Softpanorama (slightly skeptical) Open Source Software Educational Society

May the source be with you, but remember the KISS principle ;-) Softpanorama Search

Solaris Webstart

Solaris Webstart and an extension of the Jumpstart, the protocol that provides a mechanism for automatically installing the Solaris on multiple systems simultaneously. The Jumpstart procedure can be configured to provide a custom profile of the client systems being installed.

Used primarily by enterprise customers, Sun Enterprise Web Start Server saves time and reduces the total cost of deployment. An easy-to-use GUI increases the number and type of personnel who can install Sun and co-packaged software. Stored customizable software profiles increase the quality and consistency of deployment.

Key Features

• Easy-to-use GUI helps UNIX novices create installation profiles of Solaris and bundled software and automates replicated installations on Solaris servers and workstations.
• Browser based (Hot Java 1.1 on Solaris or Netscape 4.04 on Microsoft Windows 95 or NT 4.0)
• Install Server/clients can be administered from a Sun system or Windows PC.
• Easy-to-use online help. User's Guide can be viewed online or printed.
• Unlimited number of customizable software profiles can be stored.
• Download free from the Web, no licensing required.

Requirements

• Netscape Communicator 4.04 for Microsoft Windows 95 or NT 4.0 (with JDK patch installed)
• HotJava 1.1 for Solaris
• Any UltraSPARC based Sun system, or any SPARCserver 1000, 1000E, 2000, or 2000E system.
• 2.3 Mbytes of disk space for Sun Enterprise Web Start Server [13.7 Mbytes with Java Runtime Environment (JRE)].
• 1.3GB recommended minimum disk space for install images.
• 64 MB RAM (minimum) for install server/ client machine
• 128MB swap space on install server
• Additional information in the requirements section on download page.

News

The Solaris Interactive Installation By Radhika Girisan, Tanuj Jain. Sample Chapter is provided courtesy of Que. Date: Jan 31, 2003.

The WebStart Flash method of installation creates the archives of the installation information. This information is used during the Solaris installation. The WebStart Flash contains four archive sections: Archive Cookie Section, Archive Identification Section, User-Defined Sections, and Archive Files Section.

• Archive Cookie Section—This section contains a cookie that identifies the information file as a WebStart Flash archive.
• Archive Identification Section—This section contains keywords with values that provide identification information about the archive.
• User-Defined Sections—This section enables you to define and insert archive sections. Note that the WebStart Flash archive does not use user-defined archive sections.
• Archive Files Section—The Archive Files Section contains the files that were saved from the master system.

Pre-Installation Tasks

Perform the following pre-installation tasks before you start installation with the WebStart Flash Archive:

1. Create the WebStart Flash archive on a master system that has Solaris installed. This archive will contain all the files on the master system.
2. Install the WebStart Flash archive on clone systems. The clone system is the system that has the same installation configuration as the master system.

You can install WebStart Flash archive with any one of the following installation types:

• Solaris WebStart installation
• Solaris SunInstall program
• Custom JumpStart installation

Solaris WebStart

The steps to install WebStart Flash archive with Solaris WebStart follow:

1. Install Solaris 9 using the WebStart installation method.
2. Select the media you want to use for installing WebStart Flash archive from the Specify Media panel. The options available are DVD/CD-ROM drive, NFS, HTTP, and Local Tape.
3. If the media from which you want to install is DVD/CD-ROM or the NFS server, the Select Flash Archives panel displays. Select one or more archives to install from this panel and click Next. Confirm your selection(s) in the Flash Archives Summary panel.
4. The Additional Flash Archives panel enables you to install additional archives. If you do not want to install these archives, select None and click Next to continue with the installation.

SunInstall

The steps to install WebStart Flash archive with the SunInstall method are follows:

1. Install the SunInstall program.
2. On the Flash Archive Retrieval Method screen, select the location of the WebStart Flash archive. Select the media you want to use. The options to choose from are HTTP Server, Local Tape, Local File, and Local Device. The Solaris SunInstall program installation prompts you to proceed depending on the media you selected.
3. On the Flash Archive Selection screen, you can select to install layered WebStart Flash archives by selecting New. If you do not want to install additional archives, click Continue to complete the installation.

Custom JumpStart

To use the JumpStart method for installing the WebStart Flash archive, create the custom JumpStart rules and the profiles file on the Install server. Use the steps to create the JumpStart rules as described earlier. To create the profile file, perform the following steps:

1. Set the value of the keyword install_type as flash_install.
2. Use the new archive_location keyword to add the path to the WebStart Flash archive.
3. Specify the file system configuration.

NOTE

To install layered WebStart Flash archives on the clone systems, add one archive_location line for each archive that you want to install.

Examples follow that show profiles that can be used to install a WebStart Flash archive with the custom JumpStart installation method.

Recommended Links

---

In case of broken links please try to use Google search. If you find the page please notify us about new location

• [PDF] Solaris 10 Installation Guide: Network-Based Installations
• Solaris Web Start
• Sun Enterprise Web Start