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Solaris 8 Operating System x86 Platform Edition documentation covers information on how to install the operating system in a virtual machine. For additional information about the operating system, refer to the instructions included in the installation media.

Solaris 8 Operating System x86 Platform Edition documentation includes the following topics:

Installation Instructions for IDE controller

VMware products support only the x86 Platform Edition. You cannot install the SPARC Platform Edition in a VMware virtual machine.
To install Solaris 8 Operating System in a virtual machine you can use the standard Solaris 8 for x86 installation media. The following installation instructions are for standard distribution CD set or DVD.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, verify that the following tasks are complete:

  • Read General Installation Instructions for All VMware Products.
  • The Solaris 8 installation CD does not include the Solaris 8 SCSI (LSI/LSISAS) drivers. If you select LSI/LSISAS drivers when installing the guest on the virtual machine, it will not detect the SCSI hard disk unless you install the drivers during the Solaris 8 installation. As a result, you need to create an Install Time Update (ITU) driver disk.
  • If you plan to use a SCSI hard drive, see Adding a SCSI Driver .
  • If you selected an IDE controller, begin installing Solaris 8 by following the Installation Instructions for IDE controller .
  • Skip configuring the KDM X server at the first two opportunities. Wait for the third opportunity.

Installation Steps

  1. In most respects, follow the prompts to complete the installation.
  2. Insert the Solaris 8 x86 Platform Edition installation CD in the CD-ROM drive.
  3. Power on the virtual machine.
  4. When the Boot Solaris screen appears, Press F4.
  5. In the Boot Tasks screen, use the arrow keys to select View/Edit Property Settings and press Enter.
  6. Press F2 to continue.
  7. Use the arrow keys to select ata-dma-enabled and press Enter.
  8. Press F3 to change the value.
  9. Type 1 and press Enter to enable DMA at the Specify Value prompt.
  10. Press F2 in the View/Edit Property Settings screen.
  11. Press F3 in the Boot Tasks screen.
  12. Select CD in the Boot Solaris screen if you are installing from the CD-ROM set and continue with the installation.

Configure the X Server

Do not configure the KDM X server until all the software is installed and before you configure the X server.

Installation Steps

  1. When the kdmconfig - Introduction screen appears during installation, press F4 to skip configuring the X server and continue with the installation.
    After the software installation is complete, the installer prompts you for the root password to configure the X Server (Windows System Configuration).
  2. Enter the root password. The kdmconfig Mismatch Detected screen appears.
  3. Press F2 to configure.
  4. Select the default Change Video Device/Monitor and press F2 to continue.
  5. Press Enter to select 16-color Standard VGA 640x480 (256K) and press F2 to continue.
  6. Use the arrow keys to select Multifrequency 100KHz (up to 1600x1200 @ 80Hz) and press Enter.
  7. Press F2 to continue.
  8. Do not change the default screen size of 17 inches.
  9. Press F2 to continue.
  10. Do not change the default screen resolution of 640x480.
  11. Press F2 in the Virtual Screen Resolution Selection screen.
  12. Do not change the default No changes needed - Test/Save and Exit.
  13. Press F2 to continue.
  14. Press F4 to bypass the Windows System Configuration tests.
  15. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.

Adding a SCSI Driver

To add a SCSI drive, first create a driver disk with the Solaris 8 drivers. During installation when you install the drivers, the drivers detect the SCSI hard drive.
Download SCSI drivers for Solaris 8 from the LSI Web site: http://www.lsi.com/DistributionSystem/AssetDocument/itmpt_x86_5.07.04.zip

Creating an ITU Driver Disk Using Solaris

Use the existing dd image itmpt-x86-50704-itu-s9.dd file in the zip file to create the driver disk.
Type the following command to create the driver disk:
dd if=itmpt-x86-50704-itu-s9.dd of=/vol/dev/aliases/floppy0 bs=32768
Note If you want to use Windows to create the disk, refer to the instructions in itmpt_x86_5.07.04.txt in the zip file.

Detect the SCSI Hard Drive

These instructions apply to both SCSI and LSI/LSI SAS.

Installation Steps

  1. When you begin the installation, press F4 in the Solaris Device Configuration Assistant screen to add the drivers.
  2. Insert the ITU disk (connect the Floppy drive to A: in the virtual machine).
  3. Press F2 to continue.
  4. The disk loads the software on the virtual machine.
  5. In the Continue Supplement Driver Installation screen, disconnect the disk and press F4.
  6. Press F2 to continue the installation in the Identified Device Drivers screen.
  7. Follow the rest of the installation steps from Step 3 in Installation Instructions for IDE controller .

VMware Tools in a Solaris 8 Operating System x86 Platform Edition Guest

VMware Tools does not support Solaris 8 Operating System x86 Platform Edition.

Knowledge Base Articles for Solaris 8 Operating System x86 Platform Edition

The following link refers to knowledge base articles on operating system specific issues. See VMware Knowledge Base for a list of known issues about the operating system.

VMware Compatibility Guide

The VMware Compatibility Guide Web site lists supported guest and host operating systems and provides related support information.


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