OpenSolaris

  subsites   code review   repo   packages   bugs   defect   polls   planet
You are not signed in. Sign in or register.
Preparing to Install and Configure the OpenSolaris Software for Dualboot on an x86/x64 Laptop
���Next

Preparing to Install and Configure the OpenSolaris Software for Dualboot on an x86/x64 Laptop

Table of Contents

OpenSolaris Installation Prerequisites
Backing up the Disk Drive
Re-partitioning the Disk Drive
To Re-partition Your Disk
Troubleshooting
Next Steps

This document describes procedures for installing and configuring an x86/x64 laptop installed with Windows (2000/NT/XP) to boot OpenSolaris from the same physical hard drive. This capability is referred to throughout this document as "dualboot" or "multiboot". Many users prefer to maintain multiple operating systems on thier laptops, especially if they use their laptop for operating system development work. Specifically, the Solaris™ Operating System, Linux, and Windows operating systems, can be deployed on a single system disk, and configured to allow you to choose between the different operating systems at boot time.

The focus of this document is to enable you to dualboot Windows and OpenSolaris (Solaris Express: Community Release build 43). The OpenSolaris software is included on the <i install> DVD-ROM.

This document also provides the procedures to back up and re-partition your disk before installing and configuring the OpenSolaris software. Re-partitioning is a necessary step because the installer for the Solaris Express: Community Release only allows one primary partition to be devoted to OpenSolaris on a disk. In order to install and configure the OpenSolaris software, your x86/x64 laptop must meet the following system requirements:

  • 120 MHz x86/x64 processor with hardware floating-point support

  • Memory: 256 Mbytes

  • A minimum of 4Gbytes of available space on your hard drive is recommended

  • CD-Rom burner; if you do not have the full starter kit, or if you do not have a partitioning utility

  • DVD drive

    If your laptop does not have a DVD drive installed, you can download, unpack, and burn the Solaris Express: Community Release pre-built archives using the instructions at OpenSolaris Download Center.

Note

Multiboot capability should not be confused with available virtualization technology that allows simultaneous operation of multiple operating systems such as VMware or Xen technologies. VMware may be used as a low-cost alternative to partitioning your hard drive for multiboot. See Getting Started with OpenSolaris on VMware for more information. As another alternative to partitioning, you may consider adding a new disk drive to your machine for the installation of the OpenSolaris software.

OpenSolaris Installation Prerequisites

The following prerequisites must be met before you can install a laptop with the OpenSolaris software using the instructions in this document.

Note

The following section describes prerequisites for novice users in order to complete the tasks with the highest level of safety. If you are a more experienced user, you already backup your data regularly, and you have a partition resizing program like Partition Magic or gPartEd, feel free to repartition with those tools and to use the following prerequisites as a reminder.

  • If you are able to successfully boot one of the LiveCDs included with this kit, your hardware should be compatible with the OpenSolaris software. You may also access to the online Hardware Compatibility List to check that your laptop is compatible with the OpenSolaris software. Optionally use the Installation Check Tool to create a report of the drivers available for the devices it detects on your laptop.

  • The disk should be scanned and defragmented using the Windows system tools.

  • The disk should be re-partitioned because the OpenSolaris software requires a primary partition to install successfully.

  • If you use the backup instructions in this document, you will need to have available the following:

    Three empty 1.44MB floppy disks, or an empty CD-R/RW.

    An FTP server with enough free space to store all of the data you need to back up.

    A DHCP server.

    Several hours to complete the disk backup.

  • You will also need to download and burn the g4u files and create an image using the instructions at http://feyrer.de/g4u.

  • If you use the partitioning instructions in this document, you will need to download and burn the System Rescue-CD ISO that includes the QT_Parted files at SourceForge by using the instructions at www.sysresccd.org.

Two methods of installing the OpenSolaris software are available:

  • Install the OpenSolaris software from the <i install> DVD-ROM as described in To Install the Solaris Express: Community Release Software.

  • Install the OpenSolaris software by following the installation prompts included with the Nexenta, Belenix, or Schillix LiveCDs on the <i learn> DVD-ROM. See the Installation tab for links to associated installation documents.

���Next
���Backing up the Disk Drive