About This Book

Who Should Read This Book

This book is aimed at users of the Solaris^TM System Software (version 2.x). The Solaris System Software consists of SunOS^TM and OpenWindows^TM.

See Appendix B, Making the Transition to Solaris 2.5 if you are transitioning from Solaris 1.x to Solaris 2.x.

Before Reading This Book

Your system should be installed and ready for use. If it is not, see the installation manual specific to your system before continuing.

Additional Reading

The Solaris System Software AnswerBook provides access to a number of books about the Solaris software, which are organized into the following related sets:

• Sun Administrator's Set

  This set offers detailed installation and system administration information for a variety of system configurations, including larger networks of Sun workstations.

• Sun Developer's Set

  This set gives software developers the information they need to write, debug, and maintain programs on the system.

• Sun Reference Manual Set

  This set contains a description for every SunOS command. Called man pages, they can optionally be installed as online documentation.

• Sun User's Set

  This set offers a detailed description of various aspects of the SunOS system, including using SunOS commands, working with OpenWindows, customizing your work environment, handling problems, writing shell scripts, using electronic mail, and working on the network.

Ordering Sun Documents

Fatbrain.com, an Internet professional bookstore, stocks select product documentation from Sun Microsystems, Inc.

For a list of documents and how to order them, visit the Sun Documentation Center on Fatbrain.com at http://www1.fatbrain.com/documentation/sun.

Accessing Sun Documentation Online

The docs.sun.com^SM Web site enables you to access Sun technical documentation online. You can browse the docs.sun.com archive or search for a specific book title or subject. The URL is http://docs.sun.com.

What Typographic Conventions Mean

The following table describes the typographic changes used in this book.

Table P-1 Typographic Conventions

Typeface or Symbol	Meaning	Example
AaBbCc123	The names of commands, files, and directories; on-screen computer output	Edit your .login file. Use ls -a to list all files. machine_name% you have mail.
AaBbCc123	What you type, contrasted with on-screen computer output	machine_name% su Password:
AaBbCc123	Command-line placeholder: replace with a real name or value	To delete a file, type rm filename.
AaBbCc123	Book titles, new words, or terms, or words to be emphasized.	Read Chapter 6 in User's Guide. These are called class options. You must be root to do this.

Shell Prompts in Command Examples

The following table shows the default system prompt and superuser prompt for the C shell, Bourne shell, and Korn shell.

Table P-2 Shell Prompts

Shell	Prompt
C shell prompt	machine_name%
C shell superuser prompt	machine_name#
Bourne shell and Korn shell prompt	$
Bourne shell and Korn shell superuser prompt	#