Preparations Checklist

1. Determine the appropriate installation method for your product.

   "Determining the Installation Method," above, explains how to make this determination.

2. Back up the target system.

   Backing up essential files on the target system is not normally required but it is strongly recommended as protection against unforeseen problems. See "Backing Up the Target Systems" for details.

3. Plan the software installation order.

   Inst manages the order automatically when you install from a single CD or distribution directory. But if you are installing from more than one CD or distribution directory, be sure you have planned the order of installation. For instructions, see "Planning the Order of Installation".

4. If the software distribution is located on a remote server, make these preparations:

   • Verify that the guest account or an alternate account is available to Inst on the remote distribution server. See "Configuring an Installation Account" for details.

   • Jot down the host name and pathname of the distribution directory on the remote server. If you plan to do a miniroot installation, also jot down the network address of the remote server. See "Getting the Server's Name and Address" for instructions.

5. If you plan a miniroot installation, make these additional preparations:

   • Enable BOOTP forwarding on any routers that operate between the installation server and the target system. See "Enabling BOOTP Forwarding on Routers" for instructions.

   • Enable TFTP access to the remote distribution server. See "Enabling TFTP Access on an Installation Server" for instructions.

   • If your distribution source is a locally mounted CD, be prepared to specify the controller and unit number of the CD-ROM drive. See "Getting CD-ROM Device Numbers" for instructions.

   • Be prepared to compare the IP address of the target with the address setting in the target's PROM. See "Getting the Target's Name and Address" for instructions on determining IP addresses. Instructions for checking the PROM address are given in "Preliminary PROM Monitor Procedure".