Creating a layered flash archive in Solaris 9

I have set up a Solaris 9 install server (jumpstart) and now I would like to make it possible to use a flash archive to install different types of machines quicker. I have understood that you can do this by using layered archives, but I haven't found out how you create those. I have made a minimal install archive and I would like to create various different archives to add to that one, with different combinations for different machines. How do I create an archive that will add a web server to a minimal (Core) installation, for example?

http://sunsolve.Sun.COM/pub-cgi/retrieve.pl?doc=finfodoc%2F46326&zone_32=46326

Similar Messages

Creating Standby server ---- Flash archive/Alternate Boot Environment.

Dear All,
I want to patch upgrade the Centralized login server which holds more than 200 users. To avoid this production outage during the downtime of upgradation, we are planning to create all the logins and application in the alternate server manually. But i feel (lazy) hesitate to create logins and copy the applications in the statndby server. Since "chpasswd" is not in solaris, i can't copy the /etc/passwd & shadow file to standby server.
So i have the plan to achieve this by
i) creating flash archive of existing login server
ii) Creating Alternate boot environment in the standby server and flash restore the archive in it.
Whether the above mentioned plan is achievable, how to create the entire flash archive of solaris os?? and how to deploy it in the alternate boot environment.?
Regards,
Siva

Done, I've given the same path in Standby Database [datafiles, controlfiles] as it has been given in the Primary Database.
MoreOver, I m manually switching logfiles at primary database [alter system switch logfile] they are copied and applied sucessfully at standby database. But the archived files that I have copied with cold backup are not applied yet. Infact they are not retrieved executing the below query.
select name, applied from v$archived_log;
How can I apply those archived logs? [archives that copied with cold backup]
Regards.

Flash archive on solaris 8/9

Hello,
I have a nfs server containing flar image but this box is not a boot server.
I need to boot from CDROM and recover OS from a flash archive server (NFS). I have all the files in place too.
what command do i need to run from the ok prompt of the corrupt server so that it boot initially for CD Rom and installs from the flash archive?
ok> boot cdrom - install net=nfs_servername:/path_to_archive
or
ok> boot cdrom - install nfs=nfs_servername:/path_to_archive
please help i have have been searching a lot bot with no luck please help.

I have seen
boot cdrom - install tape=/dev/rmt/0n
i have seen this in man of boot
ok boot cdrom -F wanboot - install
and saw this on some fourm
boot cdrom -o prompt -F wanboot -V - install
but not sure how do i use them though.
and also dont know where i can specify the nfs server and archive path at boot prompt.
Any ideas?

Flash archive problem

I upgraded my T2000 system from Solaris 10 u1 to Solaris 10 u3. Now when I create a flash archive. The "content_architectures" field in flar info contains "sun4c,sun4d,sun4m,sun4u,sun4us,sun4s", and I cannot jumpstart another T2000 with it. any ideas?

Just encountered this same problem with an X64 build using a flash archive of Solaris 10/09 and using XVM 2.5.0.1186 :
Installing boot information
cannot mount '/a/rpool': directory is not empty
bootadm: mount of ZFS pool rpool failed
bootadm: cannot mount pool dataset for pool: rpoolWhen I examine the canmount zfs options just after it fails I see :
# zfs get canmount
NAME                PROPERTY VALUE     SOURCE
rpool               canmount noauto    local
rpool/ROOT          canmount on        default
rpool/ROOT/zfsroot canmount noauto    local
rpool/dump          canmount -         -
rpool/swap          canmount -         -Should I be setting canmount=on for just 'rpool' then ?

Solaris 9 U7 (2004/09) MultiLayered Flash Archive issue + solution ?

In Solaris 9 Update 7 (2004/09) the multilayered flash archive installation feature is broken.
I think that this is a known issue:
4945516 Failure of multi-layered archive with Solaris 9 4/03 on Postdeployment process
I manage to flash my archives by changing the following statement found at line 24 of the file
../Solaris_9/Tools/Boot/usr/lib/flash/postdeployment_processing
from
if [ ! -L $FLASH_ROOT/etc/rc2.d/S98flash_reboot ] ; then
to
if [ -L $FLASH_ROOT/etc/rc2.d/S98flash_reboot ] ; then
This issue is addressed in the patch 113434-22
113434-22/SUNWinst/reloc/usr/lib/flash/postdeployment_processing
But the if statement is not the good one.
Is this correct ?
Coco D.

Ideas.. Hmm, none which seems that correct, but you could try some things.
If it gets the wrong IP that could explain why it fails to copy the sysidcfg file.
First you could try and do a snoop on the ethernet address;
snoop ether 0:3:ba:14:c6:cd
(you could also try the -v flag to increase the verbosity).
The things you should look for are arp/rarp requests, the jumpstart client will use arp/rarp to determine its IP address, snoop will show you which server that responds, and what address it gets, futher more its a good idea to verify that the response to the bootparams requests comes from the correct server.
Of course there might be other oddnesses as well.
Was the data you provided extracts? If it was you should check the /etc/ethers and /etc/bootparams for duplicates entries, so there are no other occourances of the clients ehternet address in /etc/ethers, and no bogus entries starting with * or the same hostname in /etc/bootparams.
If you added the client manually you could always try and use the Tools/rm_install_client and Tools/add_install_client scripts to add it again, these script sometimes detect problems with the configuration.
Lastly you didn't show us your /etc/nsswitch.conf file, but i assume that it has "files" first for the ethers, hosts and bootparams entries?
Good luck
//Magnus

How to create incremental flash archive?

Hi all,
For ease of installation, I created an flash archive of an Solaris server using flarcreate. Since there are some changes to the system since the date of creation, I would like to update that flash archive the changes we have made. I understand that there is a way to update flash archive, but just don't know which command to use and its syntax. Would appreciate if someone can help, thanks!

Thanks Solarisfan. It works!
However, there is some error while generating the differential archive. Do you guys have any idea what it is?
Here is the command I use:
flar create -n wp22diffarchive1 -A /var/flashtest/S9.wp22.flashimage -c -x /var/flashtest/ wp22diffarchive1.flar
// where S9.wp22.flashimage is the original image which stored in /var/flashtest directory.
Here is the error message I got:
Differential Flash
Checking integrity...
Integrity OK.
WARNING: fdo: Ignoring duplicate filter entry. Choosen entry will be: /vol .
Running precreation scripts...
Precreation scripts done.
Determining the size of the archive...
fdo: ERROR: Error during file comparsion.
1 blocks
The archive will be approximately 384.49KB.
Creating the archive...
fdo: ERROR: Error during file comparsion.
1 blocks
Unable to write archive file.
ERROR: Unable to write archive.
//The differential archive is generated and size is about 384kb.
I am not sure whether these errors can be ignored or not. Any comments? Thanks!

Solaris x64 install (wan boot / flash archive)

Hi,
I need to install a Solaris x64 on a x2200m2, it's the first Sun machine on that network, no boot server or jumpstart server around.
I am thinking to use wan boot on x64, but it seems that wan boot only support sparc platform, is that true?
the other way i want to do is to make a bootable dvdrom with flash archive in it. anyone have experience on that?
dk

There is actually a Sun blueprint for creating a boot DVD with flash archive integrated.
I don't have it handy; but it covers the basics.
Best,

Solaris 8 container install problem using Ultra 60 flash archive

Hi
I have an M4000 configured with a Solaris 8 container.
I am using a flash archive from an Ultra 60.
Below is the problem when I install.
# zoneadm -z f714clone install -u -a /var/flar/fid714_20090515.flar
Log File: /var/tmp/f714clone.install.26921.log
Source: /var/flar/fid714_20090515.flar
Installing: This may take several minutes...
Postprocessing: This may take several minutes...
WARNING: zone did not finish booting.
Last entry in the logfile is...
[Fri May 15 12:21:22 BST 2009] Postprocess: Performing zone sys-unconfig
It just sits at the WARNING doing nothing.
I connected to the container console using "zlogin -C f714clone" but this just gives me a blank screen with no output and unable to do anything.
I used a different archive from a V120 and had no problems.
Is there something I need to configure for a Ultra 60.
Thanks in advance.
Steve.

I got this to work. It seems, for whatever reason, that it doesn't like the '-u' flag for an Ultra 60. I installed using '-p' instead and it was fine, it even came up with the new IP I had assinged.
zoneadm -z QeSun01b install -p -a qesun01.flar

Solaris 10 physical to Solaris 10 zones via flash archive

Hi,
I need to migrate E25K domains (all Solaris 10) to zones on an M9000. The solution architect has suggested zones on the M9000 made from flash archives of the source E25K domains for speed & simplicity (read : avoid a rebuild of the application environment and all that entails). But as best I can tell, you can only use flash archives to provision zones as part of the branded zones architecture and it does not include SOlaris 10.
As best I can tell, this is not possible - at least not in a supported way; I have seen some blogs that have hacks for making a zone from a solaris 10 flash archive but I can't do that sort of thing here.
Is my view correct? If it is, is there any timeframe for Solaris 10 P2V?
I am aware that OpenSolaris now supports Solaris (TM) as a branded zone but that will not help me here.
TIA
Steve

You log an RFE the same way you log a bug with Sun/Oracle, by calling the Support Center. For that, you would need a support contract or server serial number. If you have a relationship with a Sun/Oracle sales team, you may also be able to speak with them directly and ask if they could open the call on your behalf. The call that you open is investigated and may be determined by Sun/Oracle to be an RFE. I think I mentioned earlier that the Solari10 P2V may already have been requested by various customers, but it is always good to log the call and have yourself added as an interested party.

WARNING: Flash Archive IDs do not match (possible corrupt archive)

I'm running into problems when trying to use a newly patched Solaris 10 system's flash image via my Solaris 9 Jumpstart server. I'm able to use other flash's (Solaris 9 and 10) fine, but when I use this flash I get:
Extracted 823.00 MB ( 99% of 824.99 MB archive)
Extracted 824.00 MB ( 99% of 824.99 MB archive)
Extracted 824.99 MB (100% of 824.99 MB archive)
WARNING: Flash Archive IDs do not match (possible corrupt archive)
Extraction complete
Postdeployment processing
No local customization defined
cp: cannot create /a/etc/init.d/flash_reboot_processing: No such file or directory
Can not set reboot customization scripts
ERROR: Error while processing system postdeployment script
ERROR: Postdeployment processing failure
ERROR: Flash installation failed
Solaris installation program exited.
I've use the same script I've always used twice to create the flash to no avail.
Any ideas?

Hi,
I have the same problem, How did yoy fix this. /usr at this stage is a ram disk i assume. Can you increase this.
Cheers
Paul

Question regarding flash archives

Quick question to all
Is there a maximum size a flash archive can be when being used by jumpstart over NFS?

For Solaris10 11/06 Release:
"The default copy method that is used when you create a Solaris Flash archive is the cpio utility. Individual file sizes cannot be over 4 Gbytes. If you have large individual files, you can create an archive with the pax copy method. The flarcreate command with the -L pax option uses the pax utility to create an archive without limitations on individual file sizes. Individual file sizes can be greater than 4 Gbytes."
http://docs.sun.com/app/docs/doc/819-6398
This info for other versions/releases will be in install guide.
John

Flash Archive HTTP retrieval method

Hello, could anybody explain me why size restriction is there for HTTP flash method for flar archives? HTTP method can be used only for archives < 2GB. I would like to know why and how to split an archive > 2 GB. Thanks a lot for every reply.

What does the
"layered flash" mean, Andrew? cpio? it means standard flash archives, but splitted into parts
let me explain
for example:
1st flash archive - solaris os
2nd archive - some applications
3rd archive - oracle db
when you make archive, you include there only some directories and files you need, so in this case we have more flexibility

Errors when attempting to Jumpstart install a flash archive: Solaris10_u8

I pretty familiar with Jumpstart. I am attempting to use the new feature in Solaris10_u8 (10/2009) where you can do a flash archive install for zfs root systems.
I first built a machine the way I wanted it, and applied all patches. Then I ran flarcreate to get my new image. Copied the new image to an HTTP server.
Then I changed my rules/profile file to this time install the flash archive. Here is what my new profile looks like:
install_type flash_install
archive_location http://nas02.clark-communications.com/solaris/solaris10_u8/flash/sol101009flar
partitioning explicit
pool rpool auto auto auto mirror c0d0s0 c1d0s0
The jumpstart install begins fine.
At some point in the install, I see this:
Extracted 1632.03 MB ( 90% of 1797.45 MB archive)
cannot receive new filesystem stream: invalid stream (checksum mismatch)
Extracted 1633.03 MB ( 90% of 1797.45 MB archive)
The extraction continues. Later on, I see this:
ERROR: Could not stop the extraction
ERROR: Could not extract Flash archive
ERROR: Flash installation failed
Solaris installation program exited.
And the installation fails/stops.
What am I doing wrong, how do I fix this?

I've tried this both ways- using Solairs 10 update 6 at least, installing a fash archive created on a zfs-root system to a ufs filesystem AND ainstalling a flash archive from a ufs based root onto a zfs filesystem both failed with odd errors similar to what you experienced. I have not tried this again with either update 7 or update 8, but I believe you will encounter the same problem.
As far as I've seen so far- if the flash was created on a zfs root- you have to extract it to a zfs root filesystem, and if the original was ufs, you can only extract it to a ufs filesystem.

ERROR: Archive found, but is not a valid Flash archive

Hello,
I have created flash archive file and tried to install a new server using it. Both servers are exactly the same type of servers.
While installing I get the following message:
ERROR: Archive found, but is not a valid Flash archive
The message appears despite the method of installation: http, ftp, nfs.
The source server is using Solaris 10 10/08 (the latest).
Did anybody faced similar problem ?
Regards
przemol

Hi, Thanks for your comments, its keep loading very big lengthy file...just copied some starting files.
Also...original flar image taken from T5 and now executing on T4 server just for your info.
Target server:
root@ebsapptr1 # uname -a
SunOS asgc-ebsapptr1 5.10 Generic_147147-26 sun4v sparc sun4v
Source server:
root@ebsapp1 # uname -a
SunOS ebsapp1 5.10 Generic_147147-26 sun4v sparc SUNW,T5140
# flar info -l askapp1.flar |more
lost+found
var
var/sadm
var/sadm/install
var/sadm/install/admin
var/sadm/install/admin/default
var/sadm/install/logs
var/sadm/install/logs/Additional_Software_install.A09241632
var/sadm/install/logs/Additional_Software_install.B09241632
var/sadm/install/logs/Additional_Software_install.A08292241
var/sadm/install/logs/Additional_Software_install.B08292241
var/sadm/install/contents
var/sadm/install/.lockfile
var/sadm/install/.pkg.lock
var/sadm/install/gz-only-packages
var/sadm/install/.pkg.lock.client
var/sadm/install/.door
var/sadm/pkg
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWocfd
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWocfd/install
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWocfd/install/copyright
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWocfd/save
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWocfd/save/pspool
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWocfd/save/pspool/SUNWocfd
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWocfd/save/pspool/SUNWocfd/install
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWocfd/save/pspool/SUNWocfd/install/copyright
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWocfd/save/pspool/SUNWocfd/pkginfo
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWocfd/save/pspool/SUNWocfd/pkgmap
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWocfd/pkginfo
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWlucfg
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWlucfg/install
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWlucfg/install/copyright
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWlucfg/install/r.AddNoUpdate
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWlucfg/install/r.EtcDefLu
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWlucfg/save
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWlucfg/save/pspool
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWlucfg/save/pspool/SUNWlucfg
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWlucfg/save/pspool/SUNWlucfg/install
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWlucfg/save/pspool/SUNWlucfg/install/copyright
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWlucfg/save/pspool/SUNWlucfg/install/i.AddNoUpdate
var/sadm/pkg/SUNWlucfg/save/pspool/SUNWlucfg/inst

Flash player for Solaris?

The Flash player version is quite old. Are there any plans to fix a new version for Solaris? Any tries in that direction?
Right now I am running Windows in VirtualBox to get Flashplayer, but that is inconvenient. I would like to get Flash native for Solaris.

Adobe is no longer developing Flashplayer for Solaris. The final version Flash Player 11.2.202.223 is available from the Adobe site:
Archived Flash Player versions
-- Alan

Creating a layered flash archive in Solaris 9

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