How to run Solaris 10 under VMware

I needed to experiment with some security features of Solaris. Since Solaris 10 runs on x86, I decided to download it and run it on a virtual machine. No need for expensive SPARC servers.

• Download VMware server 1.0.4 (free)
  
• Download Solaris 10 8/07 (free)
• Create a virtual machine:

1. Do a typical install and select the solaris 10 profile
2. Configure your network connection with "Use bridged networking"
3. Configure your disk capacity to 8 GB Disk Size
4. Your virtual machine is ready

• Doing the Solaris installation
  

1. Change the virtual device CD-ROM Connection from Use physical drive to use ISO image
2. When required press 1 for Solaris Interactive.
3. Choose your preferred language.
4. Now choose Networked Connectivity. Then specify if your virtual network interface card will grab an IP address by DHCP or not.
5. If you chosen not detail your virtual machine hostname, IP address, subnet mask, IPv6 support and default route.
6. Enable or not Kerberos, detail your eventual name service system.
7. If you have chosen DNS as name service system detail your domain name and at least one DNS server IP address.
8. Choose your Time Zone and Date & Time.
9. Choose your Root password.
10. Finally accept your summary settings page.
11. Say yes to both Reboot automatically after software installation and Eject additional CDs/DVDs automatically after software installation.

• Now start the software packages installation.

1. Leave CD/DVD as Media.
2. Accept the License Agreement and choose Custom Install.
3. Select your Software Localizations region only if you want Solaris 10 in your national language. English will be installed by default.
4. Select Products to install as you need.
   
5. Select None as Additional Product to install.
6. Now you need to select how many Solaris software packages install. I suggest choosing End User Group
7. On Disk Selection just hit Next
   
8. On Partition Customization hit Next as well.
9. On Customize Partitions you’ll see a single Solaris partition If you are unsure on how to partition your virtual hard disk just hit Next.
10. If you hit Next on the previous screen a default File System Lay Out will appear. Just hit Next.

Now the packages installation will start. This will take some time so get some coffee.
At the end of the Solaris Installer, let the OS restart.

Voila..... you are set to go. I must say, being an ex-linux (Redhat) wizard, Solaris 10 wasn't that much different in graphical setup. And now the fun can start.