System Administration Guide: Virtualization Using the Solaris Operating System
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Install Using virt-install With Options

This example uses virt-install with options to install a Solaris domU from the command line using an ISO image. The command line options specify for virt-install to create an 18–Gbyte root disk image file /xvm/domu-x16.img. A specific MAC address is used for a particular DHCP configuration. The option --nographics because this is a Solaris paravirtualized configuration. See virt-install Examples for examples of other types of guest domains. If you invoke virt-install with command line options but do not supply all required information, the tool prompts you for the needed information.

machine:root> virt-install --nographics -n domu-x16 --paravirt \ -f /xvm/domu-x16.img -r 1011 --mac=aa:ff:bb:aa:28:16 -s 18 \ -l /net/inst-server/export/xVM/x_iso/63-0419-nd.iso
Starting install...
Creating domain...
SunOS Release 5.11 Version 64-bit
Copyright 1983-2007 Sun Microsystems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
Use is subject to license terms.
Configuring /dev
Solaris Interactive Text (Console session)
Using install cd in /dev/dsk/c0d1p0
Using RPC Bootparams for network configuration information.
Attempting to configure interface xnf0...
Skipped interface xnf0
Setting up Java. Please wait...
Beginning system identification...
Searching for configuration file(s)...
Search complete.
Discovering additional network configuration...

When the domain creation completes, sysidcfg runs to complete the system identification.

How to Complete the Solaris DomU sysidcfg Configuration

  • After the domain is created, the sysidcfg is initiated and you are prompted to answer a series of questions. Your screen will look similar to this:
    SunOS Release 5.11 Version 64-bit
    Copyright 1983-2007 Sun Microsystems, Inc.  All rights reserved.
    Use is subject to license terms.
    Hostname: my-zone
    Loading smf(5) service descriptions: 114/114
    Select a Language
    
       1. English
       2. French
       3. German
       4. Italian
       5. Japanese
       6. Korean
       7. Simplified Chinese
       8. Spanish
       9. Swedish
      10. Traditional Chinese
    
    Please make a choice (1 - 10), or press h or ? for help:
    
    What type of terminal are you using?
          1) ANSI Standard CRT
          2) DEC VT52
          3) DEC VT100
          4) Heathkit 19
          5) Lear Siegler ADM31
          6) PC Console
          7) Sun Command Tool
          8) Sun Workstation
          9) Televideo 910
          10) Televideo 925
          11) Wyse Model 50
          12) X Terminal Emulator (xterms)
          13) CDE Terminal Emulator (dtterm)
          14) Other
    Type the number of your choice and press Return:
    .
    .
    .

    For more information on the sysidcfg file, see the sysidcfg(4) man page. For an example sysidcfg file, see Understanding the Solaris xVM Server Architecture, Part No 820-3089-102.

virt-install Examples

Example 40-1 Solaris PV Guest
virt-install -n solarisPV --paravirt -r 1024 \ 
  --nographics -f /export/solarisPV/root.img -s 16 \ 
  -l /ws/xvm-gate/public/isos/72-0910/solarisdvd.iso
Example 40-2 Solaris HVM Guest
virt-install -n solarisHVM --hvm -r 1024 --vnc \ 
  -f /export/solarisHVM/root.img -s 16 \ 
  -c /ws/xvm-gate/public/isos/72-0910/solarisdvd.iso

For this version of virt-install, only installs from ISOs and physical CDs are supported for HVM. Network installations are not supported in this version. If a physical CD is used, remember to unmount it after use.

Example 40-3 Windows HVM Guest
# virt-install -n winxp --hvm -r 1024 --vnc \ 
  -f /export/winxp/root.img -s 16 -c /windows/media.iso

For this version of virt-install, only installs from ISOs and physical CDs are supported for HVM. Network installations are not supported in this version. If a physical CD is used, remember to unmount it after use.

Example 40-4 Install Microsoft Windows Using a Local File as a Root Disk

A normal file is used to store the contents of the guest domain disk image, as opposed to using a ZFS volume, for example.

virt-install --name windows1 --ram 1024 \
--cdrom /en_winxp_pro_with_sp2.iso --file /guests/windows1-disk
--file-size 10 --vnc
 
Example 40-5 Install Solaris Using Network Install and JumpStart onto a ZFS Volume
zfs create -V 8G pool/solaris1-disk
virt-install --name solaris1 --ram 1024 --nographics \
--file /dev/zvol/dsk/pool/solaris1-disk \
--location nfs:install.domain.com:/export/solaris/nv75 \
--autocf nfs:install.domain.com:/export/jumpstart/solaris1

VNC Password and Remote Display Requirements

Set the VNC password property in the SMF configuration in xend before starting an HVM domain.

Note that the procedures to set the VNC password and remote display are likely to change in a future release.

Example 40-6 How to Set the VNC Password Property
# svccfg -s xvm/xend setprop \ config/vncpasswd = astring: password
# svcadm refresh xvm/xend; svcadm restart xvm/xend

If you are displaying the VNC session remotely, you must also set the vnc-listen property.

For more information on setting up VNC, see the VNC man pages. Refer to How to View the VNC Man Pages.

Example 40-7 How to Set the vnc-listen Property
# svccfg -s xvm/xend setprop \ config/vnc-listen = astring: 0.0.0.0 
# svcadm refresh xvm/xend; svcadm restart xvm/xend
Example 40-8 Verify That an xterm Can Be Displayed

Verify that an xterm can be opened to display HVM installation graphics.

# /usr/openwin/bin/xterm
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