Installing the System From the Network With a CD Image

After you add the system as an installation client, you can install the client from the network. This section describes the following tasks.

See SPARC: To Install the Client Over the Network (CDs) for instructions about how to boot and install SPARC based systems over the network.
See x86: To Install the Client Over the Network With GRUB (CDs) for instructions about how to boot and install x86 based systems over the network.

SPARC: To Install the Client Over the Network (CDs)

Before You Begin

This procedure assumes that you have completed the following tasks.

Set up an install server. For instructions about how to create an install server from CD media, see SPARC: To Create a SPARC Install Server With SPARC or x86 CD Media.
Set up a boot server or a DHCP server, if necessary. If the system you want to install is on a different subnet than the installation server, you must set up a boot server, or use a DHCP server. For instructions about how to set up a boot server, see Creating a Boot Server on a Subnet With a CD Image. For instructions about how to set up a DHCP server to support network installations, see Preconfiguring System Configuration Information With the DHCP Service (Tasks).
Gathered or preconfigured the information you need to install. You can perform this task in one or more of the following ways.
- Gather the information in Checklist for Installation in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade.
- Create a sysidcfg file if you use a sysidcfg file to preconfigure system information. For information about how to create a sysidcfg file, see Preconfiguring With the sysidcfg File.
- Set up a name server if you use a naming service to preconfigure system information. For information about how to preconfigure information with a naming service, see Preconfiguring With the Naming Service.
- Create a profile in the JumpStart directory on the profile server if you are using the custom JumpStart installation method. For information about how to set up a custom JumpStart installation, see Chapter 3, Preparing Custom JumpStart Installations (Tasks), in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Custom JumpStart and Advanced Installations.

Turn on the client system.
If the system is currently running, bring the system to run level 0.
The ok prompt is displayed.
Boot the system from the network.
- To install with the Solaris interactive installation GUI, type the following command.
```
ok boot net
```
- To install with the Solaris interactive text installer in a desktop session, type the following command.
```
ok boot net - text
```
- To install with the Solaris interactive text installer in a console session, type the following command.
```
ok boot net - nowin
```
The system boots from the network.
If you are prompted, answer the system configuration questions.
- If you preconfigured all of the system information, the installation program does not prompt you to enter any configuration information. See Chapter 2, Preconfiguring System Configuration Information (Tasks) for more information.
- If you did not preconfigure all the system information, use the Checklist for Installation in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgradeto help you answer the configuration questions.
  
  Note - If the keyboard is self-identifying, the keyboard layout automatically configures during installation. If the keyboard is not self-identifying, you can select from a list of supported keyboard layouts during installation.
  PS/2 keyboards are not self-identifying. You will be asked to select the keyboard layout during the installation.
  For further information, see keyboard Keyword.
  
  Note - During installation, you can choose the default NFSv4 domain name. Or, you can specify a custom NFSv4 domain name. For further information, see nfs4_domain Keyword.
If you are using the GUI, after you confirm the system configuration information, the Welcome to Solaris panel appears.
If you are prompted, answer any additional questions to complete your installation.
- If you preconfigured all of the installation options, the installation program does not prompt you to enter any installation information. See Chapter 2, Preconfiguring System Configuration Information (Tasks) for more information.
- If you did not preconfigure all the installation options, use the Checklist for Installation in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade to help you answer the installation questions.

x86: To Install the Client Over the Network With GRUB (CDs)

The Solaris installation programs for x86 based systems use the GRUB boot loader. This procedure describes how to install an x86 based system over the network with the GRUB boot loader. For overview information about the GRUB boot loader, see Chapter 6, GRUB Based Booting for Solaris Installation, in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade.

To install the system over the network, you must instruct the client system to boot over the network. Enable network boot on the client system by using the BIOS setup program in the system BIOS, the network adapter BIOS, or both. On some systems, you must also adjust the boot device priority list so that network boot is attempted before booting from other devices. See the manufacturer's documentation for each setup program, or watch for setup program instructions during boot.

Before You Begin

This procedure assumes that you have completed the following tasks.

Set up an install server. For instructions about how to create an install server from CD media, see x86: To Create an x86 Install Server With SPARC or x86 DVD Media.
Set up a boot server or a DHCP server, if necessary. If the system you want to install is on a different subnet than the installation server, you must set up a boot server, or use a DHCP server. For instructions about how to set up a boot server, see Creating a Boot Server on a Subnet With a DVD Image. For instructions about how to set up a DHCP server to support network installations, see Preconfiguring System Configuration Information With the DHCP Service (Tasks).
Gathered or preconfigured the information you need to install. You can perform this task in one or more of the following ways.
- Gather the information in Checklist for Installation in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade.
- Create a sysidcfg file if you use a sysidcfg file to preconfigure system information. For information about how to create a sysidcfg file, see Preconfiguring With the sysidcfg File.
- Set up a name server if you use a naming service to preconfigure system information. For information about how to preconfigure information with a naming service, see Preconfiguring With the Naming Service.
- Create a profile in the JumpStart directory on the profile server if you are using the custom JumpStart installation method. For information about how to set up a custom JumpStart installation, see Chapter 3, Preparing Custom JumpStart Installations (Tasks), in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Custom JumpStart and Advanced Installations.

This procedure also assumes that your system can boot from the network.

Turn on the system.
Type the appropriate keystroke combination to enter the system BIOS.
Some PXE-capable network adapters have a feature that enables PXE boot if you type a particular keystroke in response to a brief boot-time prompt.
In the system BIOS, instruct the system to boot from the network.
See your hardware documentation for information about how to set the boot priority in the BIOS.

Exit the BIOS.

The system boots from the network. The GRUB menu is displayed.

Note - The GRUB menu that is displayed on your system might vary from the following sample, depending on the configuration of your network installation server.

GNU GRUB version 0.95 (631K lower / 2095488K upper memory)
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Solaris Express 5/07 /cdrom0                                                           
|                                                                                                           |
|                                                                                                           |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Use the ^ and v keys to select which entry is highlighted.
Press enter to boot the selected OS, 'e' to edit the
commands before booting, or 'c' for a command-line.

Select the appropriate installation option.
- To install the Solaris OS from the network, select the appropriate Solaris entry on the menu, then press Enter.
  Select this entry if you want to install from the network installation server you set up in x86: To Create an x86 Install Server With SPARC or x86 DVD Media.
- To install the Solaris OS from the network with specific boot arguments, follow these steps.
  You might need to set specific boot arguments if you want to modify the device configuration during the installation, and did not set these boot arguments previously with the add_install_client command as described in To Add Systems to Be Installed From the Network With add_install_client (DVD).
  1. On the GRUB menu, select the installation option you want to edit, then press e.
    Boot commands that are similar to the following text are displayed in the GRUB menu.
```
kernel$ /I86PC.Solaris_11-30/platform/i86pc/kernel/unix \
     -B install_media=192.168.79.61:/export/Solaris_11-30 
module$ /I86PC.Solaris_11-30/boot_archive
```
    Note - Starting with the 5/07 Developer release, GRUB has enhanced support for directly booting the unix kernel. See x86: GRUB Menu Commands for Installation.
  2. Use the arrow keys to select the boot entry that you want to edit, then press e.
    The boot command that you want to edit is displayed in the GRUB edit window.
  3. Edit the command by typing the boot arguments or options you want to use.
    The command syntax for the Grub edit menu is as follows.
```
grub edit>kernel$ /image_directory/$ISADIR/kernel/unix/ \
install [url|ask] -B options install_media=media_type
```
    Note - $ISADIR resolves to amd64 for 64-bit hardware and to null for 32-bit hardware.
    
    For information about boot arguments and command syntax, see Table 8-1.
  4. To accept your edits and return to the GRUB menu, press Enter.
    Note - To cancel your edits and return to the GRUB menu, press Escape.
    
    The GRUB menu is displayed. The edits you made to the boot command are displayed.
  5. To begin the installation, type b in the GRUB menu.
The Solaris installation program checks the default boot disk for the requirements to install or upgrade the system. If the Solaris installation cannot detect the system configuration, the program prompts you for any missing information.
When the check is completed, the installation selection screen is displayed.
Select an installation type.
The installation selection screen displays the following options.
```
      Select the type of installation you want to perform:

         1 Solaris Interactive
         2 Custom JumpStart
         3 Solaris Interactive Text (Desktop session)
         4 Solaris Interactive Text (Console session)
         5 Apply driver updates
         6 Single user shell

         Enter the number of your choice followed by the <ENTER> key.
         Alternatively, enter custom boot arguments directly.

         If you wait 30 seconds without typing anything,
         an interactive installation will be started.
```
- To install the Solaris OS, choose from the following options.
  - To install with the Solaris interactive installation GUI, type 1, then press Enter.
  - To install with the interactive text installer in a desktop session, type 3, then press Enter.
    Select this installation type to override the default GUI installer and run the text installer.
  - To install with the interactive text installer in a console session, type 4, then press Enter.
    Select this installation type to override the default GUI installer and run the text installer.
  If you want to perform an unattended custom JumpStart installation (option 2), see Solaris Express Installation Guide: Custom JumpStart and Advanced Installations.
  For detailed information about the Solaris installation GUI and text installer, see System Requirements and Recommendations in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade.
  The system configures the devices and interfaces, and searches for configuration files. The installation program begins. Go to Step 7 to continue the installation.
- To perform system administration tasks before your installation, choose from the following options.
  - To update drivers or install an install time update (ITU), insert the update media, type 5, then press Enter.
    You might need to update drivers or install an ITU to enable the Solaris OS to run on your system. Follow the instructions for your driver update or ITU to install the update.
  - To perform system administration tasks, type 6, then press Enter.
    You might want to launch a single user shell if you need to perform any system administration tasks on your system before you install. For information about system administration tasks you can perform prior to installation, see System Administration Guide: Basic Administration.
  After you perform these system administration tasks, the previous list of options is displayed. Select the appropriate option to continue the installation.
If you are prompted, answer the system configuration questions.
- If you preconfigured all of the system information, the installation program does not prompt you to enter any configuration information. See Chapter 2, Preconfiguring System Configuration Information (Tasks) for more information.
- If you did not preconfigure all the system information, use the Checklist for Installation in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade to help you answer the configuration questions.
  
  Note - If the keyboard is self-identifying, the keyboard layout automatically configures during installation. If the keyboard is not self-identifying, you can select from a list of supported keyboard layouts during installation.
  For further information, see keyboard Keyword.
  
  Note - During installation, you can choose the default NFSv4 domain name. Or, you can specify a custom NFSv4 domain name. For further information, see nfs4_domain Keyword.
If you are using the installation GUI, after you confirm the system configuration information, the Welcome to Solaris panel appears.
If you are prompted, answer any additional questions to complete your installation.
- If you preconfigured all of the installation options, the installation program does not prompt you to enter any installation information. See Chapter 2, Preconfiguring System Configuration Information (Tasks) for more information.
- If you did not preconfigure all the installation options, use the Checklist for Installation in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade to help you answer the installation questions.
After the system boots and installs over the network, instruct the system to boot from the disk drive on subsequent boots.
Note - When you boot the system after the installation, a GRUB menu lists the operating systems that are installed, including the newly-installed Solaris OS. Select which operating system you want to boot. The default selection loads if you do not make another selection.

More Information

Next Steps

If you install multiple operating systems on your machine, you need to instruct the GRUB boot loader to recognize these operating systems in order to boot. For more information, see Modifying Boot Behavior in System Administration Guide: Basic Administration.