JumpStart DVD (with Solaris flash archive) for x86 platform

• Creating a flash archive of running Solaris system (SunFire X4200) and using it in JumpStart installation, meaning cloning this system to new X4200 (it can also be cloned as VMware client)
• Creating a JumpStart DVD, so no need for JumpStart server, just boot from DVD and install all from there (also consider making generic JumpStart DVD to install Solaris on almost any hardware)

• Install the Solaris10-u10 on SunFire X4200 with ZFS root pool



• Create the flash archive of X4200 with command flarcreate



• The "man flarcreate" says: "Following creation of a flash archive, you can use JumpStart to clone the archive on multiple systems. Using JumpStart to install one or more systems is the only installation method available for installing a flash archive of a ZFS root pool."
• 
  

  {host_x4200}/tmp> flarcreate -n sol10u10_x86_flash_archive -a zd -c /tmp/sol10u10_x86_flash_archive.flar Full Flash Checking integrity... Integrity OK. Running precreation scripts... Precreation scripts done. Determining the size of the archive... The archive will be approximately 1.90GB. Creating the archive... Archive creation complete. Running postcreation scripts... Postcreation scripts done. Running pre-exit scripts... Pre-exit scripts done.

  
  This creates the archive size ~2G.
  

  {host_x4200}/tmp> file sol10u10_x86_flash_archive.flar sol10u10_x86_flash_archive.flar: Flash Archive



• Get Solaris10-u10 ISO to /tmp, mount it and install/copy server files to /tmp/dvd-sol10-u10_x86/ (see how? )



• Since flash archive is used, you can delete /tmp/dvd-sol10-u10_x86/Solaris_10/Product directory, it's not needed. Or just leave it there and have 8.5GB DVD



• Since installed system boots from DVD's miniroot (x86.miniroot), we need to perform some actions in that miniroot and to customize it for this excersise



• The root_archive utility is used to manipulate boot archives and the bootable miniroot(s) in a Solaris install image. The utility can pack and unpack boot archives and image miniroots.



• First extract the x86.miniroot

{host_x4200}/boot/solaris/bin> ./root_archive unpack /tmp/dvd-sol10-u10_x86/boot/x86.miniroot /tmp/miniroot



• This is extracted/unpacked x86.miniroot

{host_x4200}/tmp/miniroot> ls total 232 drwxr-xr-x 19 root root 1544 May 10 15:10 . drwxrwxrwt 4 root sys 408 May 10 15:11 .. lrwxrwxrwx 1 root other 16 May 10 15:10 .java -> ./tmp/root/.java lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 13 May 10 15:10 .swapinfo -> tmp/.swapinfo lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 13 May 10 15:10 .swappart -> tmp/.swappart drwxr-xr-x 3 root other 316 May 10 15:10 .tmp_proto drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 117 Aug 23 2011 a lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 May 10 15:09 bin -> ./usr/bin drwxr-xr-x 6 root sys 570 May 10 15:09 boot drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 117 Aug 23 2011 cdrom drwxr-xr-x 10 root sys 3143 May 10 15:09 dev drwxr-xr-x 3 root sys 243 May 10 15:09 devices drwxr-xr-x 47 root sys 11940 May 10 15:09 etc drwxr-xr-x 15 root sys 973 May 10 15:10 kernel drwxr-xr-x 6 root bin 10246 May 10 15:09 lib drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 117 Aug 23 2011 mnt drwxr-xr-x 2 root sys 117 Aug 23 2011 opt drwxr-xr-x 4 root sys 242 May 10 15:09 platform dr-xr-xr-x 2 root root 117 Aug 23 2011 proc -rw-r--r-- 1 root other 0 Aug 23 2011 reconfigure drwxr-xr-x 3 root sys 5929 May 10 15:09 sbin drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 245 May 10 15:09 system drwxrwxrwt 4 root sys 308 May 10 15:09 tmp drwxr-xr-x 19 root sys 1887 May 10 15:09 usr lrwxrwxrwx 1 root other 14 May 10 15:09 var -> ./tmp/root/var



• Remove existing /etc/sysidcfg file and create your custome version



• {host_x4200}/tmp/miniroot/etc> unlink sysidcfg
• 
  

  {host_x4200}/tmp/miniroot/etc> cat sysidcfg # some example keyboard=US-English service_profile=limited_net system_locale=en_US timezone=US/Pacific timeserver=localhost name_service=DNS { domain_name=yourdomain.ca name_server=x.x.x.x,y.y.y.y search=yourdomain.ca,yourdomain.co.uk } nfs4_domain=dynamic terminal=vt100 security_policy=NONE network_interface=primary { netmask=255.255.255.0 protocol_ipv6=no default_route=192.168.x.x } root_password=QwErTy123456000 auto_reg=none



• In order to allow custom JumpStart from DVD, alter the file /tmp/miniroot/usr/sbin/install.d/profind. Two lines are commented in the funcion cdrom(), see lines with #zarko#
• 
  

cdrom() { # Factory JumpStart is only allowed with factory # stub images, indicated by the file /tmp/.preinstall # #zarko# if [ -f /tmp/.preinstall ]; then mount -o ro -F lofs ${CD_CONFIG_DIR} ${SI_CONFIG_DIR} >/dev/null 2>&1 if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then verify_config "CDROM" fi #zarko# fi }



• Once altering extracted x86.miniroot is over, pack it again.

{host_x4200}/tmp>/boot/solaris/bin/root_archive pack /tmp/dvd-sol10-u10_x86/boot/x86.miniroot /tmp/miniroot



• Move the flash archive to /tmp/dvd-sol10-u10_x86/flash/ directory



• The directory Solaris_10/Misc/.install_config should have files needed for JumpStart. Place all needed files there (rules, profile, begin/finish scripts, etc). Use command 'check' to verify rules.
• 
  

  {host_x4200}/tmp/dvd-sol10-u10_x86/Solaris_10/Misc/.install_config> ../jumpstart_sample/check Validating rules... Validating profile profile... The custom JumpStart configuration is ok.

• 
  Note about profile file:

  # ~~~~~~~~~~~ profile start ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ # it's short since flash archive is used # # define installation type install_type flash_install # # define flash archive location archive_location local_file /cdrom/flash/sol10u10_x86_flash_archive.flar # # delete all existing fdisk partitions, and create solaris type on whole disk fdisk rootdisk solaris all # partitioning explicit # # The pool keyword creates new root pool and new boot environment. pool space0 auto 4g 0 any # # The bootenv keyword identifies boot environment bootenv installbe bename zfsroot dataset /var # ~~~~~~~~~~~ profile end ~~~~~~~~~~~~~



• Edit grub boot loader menu (file /tmp/dvd-sol10-u10_x86/boot/grub/menu.lst), adding block "title S10-u10 x86-Custom JumpStart DVD X4200-flar con=ttya"
• 
  

  # Copyright (c) 2010, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. default=0 # wait for user's input timeout=-1 min_mem64 1024 title S10-u10 x86-Custom JumpStart DVD X4200-flar con=ttya kernel /boot/multiboot kernel/unix - install -B \ console=ttya,install_media=cdrom module /boot/x86.miniroot title Oracle Solaris kernel$ /boot/multiboot kernel/$ISADIR/unix -B install_media=cdrom module$ /boot/$ISADIR/x86.miniroot title Oracle Solaris Serial Console ttya kernel$ /boot/multiboot kernel/$ISADIR/unix -B install_media=cdrom,console=ttya module$ /boot/$ISADIR/x86.miniroot title Oracle Solaris Serial Console ttyb (for lx50, v60x and v65x) kernel$ /boot/multiboot kernel/$ISADIR/unix -B install_media=cdrom,console=ttyb module$ /boot/$ISADIR/x86.miniroot



• Create the ISO image
• 
  

  {host_x4200}/tmp/dvd-sol10-u10_x86> mkisofs \ -b boot/grub/stage2_eltorito -c .catalog \ -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4 \ -boot-info-table -relaxed-filenames \ -allow-multidot -allow-leading-dots \ -l -ldots -R -N -d -D \ -V sol10-u10_x86 \ -o /space0/iso/sol10-u10_x86_jumpstart_dvd_sunfire_x4200.iso . Warning: creating filesystem that does not conform to ISO-9660. Size of boot image is 4 sectors -> No emulation 0.39% done, estimate finish Fri May 11 09:11:34 2012 0.79% done, estimate finish Fri May 11 09:11:34 2012 ... 99.12% done, estimate finish Fri May 11 09:12:11 2012 99.51% done, estimate finish Fri May 11 09:12:11 2012 99.91% done, estimate finish Fri May 11 09:12:11 2012 Total translation table size: 2048 Total rockridge attributes bytes: 114130 Total directory bytes: 454656 Path table size(bytes): 2704 Max brk space used 10e000 1271172 extents written (2482 MB)



• Copy the ISO image to the computer with burning s/w and burn the DVD. If Solaris box has DVD writer, check the command "cdrecord". Actually the cdrecord supports only burning a CD, not a DVD.
• Let's try something. First, use the command '/usr/bin/cdrecord -scanbus' to scan all SCSI devices on all SCSI busses.
• Then test burning a ISO to a DVD with option '-dummy', in this case tool does whole process but the laser is turned off.
  {host}/> /usr/bin/cdrecord -v -sao -dummy dev=1,0,0 /pool.iso/my_generic_x86_jumpstart_s10-u10.iso
  And messages could be (whole output truncated):
  /usr/bin/cdrecord: Found DVD+ media but DVD+R/DVD+RW support code is missing.
  /usr/bin/cdrecord: If you need DVD+R/DVD+RW support, ask the Author for cdrecord-ProDVD.
• One solution is to install Blastwave's cdrtools (ver 3 or higher), the cdrecord with DVD support is part of this.
  Do new dummy test with command from /opt/csw/bin/
  {host}/> /opt/csw/bin/cdrecord -v -sao -dummy dev=1,0,0 /pool.iso/my_generic_x86_jumpstart_s10-u10.iso
  And messages could be (whole output truncated):
  Using generic SCSI-3/mmc-3 DVD+R driver (mmc_dvdplusr).
  Track 01: data 5789 MB
  Total size: 5789 MB = 2964089 sectors
  /opt/csw/bin/cdrecord: DVD+R/DVD+RW has no -dummy mode.
  /opt/csw/bin/cdrecord: Cannot init drive.
• Okay, no dummy support, but we can still try burning and see what happens.
  {host}/> /opt/csw/bin/cdrecord -v -sao dev=1,0,0 /pool.iso/my_generic_x86_jumpstart_s10-u10.iso
  And it could be success (whole output truncated):
  Using generic SCSI-3/mmc-3 DVD+R driver (mmc_dvdplusr).
  Track 01: data 5789 MB
  Total size: 5789 MB = 2964089 sectors
  Starting to write CD/DVD/BD at speed 4 in real SAO mode for single session.
  Track 01: Total bytes read/written: 6070454272/6070454272 (2964089 sectors).
  Writing time: 1209.164s
  Average write speed 3.6x.
  Min drive buffer fill was 60%
  /opt/csw/bin/cdrecord: fifo had 185256 puts and 185256 gets.
  /opt/csw/bin/cdrecord: fifo was 0 times empty and 56130 times full, min fill was 64%.

Now that we have the JumpStart DVD, let's test it first on SunFire X4200.

• Power on the X4200 and as per output, select F2 (CTRL+E on Remote Keyboard) to enter BIOS Setup. Make sure the first boot device is the DVD.
  
  

  AMIBIOS(C)2003 American Megatrends, Inc. BIOS Build Version : 0ABGA042 Date: 09/27/07 09:32:38 Core: 08.00.10 CPU : Dual Core AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 275, Speed : 2.2 GHz Count : 4, CPU Revision, CPU0 : E6, CPU1 : E6 Microcode Revision, CPU0 : 4D, CPU1 : 4D DRAM Clocking CPU0 Core0/1 = 400 MHz, CPU1 Core0/1 = 400 MHz Sun Fire X4200 Server, 2 AMD North Bridges, Rev E6 1 AMD 8111 I/O Hub, Rev C2 2 AMD 8131 PCI-X Controllers, Rev B2 System Serial Number : 0000000000 BMC Firmware Revision : 2.0.2.1 , BMC IP Address :192.168.19.88 CPLD Revision : C.0 Checking NVRAM.. Initializing USB Controllers .. Done. Press F2 to run Setup (CTRL+E on Remote Keyboard) Press F12 to boot from the network (CTRL+N on Remote Keyboard) Press F8 for BBS POPUP (CTRL+P on Remote Keyboard) 3260MB OK

  
  
  
  
• Exit BIOS, system reboots again, and GRUB presents the option to select the JumpStart installation.
  
  
  
  
• The JumpStart installation begins
  
  

  SunOS Release 5.10 Version Generic_147441-01 32-bit Copyright (c) 1983, 2011, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Configuring devices. Custom JumpStart Using install cd in /dev/dsk/c3t0d0p0

  
  The you'll have to enter next info for the system to be installed: Network interface, hostname, IP, subnet, name service (like DNS), domain name, server IP and domain(s) to be searched. Then the installation continues with below messages.

  System identification complete. Starting Solaris installation program... Searching for JumpStart directory... Using rules.ok from CDROM. Checking rules.ok file... Using begin script: begin_script Using profile: profile Using finish script: finish_script Executing JumpStart preinstall phase... Executing begin script "begin_script"... My begin_script: no actions ... Begin script begin_script execution completed. Searching for SolStart directory... Checking rules.ok file... Using begin script: install_begin Using finish script: patch_finish Executing SolStart preinstall phase... Executing begin script "install_begin"... Begin script install_begin execution completed. Processing default locales - Specifying default locale (en_US.ISO8859-1) Processing profile - Saving Boot Environment Configuration - Opening Flash archive - Validating Flash archive - Selecting all disks - Configuring boot device - Creating "all" Solaris fdisk partition (c0t0d0) - Creating "all" Solaris fdisk partition (c0t1d0) - Configuring / (any) ZFS send stream space0/ROOT/zfsroot gets extracted to space0/ROOT/zfsroot ZFS send stream space0/backup gets extracted to space0/backup ZFS send stream space0/zones gets extracted to space0/zones Verifying disk configuration - WARNING: Unused disk space (c0t1d0) Verifying space allocation Preparing system for Flash install Configuring disk (c0t0d0) - Creating Fdisk partition table - Creating Solaris disk label (VTOC) Configuring disk (c0t1d0) - Creating Fdisk partition table - Creating Solaris disk label (VTOC) - Creating pool space0 - Creating swap zvol for pool space0 Beginning Flash archive processing No local customization defined Extracting archive: sol10u10_x86_flash_archive Extracted 0.00 MB ( 0% of 1953.65 MB archive) Extracted 1.00 MB ( 0% of 1953.65 MB archive) Extracted 2.00 MB ( 0% of 1953.65 MB archive) Extracted 3.00 MB ( 0% of 1953.65 MB archive) ... The archive extract can take up to 30 min. ... Extracted 1953.65 MB ( 99% of 1953.65 MB archive) Extracted 1953.65 MB (100% of 1953.65 MB archive) Extraction complete Postdeployment processing No local customization defined Customizing system files - Mount points table (/etc/vfstab) - Network host addresses (/etc/hosts) - Environment variables (/etc/default/init) Cleaning devices Customizing system devices - Physical devices (/devices) - Logical devices (/dev) Installing boot information The GRUB menu is empty - Installing boot blocks (c0t0d0) - Installing boot blocks (/dev/rdsk/c0t0d0s0) Installation log location - /a/var/sadm/system/logs/install_log (before reboot) - /var/sadm/system/logs/install_log (after reboot) Flash installation complete Executing JumpStart postinstall phase... Executing finish script "finish_script"... My finish_script: start My finish_script: The flash archive is used ... OK My finish_script: finish Finish script finish_script execution completed. The begin script log 'begin.log' is located in /var/sadm/system/logs after reboot. The finish script log 'finish.log' is located in /var/sadm/system/logs after reboot. Creating boot_archive for /a updating /a/platform/i86pc/boot_archive syncing file system .. done Rebooting

  The X4200 reboots, make sure to select hard disk as first boot device in BIOS, and next you see is GRUB menu for newly installed X4200 system (which is basically clone of one used for flash archive creation).

Let's also try using this JumpStart DVD for installing Solaris as virtual machine, here I try one hosted on VMware ESXi ver. 4.1 .
I've installed ESXi on the X4200. The VMware ESXi is a "bare-metal" hypervisor (can be called virtual machine manager), meaning it installs directly on top of X4200 and partitions it into multiple virtual machines that can run simultaneously, sharing the physical resources of the X4200.

• Once VMware ESXi is installed on X4200, you need to install VMware vSphere Client on your PC, since from there you manage virtual machines.
  The VMware vSphere Client is downloaded from https://x4200_ip_address
  
  
  
• Create new Solaris virtual machine and have ISO of JumpStart DVD on your PC. Configure BIOS of virtual machine to boot from DVD (ISO mounted as DVD).
• Start virtual machine and JumpStart installation begins from the ISO.
• The virtual machine reboots, in case of VMware ESXi, after virtual machine reset, BIOS uses hard disk to be first boot device, and there is GRUB menu.
  
  
  
• The Solaris virtual machine boots. Looks good.
  
  
  
• Note that trying this JumpStart flash archive installation may not work on every X86 platform. It's much better creating generic JumpStart, where packages are installed from original Solaris distribution.