About Network Installations

After you configure the installation server, you can run the virt-install command from dom0. Use the -d option to add_install_client to specify that the client use DHCP. If the -d option is not specified, the client uses bootparams. For xVM paravirtualized guests, both approaches work. Use your site-specific tool for setting up the appropriate DHCP parameters for the client.

Network Installation

To do a network installation, use the -l option and provide a path to the network installation image. When giving a machine name or IP address, the domU must be able to get to that install machine directly, not go through a router to another net. For example:

-l nfs:install:/export/xvm/xvmgate-70i72-nd

You can also use an IP address instead of a machine name. For example:

-l nfs:172.20.25.12:/export/xvm/xvmgate-70i72-nd

Example 40-9 Network Installation

virt-install -n gath-01 -r 1000 --nographics -f /dev/dsk/c1t0d0s3 \
-m "aa:04:03:35:a8:06" -p \
-l nfs:install48:/export/xvm/xvmgate-70i72-nd

ISO Image Installation

To use the ISO image, use the -l option with a full path to the ISO image. If a full path is given instead of the nfs:mach_name:path format of a network installation, then virt-install assumes that this is an ISO image:

-l /net/install/export/xvm/solarisdvd.iso

Example 40-10 ISO Image

virt-install -n gath-01 -r 1000 --nographics -f /dev/dsk/c1t0d0s3 \
-m aa:04:03:35:a8:06 -p \
-l /net/install48/export/xvm/solarisdvd.iso

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Note - You can quote arguments to options. While arguments, such as the path to an ISO image, are generally not quoted on the command line, quotes might be used in scripts.

-l "/net/install48/export/xvm/solarisdvd.iso"

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JumpStart Installation

JumpStart configuration files are manually created and managed. You can initiate a custom JumpStart through network installation after setting up the server. When you create a profile server, you must ensure that systems can access the JumpStart directory on the profile server during a custom JumpStart installation. Each time that you add a system for network installation, use the add_install_client command to specify the profile server. You use the add_install_client command to create the /etc/bootparams entry for the domU.

To do a JumpStart with virt-install, use the --autocf option. For example:

--autocf nfs:install:/export/jumpstart/jump-user/x86

You cannot use a full path such as:

--autocf /net/install/export/jumpstart/jump-user/x86

Example 40-11 JumpStart

virt-install -n gath-01 -r 1000 --nographics -f /dev/dsk/c1t0d0s3 \
-m aa:04:03:35:a8:06 -p \
-l /net/install48/export/xvm/xvmgate-70i72/solarisdvd.iso
--autocf nfs:install:/export/jumpstart/jump-user/x86