1. Insert disksuite cdrom and cd /cdrom/disksuite_version
 2. pkgadd -d `pwd`
 3. reboot

At least 50% of the metadatabases are required for a successful boot. If only one disk is available to hold the metadatabases, 3 should be created (i.e.use flag -c 3 with metadb command). If two disks are available, 2 metadatabases should be on each disk. If three disks are available, create 1 on each disk. It is not normally necessary to spread the metadatabases over more than three disks.

 1. create small partitions (around 3mb) on your disks as required using
    format command (NOTE:You may need to partition the disk as described in
    the next section if the disk is to be used as a mirror)
 2. Initialise meta database by entering: >
    /usr/opt/SUNWmd/sbin/metadb -a -f -c 2 /dev/dsk/device1 /dev/dsk/device2 
    (where device1 and device2 should be a small disk partitions previously set up). 

This will create 2 metadatabases on the two disks specified.

The disk which is to be used as a mirror has to have the same underlying partitions as the original disk. This is most easily done as follows:

 1. prtvtoc -h /dev/rdsk/cntndns2 > /tmp/vtoc
 2. Edit /tmp/vtoc removing the last two fields on each line (one if directory not shown)
 3. fmthard -s /tmp/vtoc /dev/dsk/cxtxdxs2
 4. create root mirror
       1. metainit -f d10 1 1 disk1
       2. metainit d20 1 1 disk2
       3. metainit d0 -m d10
       4. metaroot d0 disk1
       5. shutdown -y -g0 -i6
       6. metattach d0 d20
 5. create other mirrors
       1. metainit -f d11 1 1 disk1
       2. metainit d21 1 1 disk2
       3. metainit d1 -m d11
       4. edit /etc/vfstab changing entry to use matadevice instead of disk device
       5. shutdown -y -g0 -i6 (you don't have to reboot after each mirror is
          created but can wait until you've created all the initial mirror
          devices you require)
       6. metattach d1 d21
 6. Repeat the above step until all the required partitions are mirrored

 1. vi /etc/opt/SUNWmd/md.tab setting up the entries as required. 
    Examples are shown below:
    Concatenating 4 devices: create an entry as below: >
        d1 4 1 /dev/dsk/device1 1 /dev/dsk/device2 1 /dev/dsk/device3 1 /dev/dsk/device4
    This will create a metadevice d1 consisting of the 4 disks specified
    Striping 3 devices: create an entry as below: >
        d2 1 3 /dev/dsk/device1 /dev/dsk/device2 /dev/dsk/device3 -I 32k
    This will create a metadevice d2 consisting of the 3 components striped
    with a stripe size of 32Kb
    Mirroring devices:create an entry as below: >
        /dev/md/dsk/d12 1 1 /dev/dsk/device1
 2. (create metadevice for existing f/s)>/dev/md/dsk/d2 -m /dev/md/dsk/d12
 3. (create meta mirror device)>/dev/md/dsk/d22 1 1 /dev/dsk/device2
 4. (create submirror device)
 5. Verify the entry you have is correct by entering metainit -n /dev/md/dsk/dn
 6. If there are no errors, run metainit for real: metainit /dev/md/dsk/dn
 7. For mirrors you need to activate the meta devices first, then metattach
    the submirror to the metamirror. So for the above example you would need
    to:
       1. /usr/opt/SUNWmd/sbin/metainit /dev/md/dsk/d22
       2. /usr/opt/SUNWmd/sbin/metainit -f /dev/md/dsk/d12 
         (-f is required if the filesystem is mounted)
       3. /usr/opt/SUNWmd/sbin/metainit /dev/md/dsk/d2
       4. Either edit /etc/vfstab or if root filesystem enter: metaroot /dev/md/dsk/d2
       5. reboot
       6. metattach /dev/md/dsk/d2 /dev/md/dsk/d22
10. Can check status using metastat

 1. Remove the current installation by entering: pkgrm SUNWmd
 2. reboot to reconfigure the kernel without the psuedo devices by Disksuite
    (need to change /etc/vfstab first!)
 3. cd /etc/opt/SUNWmd
 4. remove unwanted data: rm md.cf mddb.vf
 5. mv md.tab md.tab.orig
 6. Insert disksuite cdrom and cd /cdrom/disksuite_version
 7. Reinstall disksuite: pkgadd -d `pwd`
 8. reboot

The exact recovery of the database depends on the original setup, the original devices present and the new devices present (e..g.in a disaster recovery situation). You will need to check the original md.tab file (and df entries if available) to work out the original set up. The procedures below provide general guidelines for a mirrored system but cab be applied to any recovery.

 1. Initialise the meta database: metadb -afc device
 2. cp md.tab.orig md.tab
 3. vi md.tab changing devices to those present on the box
 4. If required mirror the root disk as follows:
       1. prtvtoc /dev/dsk/device > /tmp/file
       2. fmthard -s /tmp/file /dev/dsk/rootcopy_device
       3. metainit the uderlying devices in accordance with the contents of
          meta.db e.g. metainit -f d1
       4. metainit the metadevice e.g. metainit d0
       5. To indicate root volume enter metaroot d0
       6. vi /etc/vfstab to change the devices to the metadevices for the
          root file systems (i.e.put back the md in the path, etc)
       7. reboot
       8. metattach d0 d2 etc to attach mirrors
 5. Format any disk with the pattern of partitions required
 6. save the vtoc: prtvtoc /tmp/file2
 7. fmthardall the disks using this pattern (except root and mirror!)
 8. metainit hsp001 to metainit the hotspare pool (if required)
 9. metainit the remaining disks e.g. metainit d16; metatinit d17; metainit -f d15