Prepare sample jumpstart server

Introduction

This guide is directed to create very sample JumpStart server for almost unattended installation of Solaris.

Steps

1. Create directory where will be created image of CD or DVD for installation - /export/install
2. Go to cdrom directory contain tools /cdrom/sol_10_606_x86/Solaris_10/Tools
3. Run setup_install_server with parameter directory, created at point 1 - ./setup_install_server /export/install This process can take long time, but you can continue with the rest of process meanwhile
4. Let's prepare file sysidcfg with answers of questions during installation for creating automatic installation
   • Create directory for storing configuration files /export/config
   • Create sysidcfg file, where netmask_value – usually this is netmask of the server i.e. Server and client are in the same network, gateway – just set the same default gateway as server (see above), for name_service set none. It's possible to define DNS, NIS, etc., but you can configure them later. For the timezone value, enter time zone for your location. Time zone files are located in directory tree below /usr/share/lib/zoneinfo. For me the zone is Europe/Sofia. Set locale value as you prefer. You can choose en_US.UTF-8 which is enough common for many purposes and do not interfere with not localized software. For the timeserver_IP value, enter the IP address of the system that will provide the time-of-day to the JumpStart client. This string (y5KqWP1EnT5Es) for root_password is hash of my password, you should set your
5. Next step is to create rules and profile files for clients in the same directory
   • Sample rules file looks like(see examples), where hostname is keyword, c1 is just name of client, and p1 is filename of profile, applied to this client. First dash mean no pre-installation script, second dash mean no post-installation script
   • Create profile file, where install_type is actually type of installation :-), system_type is standalone (let's make thinks sample), partitioning is explicit to force repartitioning of disks, filesys describe filesystems to be created. In my case I use IDE harddisks, if you have SCSI, set in appropriate way. Cluster mean which cluster of packages to install. In my case - everything
   • Add record in /etc/inet/hosts for client (same host name as in rules file)
   • Add record in /etc/ethers in format (see ecamples)
   • Copy utility for checking if profile and rules files are ok: cp /export/install/Solaris_10/Misc/jumpstart_sample/check /export/config
   • run check utility: cd /export/config; ./check
   • everything is OK continue, otherwise correct the error and start program again
   • Run add_install_client (see examples), where -c is for place where rules and profile files reside, -p is for place where sysidcfg file next is hostname of client and at the end architecture of client
   • After this export config directory: share -o ro /export/config
   • For x86 installation you should create a grub floppy and edit GRUB menu to contain the following entry (see examples)
   • After this reboot client machine with this floppy and voila – you have installed Solaris over the network :-)

Examples

sysidcfg file:
network_interface=primary {protocol_ipv6=no
netmask=255.255.255.0
default_route=192.168.30.1}
security_policy=none
name_service=none
timezone=Europe/Sofia
system_locale=en_US.UTF-8
timeserver=192.168.30.1
root_password=y5KqWP1EnT5Es

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sample profile file:
install_type initial_install
system_type standalone
partitioning explicit
filesys c0d0s0 free /
filesys c0d0s1 512 swap
cluster SUNWCXall

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Grub entry:
title Solaris netinstall
rarp
kernel /I86PC.Solaris_10-1/multiboot kernel/unix -B install_media=192.168.30.2:/export/install
module /I86PC.Solaris_10-1/x86.miniroot

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/etc/ethers in format:
MAC_ADDRESS hostname

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Run add_install_client
./add_install_client -c t1:/export/config -p t1:/export/config t3 i86pc