Microsoft Windows

If you have Windows installed, and you set up enough space to install the OpenSolaris operating system, the installation should be straightforward. All versions of the OpenSolaris release for the x86 platform use the GRUB bootloader. These OpenSolaris releases recognize Windows and ensure that the Windows partitions remain unchanged by default. When the OpenSolaris installation is finished, the GRUB menu gives you the option to boot either Windows or OpenSolaris.

If you are using VMware, see Test-driving OpenSolaris 2008.11 (B99) With VMware Workstation 6. See also Getting Started With OpenSolaris Using VMWare.

Linux, or Windows and Linux

If you have either Linux or Windows installed on your system, and you boot through GRUB, before installing OpenSolaris, save a copy of the menu.lst file that shows the Linux and Windows boot entry information. You will need to manually update the menu.lst file to replace this information after the system boots. See the grub(5) man page.

Note - If you are installing OpenSolaris on a multiboot system that also contains the Linux operating system, the Solaris partition must precede the Linux swap partition.

Solaris 10 OS

The installer cannot be used to multiboot the OpenSolaris operating system. However, the installer can be used to replace instances of the Solaris 10 1/06 and later OSes, and instances of Solaris Express, in an existing multiboot Solaris system.

Extended Partitions

If you have another operating system on an extended partition, the existing extended partition is not changed and is not lost during an OpenSolaris release installation. Existing extended partitions are not visible during the OpenSolaris release installation, but the primary fdisk partition in which the extended partition resides is visible. No data in these partitions is lost due to the installation. The operating system on an extended partition is not displayed on the GRUB menu. For information about updating the GRUB menu, see x86: Administering the GRUB Bootloader. See also menu.lst file specifics at x86: Booting a Solaris System with GRUB.