Text Installer Prototype

OpenSolaris Text-Based Installer

 Implemented by Danny Pearson, Mark Godwin, Ryan Holden, Thea Gab

 The text-based installer was created during the six week field session by students from the Colorado School of Mines during June, 2009. The result of their project is a text-based installer that runs on x86 architecture. The installer provides the same options and settings as the OpenSolaris GUI installer.

 The installable ISO, source code and documentation is available for download.  OpenSolaris Text Installer

Problem Statement

 Provide installation media for OpenSolaris that delivers a purely text-based interface for users

Requirements

Primary

• Installation media will run on x86 architecture
• Same options/configuration as GUI installer
• Ncurses interface
• Provided as option on current CD

Non-Functional Requirements

• Provide proper documentation
• Coordinate with QE's and test engineers
• Make sure that ncurses interface is user-friendly

Secondary

• Runs on SPARC architecture
• Line-by-line interface
• Network installation

Use Cases

• User has SPARC machine and wishes to install OpenSolaris by inserting a CD and selecting configuration options through a console.
• User has x86 machine and wishes to install OpenSolaris, but does not have enough memory to run GNOME. User inserts the text-based install CD.
• User has x86 machine but graphics card is not supported by OpenSolaris, so they run the text-based installer in order to install OpenSolaris.

Features

• At the end of the install the user is given the option to reboot the system or to explore the installation through the terminal.
• If an error occurs during install, user is given log of install and error messages, user regains control of terminal for troubleshooting