Now I have a jumpstart version of Solaris 10 8/07 up and running on sunny with everything included. I'll need to upgrade the antique OBP firmware in my antique Ultra 5 in order to get around the can't read the CD issues I had with install disk #2. This is faster and allows me to move on.
But even though it's a fresh install I still have some little bugaboos to deal with.
Switched from dhcp to static. I decided I don't like dhcp always overwriting everything, I'm too used to having control. I guess I should have listened to Dennis Clarke.
GNOME won't work unless add FQHN to /etc/hosts (thought I did that, but perhaps left remnants of dhcp around, although I did remove the /etc/hostname.dhcp0 file)
JDS: The U5 doesn't have enough horsepower or decent graphics capability to run JDS; graphics very poor, but not going to be using them. It's a good thing because it takes all the Xscreensaver problem; errors on JDS start, etc. items off the list. I can use network neighborhood to view shared docs file from my laptop after providing windows username and password of the account I'm signed into.
nmbd doesn't start at boot on s10 u4. I had heard about that and will have to look into it.
Good stuff:
ttya console works great with a CablesToGo USB to serial DB25 adapter and a Belkin DB25F/DB25M null modem block. That little addition was about $40, but worth it to be able to get rid of a monitor I don't have space for anyway.
A non-network console is always a nice item for watching or logging console messages and upgrades.
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I ordered a free copy of Opensolaris from the "Get Free Media - OpenSolaris CD" link at opensolaris.com/get. It arrived a few days ago and I had the 1st opportunity to boot it up yesterday. I have a "white box" system (actually the case is a cool black) from apexnh.com: Intel Core2 Duo 2.33 GHz with 2GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, 2 - DVD/CD-ROM/RAM drives and a Turtle Beach sound card. Before I can install it, I have to create another partition on my drive. Luckily, there is a nice tutorial here. You can find that link and others off the OpenSolaris Knowledge Center page .
In the meantime, I'm booting up the Live CD and finding the experience very Ubuntu-like. Live CD like Ubuntu: check. Simple desktop with the menu bar at the top: check. Pleasing blue-black screen: there's a change! Found my Canon Pixma IP3000 printer (to be expected as this model is several years old). The default user for the Live CD is "jack" with a default password of "jack". The root password is opensolaris, which is also the default hostname in this mode. I couldn't figure out how to use Rhythmbox to play an mp3 from my WD USB drive. Either the app is not intuitive or there is something wrong. I thought perhaps not all the abilities are enabled in Live CD mode, but that's speculation on my part. I'm not going to waste cycles on it until I get it installed for real.
Next up: Continue picking away at the S10 U4 annoyances as needed. Boot up the Live CD on my 2 year old Toshiba laptop and see how it works there (especially the wireless capabilities). Start organizing the desktop PC to be backed up and repartition the disk (plan A). Have Windows CD and all drivers at the ready in case the partitioning goes all wrong and a reload is needed (plan B).