Installation Assumptions

This guide makes several assumptions, including:

The system is an x86 system
The system is compatible with the Solaris 10 10/08 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 512 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 10/08 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 10/08 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.
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 10/08 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 10/08 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 10/08 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 10/08 on your system. Login using the root user and the password you
assigned on step 19.
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