Install Server Requirements

Any system that meets these requirements can be used as an AI install server, including laptops, desktops, virtual machines, and enterprise servers. The install server can be either an x86 machine or a SPARC machine. An x86 install server can install both SPARC and x86 clients, and a SPARC install server can install both SPARC and x86 clients.

AI Server Hardware Requirements

The following requirements assume the Oracle Solaris 11.1 OS is already installed. If you need to install or update the Oracle Solaris 11.1 OS on your AI install server, check Chapter 4, Using the Text Installer and Chapter 3, Using Live Media for memory and disk space requirements.

Memory

The minimum requirement to operate as an AI install server is 1 GB of memory.

Disk space

Additional disk space required to operate as an AI install server depends on how many install services you set up. You need a separate install service for each different client architecture that you plan to install and for each different version of the Oracle Solaris 11 OS that you plan to install on client systems. Each net image is approximately 300-400 MB.

Install Service Operation Privileges

Many of the commands used with automated installation require increased privilege. Use one of the following methods to gain more privilege:

Rights profiles

Use the profiles command to list the rights profiles that are assigned to you.

Software Installation

If you have the Software Installation rights profile, you can use the pfexec command to install and update packages.

$ pfexec pkg install install/installadm

Install Service Management

If you have the Install Service Management rights profile, you can use the pfexec command to create install services and add system configuration profiles to an install service, for example.

$ pfexec installadm create-service

Service Management

If you have the Service Management rights profile, you can configure and enable SMF services. The Service Management rights profile does not need pfexec.

$ svcadm refresh system/install/server:default

sudo

Depending on the security policy at your site, you might be able to use the sudo command with your user password to execute a privileged command.

$ sudo pkg install install/installadm

Roles

Use the roles command to list the roles that are assigned to you. If you have the root role, you can use the su command with the root password to assume the root role.

AI Server Software Requirements

Operating system

Install the Oracle Solaris 11.1 OS on the AI server. To install the Oracle Solaris 11.1 OS on the AI server, see Part II, Installing Using Installation Media.

Static IP address

Configure the AI server to use a static IP address. See How to Configure an IP Interface in Connecting Systems Using Fixed Network Configuration in Oracle Solaris 11.1.

Default router

Ensure that your AI server has a default route set by using the netstat -rn command. If your AI server does not have a default route set, use the route add default command to statically set a default route. See the route(1M) man page for information about how to use the route command.

Multicast DNS

(Optional) Enable multicast DNS to advertise the install services on your AI server. See Enabling Multicast DNS.

Software package repository

Ensure that the install server can access an IPS software package repository. AI requires the install/installadm package. Use the pkg list command as shown in Installing the AI Installation Tools.

DHCP

Set up DHCP. The AI server can also be the DHCP server. Alternatively, you can use a DHCP server that is already set up in this network. You need different DHCP configurations for each client architecture. Creating an Install Service Including Local DHCP Setup shows an example of using AI to set up DHCP on the install server. For information about configuring DHCP, see the Related Information.