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The Solaris Distributed ComputingSolution

The operating system is a set of programs that manages all computer operations and provides an interface between the user and the system resourves.

Kernel

Shell

File structure

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The kernel is the core of the operating system. The kernel performs thefollowing functions:

Manages devices, memory, processes, and deamons

Controls the functions (transmission of information) between the system programs (utilities) and the system hardware

Schedules and executes all commands

Manages functions such as:

Swap space - A reserved part of the disk for the kernel to use during processing

Daemons - Processes that perform particular system tasks

File sustems - A hierarchy of directories, subdirectories, and files

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Hardware

Kernel

Shell

CPU

Shells

The shell interface

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OS Shells

There are three shells available in the Solaris environment:

Bourne shell ($) - The default shell for the Solaris computing environment. The Bourne shell was developed for the AT&T UNIX

environment.

Korn shell ($) - A superset of the Bourne shell. It adds features like aliasing, history and command-line editing.

C shell (%) - The C shell syntax is similar to the C programming language; hence, its name. The C shell has similar features to Kornshell.

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The File System Structure

Root (/)

Usr Opt Dev Etc Export Kernel

Bin litHome genunix

User1 User2 User3

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The File System Structure (Continued)

The topmost directory is called the root (/) directory, and it is the starting point of the file system hierarchy

The root directory is required for the operating system to fuction, and containscritical systems files such as the kernel (/kernel/geunix). It is also contains:

The /usr directory which contains executable commands, system adminis--tration utilities, and library routines.

The /etc directory which contains system administration files such as thepasswd and hosts files.

The /opt directory which contains unbundled and third-party software apllications.

The /export/home directory contains users' home directories.

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Virtual Memory Operating System - Swap Space

A virtual memory operating system enables applications to run as if thereis more memory available than physically exists. It does this by using diskspace as temporary memory storage. This disk space is referred to as swap space.

Deamons

Deamons are also important to the functionality of the operating system.Deamons are programs that run in the background to manage system functions such as printing.

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Main Capability of the Solaris 2.x OperatingSystem

Terminology

Characteristics

Distributed processing

Clientprocess

Serverprocess

Clientprocess

Host 1 Host 2

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Terminology

The difinitions of commons terms used by system administrators are:

Host - A computer system

Host name - A unique name for a system.

IP address - A number used by networking software to identify machines attached to the network.

Client - A host or process that uses the services from one or moresevers on a network.

Server - A host or process that provides resources to one of more clients on the network.

Network - A group of computers that, in an environment, areconnected using Ethernet.

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Solaris 2.x Client-Server Environment Multitasking - Enables more than one process or application to be used

at the same time

Multiuser - Enables more than one user to access the same system resources

Distributed processing - Enables the use of resources across the network

Ethernet

WorkstationWorkstationIBM Compatible

IBM Compatible

Modem

Fax

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The Client-Server Model for Networked Workstation

A server is a host or a process that provides services on the network.

A client is a host or a process that makes use of services made available on the network.

A file server is a machine that shares its disk storage and files with other machines on the network.

An NIS+ (or NIS) server supplies the NIS+ (Network Information Service Plus)or the NIS (Network Information Service) database to its clients.

A print server makes its local printer available to other machines on the network.

A mail server receives mail.

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Network Workstation Capabilities

NFS distributed file system

Domain Name Service

Network Information Services (NIS/NIS+)

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NFS Distribited File System

The network physically connects machines to enable communication between systems. The NFS distibuted file system enable files to be shared across the network.

Common reacd-only file systems can be shared over the network (or between systems) sothat they only take up space on a single workstation.

Home directories can be made available over the network so that users can sit in front ofany workstation and access their own files.

Workstations with minimum disk space can use it for their root and swap partitions, and get the rest of their executables and data files from other systems.

Workstations with no local disks can boot from a remote system over the network.

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Domain Name System

The Domain Name Service (DNS) is a distributed look-up service for host names and

addresses. It is structured according to manageable collections of this data called

domains. The purpose is to allow a host to contact any arbitrary host withoutmaintaining host name and address information about that remote host in some local

resource.

Although the DNS database format differs somewhat from the local hosts' databases (/etc/hosts, NIS, or NIS+), the DNS databases contain the same essential information: host name and IP address.

Though it supports the complex, worldwide hierarchy of computers on the Internet, the basic function of DNS is actually very simple: providing name-to-address resolution for Transmission Control Protocol (TCP/IP)-based networks.

To get the remote computers address, the DNS software running on your machine, which is considered a DNS client, sends a request to DNS name server, which maintains the distributed DNS database.

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NISNIS is a distributed name service. It is a machanism for identifying and locatingnetwork objects (hosts) and resources (databases, servers). It provides a uniformstorage and retrieval method for intranet-wide information.

NIS was developed independently of DNS and has a slightly different focus. NISfocuses on making network administration more manageable by providing centralizedcontrol over a variety of network information.

The NIS name space stores information about:

Machine names and addresses

Users

The network

Network services

The NIS domain cannot be connected directly to the Internet using just NIS.

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NIS+

NIS+ is a network name service similar to NIS but with more features. It is not an extension of NIS, but rather a new software program.

NIS+ enables you to store information about workstation addresses, security information, mail information, Ethernet interfaces, and network services in centrallocations where all workstations in a network domain have access to it. Each domainis supported by a set of servers. The principal server is called the master server and the backup servers are called replicas.

Some major advantages NIS+ has over NIS are:

Secure data access

Heirarchical and decentralized network administration

Very large name space administration

Access to resources across domains

Incremental updates

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Solaris System Configurations

Client systems

Diskless

AutoClient

JavaStation

Standalones

Servers

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DisklessA diskless client is a workstation without any disk; users must rely on another

system for the programs they need and for file storage space. Because it is a workstation, a diskless client has its own Central processing unit (CPU) and physicalmemory and does its own local processing.

AutoClientAlthough similar to the diskless client, the AutoClient has local disk storage

which it uses for swapping and for caching its root (/) and /usr file systems. (Cachingis locally storing copies of data as it is referenced.) An AutoClient can access the root (/) and /usr file systems using the cache if the server becomes unavailable.

JavaStationThis type of client was developed for "zero administration". All administration is

handled by the local network servers including booting, cinfiguration, and data storage.

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StandaloneA standalone configuration does not need the support of any other computer

system to boot up, although it may access files from another system if it is on a networkA standalone system has its own disk, and it may also have its own tape device andCD-ROM drive.

ServerA server system is normally a standalone configuration system with resources that

can be accessed by other systems on the network.Server must have local disks and typically have a tape drive and a CD-ROM drive.Servers may also have one or more printers attached.

Server Keyboard

Server System Configurations

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Software Grouping

Packages

Software clusters

Software configuration clusters

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Packages

A software package is a group of files and directories. For examples, all files anddirectories related to the on-line manual (man) pages are in a package called SUNWman.

Software Clusters

During installation, the software packages are grouped into software clusters,which are logical collections of software packages.

For example, the Common Desktop Environment (CDE) cluster includes the following packages:

SUNWdtab SUNWdthedSUNWdtmad SUNWeudhrSUNWdtbas SUNWdthevSUNWdtrme SUNWeudhs

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Software Configuration ClustersThe SunInstall utility groups the software packages and clusters into four configuration clusters.

Configurations SizesConfiguration sizes are based upon the machine type and the number of disklessclients to be supported by the system. During the installation, the recommededsizes for each software configuration cluster are given, based on there parameters.

End User

Developer

Entire

Entire Distribution

Distribution

Plus OEM

Core

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Software Configuration Clusters

Core

This configuration contains the software needed to boot and run the Solaris 2.xenvironment.

End User

This configuration contains the software a user needs to run the Solaris 2.x environment. It includes the OpenWindows Version 3.x and the CommonDesktop Environment software but not the man pages.

Developer

This configuration contains the software needed to develop software in the Solaris 2.x environment. It includes compiler tools, CDE and OpenWindows, andthe man pages.

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Software Configuration Clusters

Entire Distribution and Entire Distribution Plus OEM

This Entire Distribution configuration contains the entire Solaris 2.x release. TheEntire Distribution plus OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) support contains extended hardware support in addition to the entire Solaris 2.x release.

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Hardware Requirements

To use the SunInstall utility to install and run the Solaris 2.x softwarelocally, the system must meet the following requirements:

SPARC or Intel system

At least 1.05 Gbytes disk space

At least 32 Mbytes memory

CD-ROM drive or access to a JumpStart server

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System Identification Information - The sysidtool

During the first part of the installation process, you are prompted tosupply the system name and basic network information. Fill out the installation worksheet on page 27 summarizing the system identification.

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Acquire the following necessary information prior to your installation:

System configuration type:__________________________________

Host name:_______________________________________________

IP address:_______________________________________________

Name service (NIS , NIS+, Other or None):_____________________

Subnet (yes or no):_________________________________________

Geographic location:_______________________________________

Time zone information:_____________________________________

Root password:___________________________________________

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Installation Preparation

Log in as root

Notify users

Back up existing files

Shut down the system

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Installation Process1. Insert the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drinve.

2. Boot the release media.ok boot cdrom

3. For Intel platform insert the device configuration floppy into the floppy into the floppy drive and start the computer

How to install the Solaris 2.x operating system

1. Insert the CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.

2. Boot the release media.ok boot cdrom

3. Select the appropriate language and locale for your site and click on Continue.

4. Read the brief description of the installation process, and click Continue