Solaris 11 Automated Install with no network (Standalone)

After my last blog entry about Solaris 11 Automated Install without a network boot I was thinking that we have all the building blocks to do a true standaone install of Solaris 11 without any network connection at all.

Oracle gives us the iso's for "Oracle Solaris 11 11/11 Automated Installer" and the full "Oracle Solaris 11 11/11 Repository Image" from the Solaris download page, so why do we need a network!

The problem is that the repository is 7GB so testing it is a little difficult and trying to put the above two ISO's onto one 8GB USB is even harder. At this stage I have been unable to put the 7GB repository ISO onto a USB stick. Also, unable to combine the 2 ISO into 1 ISO which works (I end up with repository errors on install)!

But, in theory it will work and to demonstrate the idea I will use VirtualBox and a network for the manifest file (ONLY for manifest file!).  You can use my previous blog to replace the AI boot image with a modified one.

1. Download the above iso for x86:
• sol-11-1111-ai-x86.iso
• sol-11-1111-repo-full.iso


2. Create a new VirtualBox Solaris client
• it needs to be on the network (download manifest file)
• Storage we will add both ISO files as CD





3. Create a manifest file for the installation and place it on a web server:
• There is only one change required from the default manifest (download version default.xml):


             <publisher name="solaris">
                     <origin name="http://pkg.oracle.com/solaris/release"/>
             </publisher>



Change to:


             <publisher name="solaris">
                     <origin name="file:///media/SOL11REPO_FULL/repo"/>
             </publisher>



4. Now boot you client:
• Pick default option Oracle Solaris 11 11/11 Automated Install custom:





• Enter the URL for the modified manifest file:

At this point it should go off and install the software.

The perfect solution which I am happy for someone to try is to place the both AI boot and repository onto one ISO and then use no network, but I have failed so far!