Automating Solaris Installations: A Custom Jumpstart Guide (Bk/Disk)

Like one needs the NIS+ book from Sun for NIS+, one needs this jumpstart book from Sun for practical jumpstart installations. It contains all those details of how to make, that the new machine does not ask for the language or which variables are preset for the finish script etc. Belongs to the survival kit of the Solaris admin.

This book is essential if your task is to create a custom Jumpstart server. The important term here is the word "custom". If all you need is to set up a server to build standard Solaris distributions from, the electronic documentation provided on your Solaris CD will suffice.If, however, you need to produce multiple systems with additional layered products, have a fixed number of different configurations that must be frequently built or have unusual site requirements, then you won't find the information you need to build a custom Jumpstart server anywhere else. That exclusivity of information makes this book a must in such circumstances.It is quite plain from reading the book that the author knows his subject intimately, but he doesn't overlook the small details required to give newcomers focus. The book is nailed tightly to its subject - you'll find extensive detail and examples on all aspects of Jumpstart. However, this is perhaps the only flaw in this book. While Jumpstart itself hasn't changed much since publication of this book, the typical Solaris system has, and it is beginning to show. Future editions could do with the benefit of a chapter on installing and pre-configuring DiskSuite (a bundled technology used in most server environments) for example.Highly recommended.