Creating a Customized Boot CD/DVD for the Solaris Operating System for x86 Platforms 
by John Cecere and Dana Fagerstrom
December, 2005
This article explains the mechanics of the boot process on the Solaris Operating System for x86 platforms so that you understand what is needed to create a customized CD/DVD. It discusses both the hard disk and CD/DVD boot processes, and points out the differences between the two.
There are a number of practical applications for this topic, including:
- Jumpstart Software — The feature in Solaris that allows access to Solaris installation media and configuration rules over a network
- Diagnostics — The ability to create a bootable CD for the purpose of diagnosing system problems without accessing or modifying the copy of the operating system that is installed on the target system
- Restoration — The ability to create a bootable CD with tools that aid in the repair and restoration of a down system
- Diskless clients that cannot do PXE booting—PXE is a DHCP-based network-based installation technology similar to Solaris Jumpstart. Some older x86-based system are incapable of using PXE
- Canned Firewall—The creation of a bootable CD that starts Solaris on a system configured with multiple network interfaces. A preset ipf configuration is then used to establish a network firewall on that system.
This article begins by examining the layout of a hard disk in the x86 architecture and the components on it that are used for booting. It then describes the pieces that are unique to a CD boot. Finally, this article puts the pieces together and creates an image file that can be burned to CD.
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