Step-By-Step Procedures

Step-By-Step Procedures

 The Step-By-Step procedures included in the starter kit decribe how to backup, partition, and install Solaris Express: Community Release build 44 to dualboot with Windows on a x86 laptop. The procedures supplement the screencasts and companion documents included in the kit.

 The final HTML files for the Step-By-Step procedures are posted here. The procedures were authored in DocBook 5 XML and the source files are here. The alpha version DocBookTrans tool was used to generate the HTML. For more information about DocBookTrans, see the Documentation Tools page. Finally, the hrefs were manually fixed in the final HTML because this early version of DocBookTrans still mangles them. If you are a java developer, and you want to help with the DocBookTrans tool, let us know.

photo: Jim Grisanzio

Future Improvements

 There are many small and large bugs to fix with resepct to the Step-By-Step procedures from minor errors and language improvements to inclusion of steps that describe greenfield/bare metal installation of SX:CR and/or multiboot steps needed to follow the SX:CR installation with an installation of Linux (tripleboot). See this thread for the review comments that made it into version 1.0, following is the beginning of the list of feedback that will go into the next version:

• System Requirements section: Note that cd burner doesn't have to be on the system you're installing.
• The Preparation and Installation instructions look to be incorrect. They would have you use the utility to create a Linux swap slice, which is not desired or necessary in Preparation. By having you choose Standard Installation they bypass the capability to specify your own custom fdisk partition with the newer Solaris partition ID, which is what is preferred for use with Solaris, especially on mixed-OS systems. Using qtparted to resize Windows is fine, but the docs should not say to use it to create the Solaris partition.
• Overall: This document takes you down the following path, using the following tools, but there are many other ways to complete the task
• Partitioning pre-requisites sectionL Make sure to scan and defragment before partitioning!
• Troubleshooting: Reboot off of DVD is normal 80% for Windows, so just tell them to use the rescue CD, then change boot order if that doesn't work
• Installation Requirements: 8-10 gigs minimal needed for this
• Partitioning section: Dbl-check linux swap type, might have changed for solaris
• Change 172.xx.xx.xxx to 192.168.xx.xx.xxx and find out about install account in troubleshooitng partitioning task to be sure it knows.
• Backup section: Pick a single cd recording tool and go with it.
• Add pointer to install community list to install chapter Troubleshooting section
• Configuration section: Consider adding steps for radian or other cards to config with Xorg?
• Configuration: Consider adding steps for use of NWAM, for those who want bleeding-edge
• Other configuration additions? This is the thinnest area of step-by-step content and could use some TLC.