Sun's Linux Offerings - Dual Boot

The following instructions discuss how to dual boot the Solaris operating environment in partition 0 and Linux in partition 8.

If you are not a current Solaris user, please visit our Free Solaris program and try Solaris for noncommercial and educational use.

1. Install UltraPenguin Linux (1.1.9 or later) or equivalent in the usual way (CD-ROM or net).
   • When the installer prompts for partitioning, allocate partition 8 for Linux root and 7 for Linux swap. Allocate partition 1 for Solaris ("SunOS root") and partition 2 for "SunOS swap". You can also allocate other partitions as desired for Solaris or Linux use. The Linux installer calls the first partition 1, and has codes for the Solaris partitions. Partition 3 (or 4) should be the whole disk.
     
     
   • Make partition 8 the root partition, and install Linux there. Install Linux swap in partition 7.
     
     
   • Complete the Linux install as usual.
     IMPORTANT: Install the silo boot loader in the same partition as the Linux root. Let it put the Silo location in nvalias; you can change it later. It should show up as "boot-device disk:h" in printenv at the OK prompt on the Ultra systems.
     
     
   • Boot the system with Linux to check install. (startx will get the X windows up).
     
     
   • "halt" will sync the system and halt the OS (OK prompt).
   
   
   
2. Install Solaris in the usual way (net or CD-ROM).
   • During the Solaris partitioning, the installer will ask if you want to preserve data. Click on "preserve data", then preserve all the partitions used for Linux.
     
     
   • Create one or more partitions for use with Solaris, and let Solaris format them. This is optional.
     
     
   • Install Solaris on partition 0 (first partition).
     
     
   • When the installer asks if you want to make the new root partition the default boot in NVRAM, say yes.
     
     
   • The installer will then complete the Solaris install as usual, and will reboot automatically to Solaris if you ask it to do that.
   
   
   
3. At the OK prompt, type "show-disks" The disk paths will be printed. Type "devalias" to get the path format for the disk you are using.
   • Choose the correct hard disk path (only one for Ultra5)
     
     
   • Type "nvalias linux <disk_path_from_above>@0,0:h"
     
     
   • If you wish, type
     "nvalias solaris <disk_path_from_above>@0,0:a"
     
     
   • Fix the printenv: "setenv boot-device disk:a".
     To change the default to Linux, substitute :h for :a.
     
     
   • Set autoboot on if you wish.
   
   
   
4. "boot" or "boot solaris" or "boot disk"" boots Solaris from partition a. "boot linux" boots Linux from partition h.
   
   
5. You can reinstall Linux or Solaris as many times as you want, without bothering the other installation.