HOW to INSTALL the

SOLARIS 10 OS TM

ON x86 SYSTEMS
> Solaris 10 How To Guides

Angel Camacho, Solaris Marketing

Version 3.0 | Last updated: 04/30/09
About This Solaris How To Guide
This How-to Guide instructs users unfamiliar with Solaris™ 10 Operating System installation on how to install the
Solaris 10 OS on a Sun-supported x86 system (including the family of 32-bit x86 systems as well as 64-bit AMD64 and
Intel 64 systems). It is assumed that you are installing Solaris 10 5/09; all features described in this guide may not be
available in earlier updates. This step-by-step guide, complete with screen shots, takes users through the installation
process in 22 simple steps. Novice users should be able to complete a Solaris 5/09 Operating System installation on a
standalone x86 system using the instructions in this guide.

Contributors: Angel Camacho, Larry Wake

Contents
Installation Assumptions Page 1

Check the Hardware

Compatibility List Page 1

Basic System Requirements Page 1

Obtaining Media for the x86 Platform Page 1

Power Up and Media Boot Page 2

Installing the Solaris 10 OS Page 2

Identifying the Console Page 2
Selecting the Type of Installation Page 3
System Configuration Page 5

For More Information Page 24

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Installation Assumptions
This guide makes several assumptions, including:
• The system is an x86 system
• The system is compatible with the Solaris 10 5/09 OS and is listed on the Solaris Hardware Compatibility List (HCL)
• The system has a graphical interface
While this guide is most appropriate for a stand-alone system that doesn't connect to a network or connects to a network
with automatic configuration, it can be used to install a system with a fixed IP address if the network configuration
information is available.

If problems arise during the installation process that are not discussed in this guide, refer to the Solaris 10 OS Installation
Guide: Basic Installations for more information. This guide is part of the Solaris 10 Release and Installation Collection
located on the Sun Web site at docs.sun.com/app/docs/prod/solaris.10.

Check the Hardware Compatibility List

The first step before the installation process is to verify that the system to be installed is on the hardware compatibility list
located at: sun.com/bigadmin/hcl/.
Note: The term “x86” refers to the family of 32-bit x86-compatible architecture and 64-bit AMD64 and Intel 64.

Basic System Requirements

Verify the computer system meets the following requirements.
Note: The requirements below are recommended minimums.

While it is possible to install the Solaris OS on a system with less disk capacity and CPU speed, it is not recommended.
• Minimum 1024 MB of physical RAM
• Minimum 10 GB of available hard drive space
• Minimum 400 MHz CPU speed
• DVD or CD-ROM drive
• Attached monitor or integrated display
For more information on Solaris system requirements, visit sun.com/solaris/specs.jsp. For a catalog of the more than 5000
Solaris-ready applications and solutions, please visit sun.com/bigadmin/apps.

Obtaining Media for the x86 Platform

The Solaris 10 5/09 OS release is available via download from the Sun Web site.
1. Go to sun.com/solaris/ and click on the Solaris logo if you want to obtain information about the
Solaris 10 5/09 OS; if not, proceed to step 2.
2. Go to sun.com/solaris/get to begin the download process.
3. Choose Solaris 10 on the list of available downloads.
4. Click on the appropriate media format (Solaris for x86 systems).
5. Register at the Sun Download Center, if you have not already done so.
6. Answer the short questionnaire.
7. Read and accept the license agreement.
8. Download and burn the CDs or DVDs.

See the Solaris 10 Self Help FAQs located at sun.com/solaris/self_help.jsp for additional guidance, instruction, and tips on
downloading the Solaris 10 OS or burning installation CD and DVD media.
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Power Up and Media Boot

If you don't want to substitute your current operating system and instead you want to run Solaris as a guest OS or Virtual
Machine, please download and install xVM VirtualBox for free from virtualbox.org/.

The following procedure can be used to install Solaris 10 5/09 on a new or used system.
1. Power up the system and insert the first installation CD or DVD into the drive tray.
2. Restart the system.
3. If the system appears to be booting from the hard disk and the Solaris OS installer does not start, power cycle the
system (power cycle is shutting down the power on the system and then restarting the system). As the system begins
to boot, enter setup mode. Typically, the system displays a message indicating which key to press (such as "Enter F2 to
enter setup", although the key to press varies by manufacturer; the ESC and F12 keys are other common options.) If
you miss the message, simply restart the system a couple of times until you are able to view it.
4. Once in setup mode, specify the boot device for the system. This example specifies the CD or DVD drive as the boot
device. To do so, find the list that describes boot order and re-order as needed to ensure the CD or DVD drive appears
first on the list. The system should then boot from the CD or DVD drive to start the install process.

Installing the Solaris 10 5/09 Operating System

Identifying the Console
The next step in the installation process is to select the type of console for the hardware on which the Solaris OS is being
installed. Use the arrow keys to select the version of the Solaris OS that matches the hardware configuration. For most x86
systems, use the default selection.

Press the ENTER key and boot the version of operating system selected. The highlighted entry boots in 60 seconds even if a
key is not pressed.

Note: Prompts do not appear during the boot process. If a selection is not made, the screen times out and the system
automatically boots the Solaris OS.
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Selecting the Type of Installation

After the ENTER key is pressed or the counter times out, a series of dots will run on the screen and you will see the basic
device configuration message along with a menu with six installation options.

Before this new counter times out, select option 3 to install Solaris 10 5/09 from the beginning using Solaris ZFS™ as the
root file system. You can get more information on ZFS from sun.com/solaris/zfs.

Note: If you don't want to use ZFS as your root filesystem, you can use option 1. Please refer to the previous version of this
“How To Guide.”

Once option 3 is selected, you'll see the following screen with some information regarding your hardware. Keep in mind
that the hardware information displayed (such as "nge0") may differ from the exact data displayed below and that each
step can take up to a couple of minutes to complete:
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After a few seconds, you are presented with the keyboard layout configuration in case you don't have a standard keyboard
or if you have a localized keyboard. If you have a US keyboard, press the [F2] key; if not, select the right language using
the arrow keys to move up or down, make your selection with the [space bar] and then press [F2] to continue.

Immediately, you'll see the following message. Press ENTER to continue.

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System Configuration
A series of screens guides you through the Solaris OS configuration process.
Note: The graphical screens require a mouse to be rolled over the window in order to answer questions posed
throughout the configuration process.

1. After you press ENTER, the system configuration process will start through a series of windows. Please roll the
mouse over the window, click the mouse, then press ENTER to continue.

2. Select a language for the system.

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3. A new window, the Solaris Install Console, appears in the bottom-right corner. This window is used to display
pertinent installation messages. Another window appears in which the Solaris OS installation questions should be
answered. Press [F2] to continue.

4. The system identification process begins. Press [F2] to continue:.

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5. The Network Connectivity window appears. Use the default answer, (unless you don't have a network) and press [F2]
to continue.

6. The DHCP selection appears. For most cases, just select DHCP for your network configuration using the arrow keys and
the space bar to make the selection and then press [F2] to continue.
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7. The IPv6 window appears. Just use the default and press [F2] to continue.

8. The Confirmation window appears. If you agree with your selections, press [F2] to continue; if not, press [F4] and the
process will go back to step 5.
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9. The Security Policy window appears. Use the default for No Kerberos configuration, then press [F2] to continue.

10. For confirmation of your policy selection, press [F2] and continue to the next screen.
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11. The Name Service window appears. Select NONE using the arrow keys and pressing the space bar to select, then press
[F2] to continue.

12. For confirmation of your selection, press [F2] and continue to the next screen.
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13. The NFSv4 domain name window appears. Let the system use the default option and press [F2] to continue.

14. For confirmation of your selection, press [F2] to continue to the next screen.
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15. The Time Zone window appears. Next, set the time zone for the system. This example sets the Americas time zone.
Use the arrow keys and the space bar to make the selection, then press [F2] to continue.

16. Time Zone cont'd. Set the United States Country & Region, then press [F2] to continue.
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17. Time Zone cont'd. Set the Pacific Time, then press [F2] to continue.

18. Set current date and time. Use arrow keys and keyboard to change the proposed date and time, then press [F2] to
continue.
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19. To confirm your selection, press [F2] to continue.

20. The Root Password window appears. Set the root password. Note the password typed remains invisible. Re-enter the
password in the second box and press [F2] to continue.
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21. The Network Services window appears. Click [F2] to continue.

22. The Remote Services window appears. In this window, you can choose a “Secure by default” Solaris installation, but
afterwards individual services should be enabled. If you are unsure of your type of installation, follow the default
“Yes” to enable all remote services and press [F2] to continue.
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23. The Install Progress window appears. Wait for a few minutes while Solaris installs on your system. After the
installation is completed, the system will reboot automatically and will start the Solaris OS. Remember that in some
cases, you will have to eject the media manually.

24. The Eject CD/DVD window appears. Use the default. Press [F2] to continue; the system will automatically eject the
media after installation.
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25. The Reboot After Installation window appears. Use the default, press [F2] to continue.

26. The Confirmation window appears; press [F2] to continue. In some cases, the system will not be able to eject the
media after installation. Be sure to eject it manually to avoid starting the installation process again; if after the
installation your system didn't eject the media and the install process started again, you can simply reboot your
system. During the boot process, eject the media and the system will boot from the hard disk using the freshly
installed Solaris 10 image.
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27. The License window appears. Please read the Solaris License Agreement, and if you agree, press [F2] to continue.

28. The Geographic Regions window appears. To add support for other regions, select the desired region; if not, press [F2]
to continue.
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29. The System Locale window appears. Press [F2] to continue.

30. The Selection of Additional Products window appears. Press [F2] to continue.
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31. The Root File System selection window appears. Select ZFS and press [F2] to continue.

32. The Software Selection window appears. Use the default and press [F2] to continue.
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33. The Disk Selection window appears. Use the default and press [F2] to continue.

34. The ZFS Configuration window appears. Use the default and press [F2] to continue.
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35. The Remote Mounts window appears. Use the default and press [F2] to continue.

36. The Profile window appears. On this window, you can see a technical description of how Solaris will be installed on
your system. Press [F2] to continue.
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37. The Install Progress window appears. Wait for a few minutes while Solaris installs on your system. After the
installation is completed, the system will reboot automatically and will start the Solaris OS. Remember that in some
cases, you will have to eject the media manually.

38. Now you have successfully installed Solaris 10 5/09 on your system. Login using the root user and the password you
assigned on step 19.

img: htg-i045.jpg
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For More Information

For more information regarding the Solaris 10 OS, visit sun.com/solaris.
a
Documentation and Community

Sun Documentation docs.sun.com/

Big Admin System Administration Portal sun.com/bigadmin/
Sun BluePrints Articles

Configuring JumpStart Servers to Provision Sun x86 Systems sun.com/blueprints/0205/819-1692.pdf

Performing Network Installations Without a Local Boot Server sun.com/blueprints/0504/817-7288.pdf
Configuring Multiboot Environments on Sun x86 Systems with sun.com/blueprints/0905/819-2889.pdf
AMD Opteron Processors
Related Web Sites

Solaris Hardware Compatibility List sun.com/bigadmin/hcl

Solaris 10 System Requirements sun.com/solaris/specs
Solaris 10 OS Features Comparison Chart sun.com/solaris/newfeatures
Next Steps to Solaris 10 Adoption

Get hands on experience with Solaris 10 using sun.com/solaris/teachme

"Solaris 10 How To Guides"
Get trained on Solaris 10—free! sun.com/solaris/freetraining
Get a support contract sun.com/solaris/get_support
Participate in the OpenSolaris community opensolaris.org
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