Network Configuration Profiles

Solaris 11.1 documentation has greatly improved on this area.
Network Configuraton Profiles (NCPs) types are now very clearly described:
 

• Fixed
  There can exist only one per system.
  The system-generated one is called DefaultFixed.
  This NCP is generally used by the Text Installer.
    
• Reactive
  There can exist as many as needed.
  The system-generated one is called Automatic.
  This NCP is generally used by the GUI Installer.

Of course it's paramount to know the implications of each NCP type.
After installation, netadm command can be used to select the active NCP type.
The reactive NCP type may be mostly interesting for non-server installations.
Nevertheless I believe certain server installations may profit from them as well.

To make the system use the default fixed NCP:

# netadm enable -p ncp DefaultFixed

# netadm list -p ncp 
TYPE        PROFILE        STATE
ncp         DefaultFixed   online
ncp         Automatic      disabled  

To make the system use the default reactive NCP:

# netadm enable -p ncp Automatic

# netadm list -p ncp 
TYPE        PROFILE        STATE
ncp         DefaultFixed   disabled
ncp         Automatic      online

NOTE

Under Solaris 11 Express things are quite different.
And after a live install, ipfilter may stay in the way.
(if so, one should find out more detail under /etc/nwam)

The automatic stuff is called Network Auto Magic (nwam).
The procedure to revert to a fixed configuration is as follows:

# svcadm disable network/physical:nwam
# svcadm enable network/physical:default
# svcadm disable ipfilter

Then the manual configuration can be carried out as usual.