Install one system from CD-ROM or DVD-ROM media with an interactive program.

Solaris installation program

• This program divides tasks into panels, prompts you for information, and offers default values.

• This program is not an efficient method when you have to install or upgrade multiple systems. For batch installations of multiple systems, use custom JumpStart or the Solaris Flash installation feature.

Solaris Express Installation Guide: Basic Installations

Install one system over a local area network.

Solaris installation program over the network

This program enables you to set up an image of the software you want to install on a server and install this image on a remote system. If you need to install multiple systems, you can use the network installation image with the custom JumpStart and Solaris Flash installation methods to efficiently install or upgrade systems on your network.

Part II, Installing Over a Local Area Network, in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Network-Based Installations

Automate the installation or upgrade of multiple systems based on profiles you create.

Custom JumpStart

This program efficiently installs multiple systems. But if you only have a few systems, the creation of a custom JumpStart environment might be time consuming. For a few systems, use the Solaris interactive installation program.

Chapter 3, Preparing Custom JumpStart Installations (Tasks), in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Custom JumpStart and Advanced Installations

Replicate the same software and configuration on multiple systems.

Solaris Flash archives

• This program saves installation time by installing all Solaris packages at once on your system. Other programs install each individual Solaris package and update the package map for each package.

• Solaris Flash archives are large files and require a significant amount of disk space. To manage different installation configurations or to change your installation configuration, you might consider using the custom JumpStart installation method. Alternatively, you can accomplish system-specific customizations by using a JumpStart finish script or an embedded Solaris Flash postdeployment script.

Chapter 1, Solaris Flash (Overview), in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Solaris Flash Archives (Creation and Installation)

Install systems over a wide area network (WAN) or the Internet.

WAN boot

If you want to install a Solaris Flash archive over the network, this program enables a secure installation.

Chapter 9, WAN Boot (Overview), in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Network-Based Installations

Upgrade a system while it is running.

Solaris Live Upgrade

• This program enables you to upgrade or add patches to avoid the system down time related to a standard upgrade

• This program enables you to test an upgrade or new patches without affecting the current OS

Chapter 2, Solaris Live Upgrade (Overview), in Solaris Express Installation Guide: Solaris Live Upgrade and Upgrade Planning

After installing the Solaris OS, create an isolated application environment.

Solaris Zones partitioning technology

This program creates isolated non-global zones that provide a secure application environment. This isolation prevents processes that are running in one zone from monitoring or affecting processes that are running in any other zones.

Chapter 16, Introduction to Solaris Zones, in System Administration Guide: Solaris Containers-Resource Management and Solaris Zones