Automated Installer Intro

In this lab we will learn how to use the new installation method introduced in Oracle Solaris 11: Automated Installer. We will review several typical situations and discuss how to solve them using Automated Installer (AI). This lab includes the following scenarios:

• Simple installation: one CPU architecture, one Solaris version, one set of packages;
• Several Solaris versions to be installed from one AI server;
• Different package configurations: small-server, large-server, additional packages;
• Different host configurations: hostnames, IP addresses, etc.;
• Zone installation from AI server;
• Installing from Unified Archives

But before we start, 60 seconds of theory.

60 seconds of theory

Automated Installer has three major components: install services, manifests and system profiles. Here is what they do:

• Install Services: they provide bootable media for clients and work in conjunction with IPS repositories. You need one install service per each CPU architecture and OS version.
• AI Manifests: they describe installation configuration (disk layout etc.) and package sets. You need one manifest per each set of packages (small-server, large-server, additional packages) and disk layout. You can modify them dynamically at the time of installation.
• System Configuration (SC) Profiles: they describe host OS configuration including hostname, network parameters, time zone, passwords etc. They are optional: if you don't have one, you'll have to specify all these parameters at first boot.

Automated Installer works in conjunction with IPS repository, so we will need one for our exercises. Luckily, we have one installed in our lab. You instructor will give you all necessary information.