How Do I Use the Automated Installer?
Perform the following tasks:
First, set up an install server on your network. See Chapter 3, Automated Installer Setup Instructions.
This install server manages the resources needed for automated installations to client systems in a network.
Use the installadm create-service command to set up an install server and create an installation service. An installation service, or install service, is a network entity that specifies the parameters for a particular type of installation. These specifications are defined in XML manifest files.
The automated installer uses AI ISO images to create the install services. An AI ISO image is a collection of software in a single file. An AI ISO image is usable for installations.
Once an install server and an installation service are set up, you can install the OpenSolaris release to a client on the network, per the default specifications in the service, by booting the client system. See How a Client is Installed.
If you want to perform various types of installations in a network, you can create and manage additional install services tailored for each type of installation by using the installadm create-service command. For example, you can set up an install service that installs the OpenSolaris OS to x86 clients and an install service that installs the OpenSolaris OS to SPARC clients. See Chapter 4, How to Administer an Automated Install Server.
If you have clients with varying machine specifications, you can manually create or modify manifests so that the manifests cover those specific machine specifications. Then, you can use the installadm add command to add your new manifests to an install service. See Chapter 6, How to Administer the Manifest Files for an Install Service.
If you want a specific client to use a specific install service, you can associate a service with a client by using the installadm create-client command. See Chapter 5, How to Administer a Custom Install Client.
To resolve problems encountered while using the automated installer, see Chapter 8, Troubleshooting and FAQs for the Automated Installer.
installadm Utility
The installadm utility enables you to accomplish the following tasks:
Set up install services and installation images, and set up and update a DHCP server
Configure your server
Set up or remove custom clients
Add or delete manifest files
Enable or disable install services
List services or list manifests for an install service
For more information, see the installadm(1M) Man Page.
