Installing From the Network or From DVD or CDs?

The Solaris software is distributed on DVD or CD media so that you can install or upgrade systems that have access to a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive.

If you have systems that do not have local DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drives or if you are installing several systems and do not want to insert the discs into every local drive to install the Solaris software, you can set up the systems to install from remote DVD or CD images.

You can use all of the Solaris installation methods to install a system from the network. However, by installing systems from the network with the Solaris Flash installation feature or with a custom JumpStart installation, you can centralize and automate the installation process in a large enterprise. For more details about the different installation methods, refer to Chapter 3, Choosing a Solaris Installation Method (Overview).

Installing the Solaris software from the network requires initial setup. For information about preparing to install from the network, choose one of the following options.

• For detailed instructions on preparing to install from a local area network, refer to Chapter 15, Preparing to Install From the Network With CD Media (Tasks).

• For instructions on preparing to install over a wide area network, see Chapter 43, Preparing to Install With WAN Boot (Tasks).

• For instructions about how to install x86-based clients over the network by using PXE, see x86: Booting and Installing Over the Network With PXE.

Using DVD Media

When you are using DVD media and are asked to boot from the ok prompt, always type the following command:

ok boot cdrom

Sun ONE Application Server Postinstallation Configuration

If you are using the Sun™ ONE Application Server, you need to configure the server after installing the Solaris operating environment. For information on configuring the Application Server, see Sun ONE Application Server 7 Standard Edition Getting Started Guide.

x86: Accessing the Solaris 9 Device Configuration Assistant and PXE

The Solaris Device Configuration Assistant is a program that enables you to perform various hardware configuration and booting tasks. You use the Device Configuration Assistant to boot from either a DVD, a CD, a net installation image, or a copy of the software on a diskette. You can access the Solaris Device Configuration Assistant in the following ways:

• By booting from the Solaris DVD, Solaris Installation CD, or Solaris Software 1 of 2 CD. Your system's BIOS must support booting from a DVD or CD.

• By booting from a net installation image of Solaris Software with Preboot Execution Environment (PXE). PXE enables you to boot a system directly from the network without using the boot diskette. The system must support PXE. Enable the system to use PXE by using the system's BIOS setup tool or the network adapter's configuration setup Tool. For more information on configuring your system for using PXE network boot, see x86: Booting and Installing Over the Network With PXE.

• By booting from a diskette. You can copy the Device Configuration Assistant software to a diskette from the Solaris x86 Platform Edition DVD or Solaris Software 2 of 2 x86 Platform Edition CD by using the copy procedure in Appendix I, x86: Preparing to Boot From the Solaris Device Configuration Assistant or the Network (Tasks).