Unfortunately, NetBeans 6.1 has not yet made it into the package repository for OpenSolaris 2008.05 yet. Here's how to install it.

Step 1: Install the JDK

OpenSolaris 2008.05 does not ship with the JDK, so if you haven't already done so, it needs to be installed first.

• Download JDK 6 Update 6 (or newer)
• For the Platform select Solaris x86. Even if you're running in 64-bit mode you need to install the x86 version first:
  
  
  
  
• Download the Solaris x86 packages -tar.Z. You can use the Sun Download Manager, but I just clicked the file name and saved it to a JDK folder I created on my Desktop (I created a folder so the extracted files would be easier to clean up):
  
  
  
  
• Extract the tar file. Open a terminal and enter:
  
  cd Desktop/JDK
  zcat jdk-6u6-solaris-i586.tar.Z | tar -xf -
  
  
• Install the JDK (OpenSolaris 2008.05 ships with the JRE, so there's no need to install that package):
  
  bleonard@opensolaris:~/Desktop/JDK$ pfexec pkgadd -d . SUNWj6dev SUNWj6cfg SUNWj6man SUNWj6dmo

Processing package instance <SUNWj6dev> from </export/home/bleonard/Desktop/JDK>

JDK 6.0 Dev. Tools (1.6.0_06)(i386) 1.6.0,REV=2006.11.29.05.03
Copyright 2007 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Use is subject to license terms.
Using </usr> as the package base directory.
## Processing package information.
## Processing system information.
4 package pathnames are already properly installed.
## Verifying package dependencies.
WARNING:
The <SUNWmfrun> package "Motif RunTime Kit" is a
prerequisite package and should be installed.

Do you want to continue with the installation of <SUNWj6dev> [y,n,?]

The Motif RunTime Kit (SUNWmfrun) isn't included with OpenSolaris 2008.05, so I'm just going to ignore this warning and continue...

Do you want to continue with the installation of <SUNWj6dev> [y,n,?] y

Installing JDK 6.0 Dev. Tools (1.6.0_06) as <SUNWj6dev>

## Installing part 1 of 1.
/usr/jdk/instances/jdk1.6.0/LICENSE
/usr/jdk/instances/jdk1.6.0/README.html
...

/usr/jdk/instances/jdk1.6.0/lib/tools.jar
/usr/jdk/instances/jdk1.6.0/src.zip
[ verifying class <none> ]
## Executing postinstall script.

Installation of <SUNWj6dev> was successful.

Processing package instance <SUNWj6cfg> from </export/home/bleonard/Desktop/JDK>

JDK 6.0 Host Config. (1.6.0_06)(i386) 1.6.0,REV=2006.11.29.05.03
Copyright 2007 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Use is subject to license terms.
Using </> as the package base directory.
## Processing package information.
## Processing system information.
1 package pathname is already properly installed.
## Verifying package dependencies.
WARNING:
The <SUNWmfrun> package "Motif RunTime Kit" is a
prerequisite package and should be installed.

Do you want to continue with the installation of <SUNWj6cfg> [y,n,?]

You get the same warning with the Dev. Tools package. Again, continue...

Do you want to continue with the installation of <SUNWj6cfg> [y,n,?] y
## Verifying disk space requirements.
## Checking for conflicts with packages already installed.
## Checking for setuid/setgid programs.

This package contains scripts which will be executed with super-user
permission during the process of installing this package.

Do you want to continue with the installation of <SUNWj6cfg> [y,n,?] y

Installing JDK 6.0 Host Config. (1.6.0_06) as <SUNWj6cfg>

## Installing part 1 of 1.
[ verifying class <none> ]
[ verifying class <preserve> ]
## Executing postinstall script.

Installation of <SUNWj6cfg> was successful.

Processing package instance <SUNWj6man> from </export/home/bleonard/Desktop/JDK>

JDK 6.0 Man Pages (1.6.0_06)(i386) 1.6.0,REV=2006.12.07.16.42
Copyright 2007 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Use is subject to license terms.
Using </usr> as the package base directory.
## Processing package information.
## Processing system information.
3 package pathnames are already properly installed.
## Verifying package dependencies.
## Verifying disk space requirements.
## Checking for conflicts with packages already installed.
## Checking for setuid/setgid programs.

Installing JDK 6.0 Man Pages (1.6.0_06) as <SUNWj6man>

## Installing part 1 of 1.
/usr/jdk/instances/jdk1.6.0/man/man1/appletviewer.1
/usr/jdk/instances/jdk1.6.0/man/man1/apt.1
...

/usr/jdk/instances/jdk1.6.0/man/man1/wsimport.1
/usr/jdk/instances/jdk1.6.0/man/man1/xjc.1
[ verifying class <none> ]

Installation of <SUNWj6man> was successful.

Processing package instance <SUNWj6dmo> from </export/home/bleonard/Desktop/JDK>

JDK 6.0 Demo Programs (1.6.0_06)(i386) 1.6.0,REV=2006.11.29.05.03
Copyright 2007 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Use is subject to license terms.
Using </usr> as the package base directory.
## Processing package information.
## Processing system information.
3 package pathnames are already properly installed.
## Verifying package dependencies.
WARNING:
The <SUNWmfrun> package "Motif RunTime Kit" is a
prerequisite package and should be installed.

Do you want to continue with the installation of <SUNWj6dmo> [y,n,?]

And one final warning with the Demo Programs package...

Do you want to continue with the installation of <SUNWj6dmo> [y,n,?] y

/usr/jdk/instances/jdk1.6.0/sample/webservices/EbayServer/src/ebay/server/Main.java
[ verifying class <none> ]

Installation of <SUNWj6dmo> was successful.
bleonard@opensolaris:~/Desktop/JDK$

• Delete the JDK directory
  
  cd ..
  rm -r JDK
  
  
• If you're running in 64-bit mode, you can now optionally install the 64-bit version of the JDK. To check, run:
  
  isainfo -b
  
  The output will either be 32 or 64.

Step 2: Download NetBeans 6.1

• Download NetBeans 6.1. Personally I'm choosing the "All" packs configuration, but any of the bundles should work with these instructions. Save the NetBeans installer to your Desktop (which is the default location if you haven't configured Firefox otherwise).

Step 3: Install NetBeans 6.1

• Make the installer executable. Open a terminal and run:
  
  chmod +x Desktop/netbeans-6.1-ml-solaris-x86.sh
  
  
• Run the installer:
  
  ./netbeans-6.1-ml-solaris-x86.sh
  
  You'll see the following as the installer GUI starts...
  
  bleonard@opensolaris:~/Desktop$ ./netbeans-6.1-ml-solaris-x86.sh
  Configuring the installer...
  Searching for JVM on the system...
  Extracting installation data...
  Running the installer wizard...
  
  Followed by the welcome screen where you can continue with the installation:
  
  
  

Step 4: Launching NetBeans

• Once NetBeans is Installed you'll find an icon on your desktop:
  
  
  
  
• As well as a menu item under Applications > Developer Tools:
  
  
  
  

Resources

• JDK Installation Instructions (32-bit)
• JDK Installation Instructions (64-bit)
• NetBeans 6.1 Installation Instructions