Starting the Solaris Management Console

The following procedure describes how to start the console and gain access to the Solaris management tools.

For instructions on what to do if you are the first user to log in to the console, see If You Are the First to Log In to the Console.

How to Start the Console as Superuser or as a Role

If you start the console as a user with your own user account, you have limited access to the Solaris management tools. For greater access, you can log in as yourself, and then log in as one of the roles that you are permitted to assume. If you are permitted to assume the role of Primary Administrator, you have access to all of the Solaris management tools. This role is equivalent to superuser.

1. Verify that you are in a window environment, such as the GNOME environment.
2. Start the console.

   % /usr/sadm/bin/smc &

   It might take a minute or two for the console to come up the first time.

   The Solaris Management Console window is displayed.

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   Note - Open a console in your window environment to display the Solaris Management Console startup messages. Do not attempt to start the Solaris Management Console server manually before starting the Solaris Management Console application. The server starts automatically when you start the Solaris Management Console. For information on troubleshooting console problems, see Troubleshooting the Solaris Management Console.

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3. Under the Management Tools icon in the Navigation pane, double-click the This Computer icon.

   A list of categories is displayed.

4. (Optional) Select the appropriate toolbox.

   If you want to use a toolbox other than the default toolbox, select that toolbox from the Navigation pane. Or, select Open Toolbox from the console menu and load the toolbox that you want.

   For information about using different toolboxes, see How to Create a Toolbox for a Specific Environment.

5. To access a particular tool, double-click the category icon.

   Use the online help to identify how to perform a specific task.

6. Double-click the tool icon.

   A pop-up Log-In window is displayed.

7. Decide if you want to use the tool as superuser or as a role.
   • If you are logging in a as superuser, enter the root password.
   • If you are logging in as yourself, backspace over the root user name, then supply your user ID and user password.

     A list of roles you can assume is displayed.

8. Select the Primary Administrator role or an equivalent role, then supply the role password.

   For step-by-step instructions on creating the Primary Administrator role, see How to Create the First Role (Primary Administrator).

   The main tool menu is displayed.