Infrastructure Software

Hello to all Solaris Intel users!

I tried unsuccessfully to install Solaris 8 using the Web Start install. Although all of the devices are listed in the HCL list I found that the HCL list itself is not exactly correct. I also contacted Dell and Sun to no avail. (Acutally, I was told by the Sun technician that it was impossible to install Solaris 8 on our Dell and I would have to get a copy of 11/99 Solaris 7. He too was incorrect.) Below I will list the steps to successfully install Solaris 8 on a Dell PowerEdge 2300 with a Perc 2/SC SCSI RAID controller.

Step 1:
Download the latest Perc 2/SC driver for Solaris from AMI. (MegaRAID� Express 200 (Series 466) - http://www.ami.com). Use dd.exe or rawrite.exe to create the needed floppy. (You can download dd.exe from Sun or rawrite.exe from RedHat.)

Step 2:
Since this machine can boot from CDROM <b>DO NOT</b> place any CD's in the drive until after the system has booted from the "boot" floppy. (This means boot from the floppy!) I experienced many problems when booting from CD.)

Step 3:
Press F4 to utilize the Perc 2/SC driver on the floppy created in step 1.
Follow the instructions on the screen.

Step 4:
This is the critical step, use CD 1, <b>DO NOT</b> use the Install CD (a.k.a the Web Start). Choose either the Interactive or Jump Start as the install method and follow the instructions to completion.

NOTE:
You will be prompted for the Perc 2/SC driver disk near the completion of installation so keep it handy.

I hope this helps!