[OpenIndiana-discuss] Installation on a partition (UEFI System)

[Atiq Rahman]

Hi John,
> The last time I EFI multibooted on a single disk, I GPT partitioned with
> FreeBSD gpart(8) and created a zpool for the OI text installer to re-use.

Most likely, I am gonna go with this. It's been a while since I last had a
Solaris machine. I have to figure out the zpool stuff.

Thank you so much for the suggestion. This is very helpful.

> If ASUStek's firmware offers a decent EFI menu, you can just use that to
> select between OSs.
Yep, firmware's EFI support and menu is pretty good.

Cheers!

Atiq


On Mon, Jul 14, 2025 at 5:21 PM John D Groenveld via openindiana-discuss <
openindiana-discuss at openindiana.org> wrote:

> In message <CABC65rMtCy52d2a9ZtY=
> sa9EyzOftABhOqc0j2RZM97vOpYv8w at mail.gmail.com>, Atiq Rahman writes:
> >I have a 1TB SSD on my notebook. I don't wanna use the whole disk. I only
> >wanna use a partition for the installation. I am using the text installer
> >since graphical boot is not working yet.
> >
> >So, it presents me with 2 options
> >- Use whole disk (EFI)
> >- Partition the disk (MBR)
> >
> >Logically, CSM / legacy bios mode is not even an option on my system
> >(checked on BIOS Setup a few times). However, since, OI installer is
> >presenting me with that option I am wondering if that's the only option to
> >install without using the whole disk.
> >
> >Did anyone try that option on an EFI only device? Did that work? What's
> >the recommended route?
>
> If ASUStek's firmware offers a decent EFI menu, you can just use that to
> select between OSs.
> Otherwise I have used Rod Smith's rEFInd:
> <URL:https://www.rodsbooks.com/refind/>
>
> I find multibooting a PIA and prefer VMs.
>
> >Also, it seems like
> >
> https://docs.openindiana.org/handbook/getting-started/#install-openindiana-graphical-installer
> >is outdated: examples there use BIOS mode on photos and instructions? Most
> >systems are UEFI these days (checked some older devices in our family,
> none
> >of them have legacy BIOS mode or CSM for booting). How to contribute in
> >editing the document?
>
> <URL:
> https://docs.openindiana.org/contrib/content/#finding-additional-ideas-and-suggestions
> >
>
> John
> groenveld at acm.org
>