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How to Use Sun Installation Assistant

Sun SIA Team, September 2007

Sun Installation Assistant (SIA) can ease the installation of Linux or Microsoft Windows operating systems on supported Sun x64 servers. SIA checks that the necessary drivers and other required software are installed, and then runs diagnostics to make sure they're working properly. For more information about SIA, see http://www.sun.com/systemmanagement/sia.jsp.

Sun Installation Assistant can be booted from either the server's CD/DVD-ROM or remote KVM with CD/DVD-ROM redirection, or via a PXE network boot. Instructions for configuring PXE network boot are given in each server's Operating System Installation Guide, in the chapter that describes how to configure SIA for PXE boot. (One such example is found in Sun Blade X6220 Server Module Operating System Installation Guide.)

1. Insert the Sun Installation Assistant CD into the server's CD/DVD drive, or use PXE booting, or use the remote KVM with CD-ROM redirection.

2. Power on or reboot the server. Your server boots the Sun Installation Assistant. This can take a few minutes. The first screen that appears is the Software License Agreement screen.

Figure 1: SIA -- License Agreement
(Click to Enlarge)

3. Read through the terms of the agreement.

You must scroll to the bottom of the license text window to make the Accept radio button active.

• If you agree, select the Accept radio button and click Next to continue. The Welcome screen now appears with an introduction to the Sun Installation Assistant.
• If you do not agree, select the Decline radio button and click Exit to close the Sun Installation Assistant. The system then prompts you to reboot the server.

Figure 2: SIA -- Welcome Screen
(Click to Enlarge)

4. On the Welcome screen, click Next.

The Welcome screen explains what the Sun Installation Assistant will do. Click Next to proceed.

5. Check for updates on the Remote Update screen, and click Next.

The Sun Installation Assistant can download updates to enable new drivers or platforms, or to fix other issues. On the Remote Update screen, click No if you want to disable this function. If you select Yes, you need to configure networking (Step 9) and return to this point when that is accomplished.

Figure 3: SIA -- Remote Update
(Click to Enlarge)

6. If Remote Update is selected in the previous screen (Step 5) you need to configure networking.

1. Select the active network interface (for example: eth0).

2. Select the configuration method (DHCP or static).

   If the static method is selected, provide the necessary information (for example, IP address, gateway, and so on).

3. Provide proxy information if an HTTP proxy is needed to access an external site, for example:

sia-updates.sun.com

4. Click Next.

The Remote Update process checks for updates and displays the list of those available. The updated components will be downloaded when required. Click Next to proceed.

Figure 4: SIA -- Identifying Distribution
(Click to Enlarge)

7. Remote Update will check for available updates and display the list of items to be updated. Click Next to proceed.

The Remote Update process checks for updates and displays those available. Whenever the updated components are required, they will be downloaded.

Figure 5: SIA -- Identifying the System
(Click to Enlarge)

8. Identify the system.

This step identifies the hardware, processor, and system's total memory. Click Next to proceed.

9. Scan for SCSI devices.

Figure 6: SIA -- Scanning
(Click to Enlarge)

This step identifies if any option cards are present, and it also scans the SCSI disks and displays the results. Sun Installation Assistant automatically proceeds to the next screen.

Figure 7: SIA -- Scanning (Results)
(Click to Enlarge)

10. Select the installation method. Select where you want to install the OS.

11. Fill in the OS installation information fields. Figure 8 shows the screen before you enter your information.

Figure 8: SIA -- Filling in Fields
(Click to Enlarge)

Figure 9 displays a sample screen after user information has been entered.

Figure 9: SIA -- Filling in Fields With Data
(Click to Enlarge)

12. Provide the installation media and click Next to start the installer for the OS selected.

For More Information

Here are additional resources:

• The following training courses for Sun x64 servers, available at http://www.sun.com/training/, contain information about using SIA:
  • Sun Fire X4600 Server Maintenance and Troubleshooting CD-ROM Bundle (CDLE-5377)
  • Sun Fire X4600 Server Maintenance and Troubleshooting (WEB-5377)
  • Sun Fire X4100/X4200 Server Installation, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting Course Package (WEB-4923)
  • Sun Fire X2200 M2 Server Installation, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting (WET-5818)
• The General - Installation Developer Forums
• The following documents, available at http://docs.sun.com, contain information about using SIA:
  • Sun Fire X4100/X4100 M2 and X4200/X4200 M2 Servers Windows Operating System Installation Guide
  • Sun Fire X4100/X4200 and X4100 M2/X4200 M2 Servers Operating System Installation Guide
  • Sun Fire V20z and Sun Fire V40z Servers--Linux Operating System Installation Guide
  • Sun Fire X4500 Server Operating System Installation Guide
  • Sun Fire X4600 and Sun Fire X4600 M2 Servers Operating System Installation Guide
  • Sun Blade X6220 Server Module Operating System Installation Guide

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