Solstice JumpStart and Software Installation Technologies
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Solaris Installation / Installation --- Highly Automated with Flexible Customization
/ Key Features and Benefits /
GUI-based Manual Install Allows Full Customization /
Solstice JumpStart Auto-installs Systems /
Profiles Specify Default Configurations /
Remote Installs Allow Centralized Network Installation /
CD-ROM Means Easier, Faster, More Reliable Installation /
Standard Software Packaging Eases Installation of Applications /
Upgrades /
Software Manager
Flexible Network Installation for Solaris
Distributed computing offers cost and flexibility benefits unavailable from legacy systems or PCs. The Solaris software environment provides a fully distributed, scalable and mature operating system for enterprise installations. In order to take advantage of Solaris technology, customers require system administration tools and facilities that reduce the cost and complexity of managing the enterprise operating environment.
The distributed system management tools in Solaris allow system administrators to be more productive by working across the network. Administrators no longer need to be physically at the machines they are working on --- they can manage several systems without leaving their own workstation.
Solaris software uses a three-phased approach to reducing administrative costs. The first is to automate as many routine administration tasks as possible, making user problems disappear and lightening the workload for administrators. The second is to replicate configurations and "clone" tasks, leveraging system administration efforts. Systems are managed as consistent groups, with updates that are automatically sent across the network, leveraging system administration efforts. Third, Solaris simplifies and "up-levels" system administration tasks so that administrators work with graphical tools rather than low-level commands. Higher-level tools mean fewer errors, easier system maintenance, and lower costs.
Many vendors choose to pre-install the operating environment on their hardware for easier system set up. This is fully supported in Solaris software, and users with pre-installed Solaris simply turn their system on. Upgrades to future Solaris releases can be automatic, so users of pre-installed systems can virtually ignore installation issues. For systems that are not pre-installed, Solaris includes a number of leadership technologies for installation that provide flexibility, performance, and features previously unavailable in UNIX systems.
Many system administrators want to customize many aspects of systems when they are first installed, creating special software configurations and disk layouts. Custom install provides full interactive control of all aspects of Solaris installs and provides a more powerful and flexible user interface than ever before. The new Motif GUI (Graphical User Interface) matches the CUI (Character User Interface) install method for use on either bit-mapped or character-based monitors. Solaris supports installation in European languages. Common installation procedures, including on-line context sensitive hypertext help, are available in both SPARC and x86 Solaris platforms.
For systems where pre-installation is not appropriate, Solaris invokes Solstice JumpStart, which automatically installs your system software. After unpacking and setting up the hardware, the user simply powers-up the system and Solaris does the rest. Solstice JumpStart provides flexibility and operational advantages for system vendors, resellers, and system administrators.
Solstice JumpStart software uses "Profiles" to specify the system software configuration. The profiles are set up in advance for several "classes" of system, and systems are then assigned to each class. A system administrator or developer may create a number of customized site profiles, usually tailored to different types of systems in the workgroup. On system startup, Solaris will install the machine according to the profiles, without requiring any user interaction. Profiles can control a number of configuration characteristics, including:
- Initial install or upgrade
- Disk partitioning
- Software selection
- Localization
- System type (server, standalone, dataless)
Network installation is fully supported in all installation modes. Only one CD-ROM drive is needed on the network, and "install servers" are now commonly used. Installations can be done in parallel to many client machines either from a network CD-ROM or hard disks. Because the Solaris automation features actively use network services, installations and upgrades of large workgroups can be handled faster and easier than ever before.
Solaris software distribution on CD-ROM has enabled a number of optimizations and automatic features. CD-ROM supports rapid scanning and browsing of files, and a single disk easily holds all of the Solaris product. Its performance and reliability are far superior to tapes or floppy disks. Further, CDROM is now utilized as a standard file system supporting direct execution. CD-ROM allows Solaris to eliminate several time consuming and complicated steps during installation.
SVR4 "Packages" technology facilitates installing, removing, and automatically tracking system software configuration. Packages provide a much more systematic mechanism for distributing and managing software installations. All SunSoft products use Packages for installation. SunSoft has added value by introducing "Clusters" that provide a hierarchy of Packages, allowing much easier selection of large software bundles, and streamlining user interactions.
Solaris 2.4 software supports upgrades from Solaris 2.1 and beyond on SPARC systems. Upgrades work across the network, and can be fully automated in "batch" mode. For highly customized systems, upgrades can be tailored with interactive selections.
Software Manager is an OPEN LOOK administration application for installing and removing Solaris SVR4 ABI-compliant software packages. This Graphical User Interface is the next generation software installation tool, replacing the earlier CDmanager. Software Manager allows for browsing, installation and removal of SunSoft or ISV products contained on a CD-ROM or hard disk --- local or across the network.
All specifications and features of the products mentioned herein are subject to change without notice.