I have a 64 bit computer. I have installed Mandriva Linux 2006 version and Windows XP.

LILO helps me to select the operating system when I starts the computer.

Now I have downloaded the latest Solaris 10.00. I have a bootable CD of Solaris now.

1. Is it possible to install Solaris as the third operating system on my computer?

2. I tried to install and gave it up. I thought it would erase existing operating systems.

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[nissanka@c83-250-100-230 ~]$ df -h
Filesystem Size Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/hda6 75G 20G 52G 28% /
/dev/hda1 35G 8.1G 27G 1% /mnt/win_d
/dev/hda5 75G 288K 75G 1% /mnt/win_d
[nissanka@c83-250-100-230 ~]$

[The hda6 is 75GB. I have used 20GB and 52GB are free. This /mnt/win_c is
the Windows XP. It may be possible to install Solaris on 'hda5' drive too. it has 75GB and I have used only 288KB.
I want to install Solaris on /dev/hda5 partition.
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At the beginning of the installation, I had to select one of the following:

1) Solaris Interactive (default)

2) Custom JumpStart

3) Solaris Interactive Text (Desktop Session)

4) Solaris Interactive Text ( Console Session)

5) Apply driver updates

6) Single user ...


I selected the (1) and pressed enter. Then I read the following messages:


Warning e1 x 10: link failure

Using install cd in /dev/dsk/c1t0d0p0

Using RPC Bootparams for network configuration.

When it told me the figure of the selected disk space, I asked to exit. I thought it would erase existing operating systems.

It told me the required disk space is 7457MB.
Selected disk space is 190772MB.

This means the entire harddrive. This Samsung hardrive is 200GB.

I want to install Solaris. Your thoughts are welcome.

It seems you want to install Solaris on an extended partition. This is not supported and won't work, Solaris requires a single primary partition.

I just bought the media set for solaris 10/06 (about 28 GBP 40 EUR, 9 DVDs bargain)
and solaris now uses GRUB on intel.

So maybe consider goin over to grub?

It should be (?) a simple process now to shuffle stuff about
and get all three to work together.

Grub cannot magically transform an extended partition to a primary one, so whether grub is used as a bootloader or not by the Solaris release used by Gins, a primary partition is still required.

yes I know J, I agree. But it makes life easier that
they can all use GRUB. So I just meant it should be relatively simple.

should be possible to convert the linux to GRUB, then note the config,
install solaris 10 (after rearranging the disk or buying another)
and if it overwrites the old GRUB it should be simple to add
the old linux settings.

Yes, you are right.

That's the simplest way to go.

I should have made myself clearer, sincere apologies!

Thanks jiliagre for the comments. I am very disappointed to learn that Solaris wouldn't work on my computer. If I have all the operating systems on one computer, life would be easy for me. I find it is inconvenient to jump to another computer to start Solaris.

If I want to install another distro of Linux, will it work on my computer?

Now I have Mandriva Linux and Windows XP on this computer.

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Finally, I would like to know whether Solaris works on a 32 bit computer. The downloaded Solaris is 64 bit program.

Now I must buy another computer to run Solaris. However, I have an old computer which has a 32 bit processor.
Please advice me on this too.

My LILO works fine. Do yo want me to install GRUB? Does it helps to cohabit Solaris on my system? Please tell me.

I never wrote that.
Assuming no h/w compatibility issues exist, Solaris will work in your computer.
You just need to rearrange your partitions before the installation. Okay, that's not trivial and you must first do backups of these partitions as it's easy to loose all your data with a single mistake in the process.
By the way, only Linux accepts to install on an extended partition, and this is I believe breaking some old BIOS standard.
Solaris, Windows and BSDs all require a primary partition.
Again, you have not. Likely, assuming you have a spare partition to install it Unlike Linux, there are no separate O/Ses depending on whether it's 32 or 64 bit kernel.
Solaris for x86 is a unique distro that suit both. You can select between 32 and 64 bit kernels at boot time.
That depends on what is that old computer, especially CPU speed and RAM size.

solaris will work of course. you just need to sort your hard drive partitioning.
as we suggested earlier. disks are so cheap just buy a bigger one if need be.

Solaris and Linux both live with grub, so it makes sense to use grub.

Thanks jlliagre and bigerasbility for the comments.

When I bought this computer, it was fitted with 180GB SATA hardrive. I ask them to put a SATA harddrive. I couldn't install Mandriva Linux 2006. There were some grave problems with the drivers. Mandriva failed to recognize the SATA hardrive.
I looked for the drivers everywhere.

I tried almost 2 weeks and gave up. I could install Windows XP without any hassle. The SATA hardrive had no problems with Windows XP. I don't use Windows. I am using a cracked version of Windows.It is a symbolic operating system for me.

Then I bought a 200GB Samsung IDE harddrive. This works fine. Both Linux and Solaris works smoothly on this computer. The SATA drive is still inside the computer. I just removed the cables.

Do you have any suggestions to install Solaris on that disk?
It is just inside the computer. I just removed the cables.

You suggested backing up of important data. That I do on regular basis.

I am using 2 x 250Gb SATA drives on my computer with no problems.

It's about 3 years old too, 2.8Ghz P4.


I currently have SuSe 10.1 and Solaris 10,
I don't like Suse much.

Hmmm ...
What kind of symbol ?
Well, the first suggestion would be to reinstall these cables
Good, do it again before any installation or partitioning attempts.

Jlliagre

Now I must go to the gym for training. I need more help on this. I will write to you when I come back.

Billy
Do you have both Solaris and SuSE Linux on the same computer?
I would like to know this.

It may be SuSE had all the drivers for SATA harddrive.
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Jlliagre

When I said it is a symbolic operating system, I meant that it is just on my system as a symbol. It is working. I can go to the Internet with it too.

If you look at my original post, you will see 6 alternatives to install Solaris.

What would be the best alternative for me?

I don't have any network. Just a desktop computer with Linux and Windows XP.

If you read my original post, you will find that I have unused extended partition of 75GB. It is /dev/hda5.

[ /dev/hda5 75G 288K 75G 1% /mnt/win_d ]

I would like to install it on that partition.

Your thoughts are welcome again.