Hi, I am going to install Solaris 10 on a Sun Netra T2000 in a few days; I've been reading a bit and I just want to confirm that I know what I'm doing. I've used Solaris a lot through a telnet connection but never actually installed it. The server (Net T2000) doesn't have a keyboard or monitor, so as far as I know the only alternative is through a serial console connection. I am planning to use putty as the terminal emulator. The server has Solaris already installed so I basically want to over-write everything and start over. So I have a few beginners questions: 1) To create the serial connection to my laptop, will a usb-to-serial be enough? Apparently, I might need a null modem cable as well? What exactly is this? My usb-to-serial has a male db9; but I was also given a db9 female - to db9 female cable, which I would need to connect to a male db9. How would I know if this is a Null Modem? 2) Is there any way of creating a serial connection without a Null Modem? 3) Once I have the physical connection, do I just need to open up putty, connect to the right serial console; and then I can login? 4) I would then just need to login, init 0 to get to the ok prompt, and boot cdrom? 5) One more question, is there anyway of installing Solaris with a graphical interface, as opposed to the command line interface. Not absolutely necessary, but would be nice nonetheless.

Before you get too far along check the sun site for the exact setup. See here. http://dlc.sun.com/pdf/819-2549-12/... Null modem is a cable wire scheme. The exact wiring is in the manual.It can be used by you with any connector you need as long as the tx and rx match pins. You would have to label it as a special cable. or just go to the store and buy a null modem cable. If you need gender changers then get one. I think putty can access a usb to serial adapter. They are odd sometimes in that they don't use lower comm port numbers. They usually start at 5 or more. Playing to the angels Les Paul (1915-2009)