System News for Sun Users

Sun ZFS Storage Appliances Earn Highest Ratings for Enterprise and Midrange NAS Systems

2012-01-31T17:00:00+01:00

Storage magazine has awarded top honors to Sun ZFS Storage Appliance solutions for both enterprise and midrange NAS. EMC and NetApp received lesser marks for their storage technologies. Oracle outperformed its rivals in terms of initial product quality, features, reliability, technical support and sales force competence. More than 3.000 customers have discovered that Oracle's Sun ZFS Storage Appliances, the only NAS products engineered together with Oracle Applications, Oracle Fusion Middleware, Oracle Database, and Oracle's SPARC SuperCluster T4-4, and optimized for Oracle VM and the Oracle Exadata Database Machine, run fastest and most efficiently on Oracle storage.

A Stop-gap Measure for Archive Creation and Recovery in Oracle Solaris 11

2011-12-26T17:00:00+01:00

In the absence of a Flash Archive Installation (FLAR) in Oracle Solaris 11, jbutler draws readers' attention to a set of steps that can be utilized to create re-deployable archives of installed systems. FLAR, Butler writes, was initially meant to simplify patch deployment, a notably difficult process in patching a Solaris system. FLAR allows a system administrator to patch up a system and then create an archive of it, which can be used to install subsequent systems. One side effect of this is that a full archive of the given system is created, which can be utilized to restore the system in case of catastrophic failure. In this way, many admins have utilized FLAR as an element of their disaster recovery plan. The remedy Butler cites is "How to Perform System Archival and Recovery Procedures with Oracle Solaris 11." Butler describes this document as containing " ... a set of operations which can be scripted if required. Otherwise, the manual steps described therein may be utilized as a stop-gap until some of the functionality finds its way into Solaris 11."

Iowa Network Services Gains Performance Efficiencies with SPARC T-Series Implementation

2011-12-21T17:00:00+01:00

Iowa Network Services, an ISP, has implemented Oracle Solaris on Oracle's SPARC T-Series servers and improved the availability and reliability of their services, achieving close to 99.999% uptime for their 80,000 subscribers. Thirty-six servers have been consolidated onto four SPARC T-series servers, reducing its footprint by more than 85 percent, and reducing support costs, decreasing power and cooling requirements and improving personnel efficiency, resulting in a 15% reduction in operational costs. Consolidation has increased the flexibility of server resources and provided a 25% performance improvement.

Creating Oracle Solaris Zones in Oracle Solaris 11

2011-12-14T17:00:00+01:00

To familiarize users with the basic operations of Oracle Solaris Zone configuration and management in Oracle Solaris 11, blogger Duncan Hardie has written a post that explains how to create, install, boot, and configure an Oracle Solaris Zone. This makes it possible to clone the zone so you can roll out multiple, duplicate resource-controlled environments quickly and easily. The procedure demonstrates how a ZFS data set is automatically created and how the networking is set up automatically. In addition, Hardie shows how to add an application to an Oracle Solaris zone using IPS and then clone that zone.

Oracle Solaris 11 Launch Videos: Engineering and Customer Panels

2011-12-09T17:00:00+01:00

Until now the video available from the launch on November 11, 2011 of Oracle Solaris 11 featured only the executive keynote. Two additional sessions have been added, which are a panel of some top Oracle engineers discussing what's new in Oracle Solaris 11, and a panel of customers discussing why they chose Oracle Solaris for their mission-critical services. The videos of those sessions (plus the executive keynote) are now available. Registration and log-in are required.

Oracle Releases Oracle Solaris Cluster 4.0

2011-12-07T17:00:00+01:00

Oracle has announced the availability of Oracle Solaris Cluster 4.0, the first release providing extended high availability (HA) and disaster recovery (DR) capabilities for Oracle Solaris 11. Oracle Solaris Cluster works by extending Oracle Solaris to provide the HA and DR infrastructure required for deploying mission critical workloads in private, public and hybrid clouds as well as enterprise data centers. Among the other strong points of the solution are built-in support for cloud implementations and cloud-ready application protection through fine-grained monitoring and policy-based application management, along with restart and failover capabilities.

Solaris 11 Launch Blog Roundup

2011-11-27T17:00:00+01:00

Contantin Gonzalez has compiled what he terms the "Solaris Launch Blog Carnival Roundup," where blogs pertaining to the Oracle Solaris 11 launch are grouped into helpful categories such as:

Getting Started/Overview
Automatic Installation and the Image Packaging System
Networking
DTrace
Security
Developers-
Desktop and Graphics
Performance

A lot of Oracle and non-Oracle bloggers contributed helpful and informative blog articles.

Transitioning From Oracle Solaris 10 to Oracle Solaris 11 (Overview)

2011-11-25T17:00:00+01:00

"Transitioning from Oracle Solaris 10 to Oracle Solaris 11 (Overview)" is a guide that provides answers to some of the questions likely to arise in the course of the transition. The guide also includes, when applicable, information about transitioning from Oracle Solaris 11 Express to Oracle Solaris 11. Most Oracle Solaris 10 applications are known to work on Oracle Solaris 11, and supported applications can be run as is. One can even run applications that rely on features excluded from Oracle Solaris 11 in an Oracle Solaris 10 virtual environment.

Installing Oracle Solaris 11 in Oracle VM VirtualBox

2011-11-21T17:00:00+01:00

In the first of a series of hands-on labs dealing with Oracle Solaris 11 readers will find the steps involved in using the Oracle Solaris 11 Image for Oracle VM VirtualBox to get up and running quickly with Oracle Solaris 11. The lab is divided into four exercises, as follows:

Exercise 1: Download the Oracle Solaris 11 VM for Oracle VM VirtualBox
Exercise 2: Import the Oracle Solaris 11 VM into VirtualBox
Exercise 3: Start the Oracle Solaris 11 Express VM
Exercise 4: Take a snapshot

Enjoy!

The IPS System Repository

2011-11-15T17:00:00+01:00

In earlier OpenSolaris releases, after each global-zone update, each non-global zone had to be updated by hand, attaching and detaching each zone, Tim Foster blogs. During that detach/attach the ipkg brand scripts determined which packages were in the global zone and updated the non-global zone accordingly. In Solaris 11 each zone is installed as a linked image, connected to the parent image, which is the global zone. During packaging operations in the global zone, IPS recurses into any non-global zones to ensure that packages are kept in synch between the global and non-global zone.

Before you Download Solaris 11 Find Out Which Devices Are Supported

2011-11-15T17:00:00+01:00

Before a user installs Oracle Solaris 11, it would be helpful to know which devices the solution supports. In a recent blog post, Rick Ramsey explains how this can be determined. Consulting the x86 Device List (part of the Oracle Solaris Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) will reveal that information, Ramsey writes, listing the steps to access the table that will list all the devices of that type that are supported by Solaris 11, including PCI ID and vendor.

Taking Your First Steps with Oracle Solaris 11

2011-11-14T17:00:00+01:00

Since Oracle Solaris 11 is distributed with several different installation options, Brian Leonard and Glynn Foster have created a procedure to guide users through the interactive graphical installer, officially known as "Live Media." With the graphical installer, Oracle Solaris 11 can be booted into RAM, causing zero impact on an existing operating system, the authors explain. After it is loaded, users are free to experiment with Oracle Solaris to determine whether it is something they would like to install on their systems. The blog post contains the necessary code samples and illustrative screen shots to render a complex process manageable.

Building a Solaris 11 Repository Without Network Connection

2011-11-14T17:00:00+01:00

In blogger Jim Laurent's view one of the great new features of Oracle Solaris 11 is the repository-based Image Packaging system (IPS), which not only introduces new cloud based package installation services, but is also integrated with the zones, boot environment and ZFS file systems to provide a safe, easy and fast way to perform system updates. Laurent explains that users without network access can now employ the IPS and locally stored repository to create a Solaris 11 system. He provides a "quick and dirty" procedure to create the repository and an explanation of how each command functions.

Solaris 11 OS: What's Under the Hood

2011-11-02T16:00:00+01:00

In an eloquent post, Constantin Gonzalez both introduces the new and compelling features of Solaris 11 and issues an invitation to the launch on November 9. Those new features that Gonzalez writes about include a new package manager, boot environments, and an automated installer. The migration issues of the past can, with Solaris 11, remain in the past, as one can now use Solaris 10 Containers to import Solaris 10 installations into Solaris 11 as a branded zone: the essence of management simplicity. And, with Project Crossbow, Gonzalez continues, Solaris 11 allows users to enjoy limitless network virtualization.

November 9th, Oracle Solaris 11 Launch, New York City

2011-10-27T16:00:00+01:00

The long-awaited launch of Solaris 11 takes place on November 9, 2011, in New York City. Interested parties in the New York area are invited to register to attend; those outside the area can sign up for the webcast.

Oracle Solaris and Data Center Management

2011-10-24T16:00:00+01:00

In a recent episode of the Oracle in a Class by Itself podcast the panel discusses datacenter management using the new functionality in Solaris 11 and Oracle Enterprise Manager Ops Center, explaining how Oracle's integrated approach to design creates a means whereby sys admins can more readily manage a datacenter from a single point in the system. Solaris 11, the panel explains, has been designed as a virtualization-aware solution. The panel also reminds listeners of the November 9, 2011 launch of Solaris 11 and directs them to Oracle.com/events for further information.

BootEnvironments in Solaris 11 OS

2011-10-17T16:00:00+01:00

In the first of several of several blog posts on the features of the Oracle Solaris 11 OS on Oracle Systems Blog Austria -- this one devoted to Boot Environments -- Karoly Vegh presents a Q&A compilation that covers the subject and includes an step-by-step example of preparing an environment for an SAP deployment. He is considerate enough to ease an installer's anxiety by providing instructions on reverting should something go wrong.

S11 Automated Install Hands-on Lab

2011-10-17T16:00:00+01:00

Isaac Rozenfeld has made available the slide set he used in presenting his Hands-on-Lab on installing Solaris 11 that was developed to build awareness and install confidence in those responsible for deploying Oracle Solaris 11. The materials also include a compressed package of configuration files that will eliminate the need for end-users to type them in. Rozenfeld provides a link to further installation procedures as well.

Oracle Solaris 11 Full-feature Preview Available to Gold Level Members

2011-10-05T16:00:00+01:00

Fully a month ahead of its scheduled November 2011 release, Oracle presented detailed information on Solaris 11 at Oracle OpenWorld. The key features of Oracle Solaris 11 include:

Built-in virtualization
Built-in data services
New software provisioning and maintenance infrastructure
End-to-end security for data asset protection, hardened OS startup and secure system access
Maximum performance and scale
Increased Oracle Database 11g, Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g and Java-based application performance, availability, security and manageability

Read on.

HP-UX to Oracle Solaris Porting Guide

2011-09-26T16:00:00+01:00

In 111 pages, "HP-UX to Oracle Solaris Porting Guide," an Oracle white paper, treats the subject in exhaustive detail, filling a growing need as the future of HP-UX becomes increasingly uncertain. With ISVs offering diminishing support to HP-UX 11i -- an even more threatening situation to those users running on Intel Itanium processors -- porting to the Oracle Solaris OS presents itself as a logical solution. The white paper adds the consideration that source code compatibility between platforms ensures applications ported to SPARC systems can be recompiled easily on x86 systems and vice versa.

Simplified Installation and Cloud Provisioning with Oracle Solaris 11

2011-09-21T16:00:00+01:00

Oracle has developed Solaris 11 with simplification and modernization of installation as one of the key areas of focus and the lowering of up-front and ongoing costs of deploying Oracle Solaris-based systems and software stacks as one of the principal goals. A few of the benefits of these new Oracle Solaris installation technologies are:

Improvement for the cloud-driven software lifecycle process
Reduced complexity resulting from enterprise-scale flexibility features in the product
Unified design that supports various installation options
Enabled end-users able to take advantage of modern network protocols and architectures with WAN-based network and file-based software repositories

Oracle Releases Solaris 10 8/11 with New ZFS Capabilities

2011-09-19T16:00:00+01:00

Newly released Oracle Solaris 10 8/11 provides enhancements to Oracle Solaris ZFS and Oracle Solaris install technologies, advanced support for the latest SPARC and x86 systems and Oracle Database 11g performance improvements. The Oracle Solaris 10 8/11 update includes new features, fixes and hardware support, in an easy-to-install manner and preserves the Oracle Solaris Binary Application Guarantee Program to guarantee binary compatibility with older Oracle Solaris releases.

Solaris 11 Available for Early Adopters

2011-09-15T16:00:00+01:00

An update to Oracle Solaris 11 Express that contains all the features expected to be part of Solaris 11 is now available to download on the Oracle Tech Network, blogger Constantin Gonzalez writes. Users will need to accept the special OTN Early Adopter License and join the OTN program, according to Gonzalez, who writes that the release notes cover known issues, numerous ways of installation, and a list of obsolete packages and new packages since Solaris 11 Express 2010.11.

With Project Crossbow, Creating an IPMP Group on Solaris 11 Is Simple

2011-09-12T16:00:00+01:00

Among the many useful networking features available in Project Crossbow is the capability to create IP multipath groups with a single new command -- ipadm -- that eliminates the fuss and bother that was once involved in setting up IPMP. Blogger unixben alerts users to this feature in his blog, where he adds the comment that, if you felt there was no compelling reason to upgrade to Solaris 11, Project Crossbow changes all that.

cluster check: One of Solaris Cluster's Best Kept Secrets

2011-09-07T16:00:00+01:00

cluster check is "one of the best kept secrets of Oracle Solaris Cluster," blogs Ed McKnight. He writes that the latest set of enhancements to cluster check focuses on validating clusters during installation and initial configuration, which enables administrators to perform the most important of the Enterprise Installation Services (EIS) checks themselves. A further important change that McKnight points out is in the titling of check results in progress reporting. He adds that there are now some 40 new checks.

Preparing for Solaris 11 Installation: OTN Video

2011-08-31T16:00:00+01:00

Log on to view a half hour video on the Oracle Technology Network featuring Dave Miner, architect for Solaris Installation, describes the changes to the installation process and tools for Solaris 11. Miner begins his review with a look at Jumpstart, explaining how much easier installs are with Solaris 11 tools. The new automated installer will do remarkably better what Jumpstart was designed to do, Miner contends. Much more detail is in the video.

Best Way To Update Software Using IPS in Oracle Solaris 11

2011-08-24T16:00:00+01:00

Software Management Best Practices with IPS in Oracle Solaris 11 is a three-part tutorial by Ginny Henningsen. Part 1, Best Way to Update Software with IPS; Part 2, Best way to Automate ZFS Snapshots and Track Software Updates; and Part 3, Best Way to UpdateSoftware in Zones. The SVR4 packaging and patching systems in earlier versions of Solaris were designed by the Chosen for the Faithful. Ginny invites readers to put away their magic tricks bag and follow her suggestions on the best way to use the new tools.

Oracle Solaris on the Oracle Exadata Database Machine

2011-08-18T16:00:00+01:00

Oracle Solaris, one of two operating system options for the Oracle Exadata Database Machine, delivers key datacenter advantages in mission-critical reliability, performance and scalability, and security for the Exadata systems. Oracle Solaris has been modified and tuned over 25 years of collaborative effort with Oracle Database engineers to run even the world's largest and most responsive databases. The Oracle white paper "Oracle Solaris on the Oracle Exadata Database Machine" provides a high-level overview of the Oracle Exadata Database Machine and describes as well the value the Oracle Solaris, optimized and integrated for utmost performance, brings to the Oracle Exadata offering.

Oracle Solaris Cluster 3.3 05/11 Update1 Patches

2011-08-18T16:00:00+01:00

Along with his announcement of the release of Oracle Solaris Cluster 3.3.05/11 Update 1 Juergen Schleich blogs that the package version of the Oracle Solaris Cluster 3.3 05/11 Update1 is the same for the core framework and the agents as for Oracle Solaris Cluster 3.3. Therefore, he points out, it's possible to patch up an existing Oracle Solaris Cluster 3.3. On the other hand, he continues, the package version of the Oracle Solaris Cluster Geographic Edition 3.3 05/11 Update1 is NOT the same as Oracle Solaris Cluster Geographic Edition 3.3, although it's possible to upgrade the Geographic Edition 3.3 without interruption of the service. Schleich's blog includes an extensive list of patch revisions for both Solaris 10 10/09 Update8 or higher and for Solaris 10 x86 10/09 Update8 or higher.

First Steps with Oracle Solaris 11 Express

2011-08-11T16:00:00+01:00

If nothing else, Brian Leonard is a realist about the allure of Oracle Solaris 11: "Moving to Oracle Solaris can be exciting. However, it can also be frustrating as you begin to learn your way around," he blogs. His post continues with the information that Oracle Solaris 11 Express is distributed in several formats: a hands-free server based format that's used for automatic installation; an interactive installer format that only has console access; and an interactive graphical installer that includes a full desktop environment.

His post "First Steps with Oracle Solaris 11 Express" focuses on the third format with the full desktop environment, although most of the concepts discussed in apply to any of the Oracle Solaris 11 Express formats. The graphical format is officially known as the LiveCD, which means that Oracle Solaris can be booted into RAM, causing zero impact on an existing operating system. Once it is loaded, users are free to experiment with Oracle Solaris to determine whether it is something that they would like to install.