO image for x86 clients or for SPARC clients from http://www.opensolaris.com/get/.
The automated installer will use this AI ISO image to install the OpenSolaris OS to your client systems.

Note - The build number or release of the AI ISO image must be the same build number or release of the OpenSolaris operating system that you plan to install.

Store the AI ISO image on your local file system. For example, store the image at /export/aiimages/osol-0906-ai-x86.iso.

Next Steps

After you have completed the initial setup described above, choose one of the following options for completing the install server setup:

Simple Instructions – If you want to set up one server and only one type of client, use the simple instructions. Or, if this is your first experience setting up an install server, use these simple instructions. These instructions assume an extremely simple network setup where the network consists of a single subnet, and the install server also acts as the DHCP server for the network and uses DNS to resolve hostnames. See How to Complete Server Setup (Simple Instructions).
Advanced Instructions – If you already have a DHCP server set up, use the advanced instructions. For networks where the DHCP server is a separate system from the install server, additional administration tasks on the DHCP server are required to properly set up the automated install environment. The DHCP server is expected to be able to provide DNS information to the install clients. See How to Complete Server Setup (Advanced Instructions).