Since Solaris is virtually free i intend to try it out. Is it difficult to install.?

Since answers to "is this hard?" will vary greatly depending on the source, the best approach is to take a stab at it. If it gives you hours of headaches and requires a great deal of Googling to get things working, then yes, it's difficult.

Also, you didn't mention which hardware you're using. If you're using SPARC hardware of some kind, then I'd still say go ahead and try it. With a bit of thought and an idea ahead of time what you want done, the Solaris install isn't a very complicated one (as opposed to say, Crux Linux, a very "nuts & bolts" distribution).

If you're thinking of installing Solaris on the x86 platform, I hope you have better luck than I did. And a couple of my friends as well. About 2.5 years ago I worked in a shop with quite a few Solaris boxen, and I thought it would be cool to have it on my desktop. Two of my co-workers had troubles similar to mine when I attempted it. I don't remember anything specific beyond trying it on two separate desktops and four or five different video cards.

Granted, I was less experienced then, but a senior admin came to my rescue, and he didn't know what to tell me. I'm guessing the hardware support just wasn't there. Maybe it's better by now. I ended up just installing Slackware.

Documentation for installing Solaris to x86.
I followed this for my Solaris 9 install. Worked great.
Only hitch was that I needed to use the "-P ignore" option for Lilo to add Solaris.

Ah, the compatibility list. I remember hating that thing for its brevity. At least within the context of the hardware we had lying around.

Thanks for the tip. I've bookmarked this page for future reference. I have a couple SPARC boxen now, so if I get another Solaris-prevalent job, hopefully it'll be a place I can trust enough to bring my toys to work with me.

As more of that episode comes back, I remember two of us had trouble getting video cards to work--at least well--and the other guy was having issues with his mobo, IIRC. It's actually three years ago next month. Solaris 9 wasn't out yet; I can't remember if 8 was still in the werks, and I'm too lazy to research the release dates.

Good luck rcottere, and thanks, 2damncommon.

PS: nice sig(s). I especially like the longhorn reference.

thanks for the documentation. I got my system up and running with Solaris.

Great.
The Solaris-x86 site is a must for first time users.

I am hoping the SCO part can be deleted soon.

Hey bro, how do you add solaris to lilo? Whats the "-P ignore" about?

Thanks

Check the other thread,
man lilo
and
man lilo.conf
have some information.
Feel free to ask more.