Infrastructure Software

I've installed Solaris 10 6 times now, each with a different set of error situations. I'm requesting a new/overwrite install each time. The machine is in the hcl. My major problems:

1) Network connected ... occasionally: iprb0
The network sometimes works, sometimes not. In my first install, I manually configured /etc/ files to make it work. dhcp does not seem to help; manual config seems to skip over or omit key prompts (like domain name).

During some install options, I get messages like:
unable to run /usr/sbin/sysidput
see /var/sadm/system/logs

unable to configure iprb0

If I unplug/replug the network cable, the kernel recognizes these changes, but I can't even ping my own IP address. localhost pings fine.

2) X refuses to start. I don't understand this one. X was configured and working properly during install, then fails on reboot with messages like:
agp gart support not available
How would I resolve that? This is Intel i815 with Compaq TFT5000 (CPQ1341).

3) Screwy colors during install. turquoise on violet?
It made me think my video was not recognized, but eventually reverted to "normal" colors.

4) Do not try to install using a KVM switch.
Tried this ... keyboard and mouse were not picked up correctly, so X refused to start. But the X installer worked fine.

5) X installer. Why don't you auto focus the cursor.
The window starts, without a mouse cursor in the window, so keyboard isn't recognized. This is a single user install program ... just move the focus.

6) "Error has occurred during configuration, backup"
When I do that on the network config screens, Java blows up.

7) The transition from CD to CD is flawed. The pop-up window telling you to change CD's obscures the progress window. There is plenty of screen real estate ... don't cover things up.

8) During one install, the gui wasn't chosen, and the character prompt program did not recognize any of the CD's. It would be helpful to use the same external description of the CD's that the internal programs are requesting. I had to cancel the install, and start again.

9) During one install, the auto-eject of CD's following disc1 somehow got confused, the machine rebooted, and got an error "cannot read fdisk table".

I powered off/on, and the install proceeded correctly.