F.2 Using Admintool to Perform Common Tasks

You can perform most local system administration tasks by using Admintool. It includes an on-line help system that answers basic questions you might have about completing any given task. However, some tasks have special requirements or involve setting up peripheral hardware. This section provides overview information about those tasks requiring special knowledge or setup.

F.2.1 About Managing Hosts

You can use Admintool to define remote systems that you want to access. Using Admintool to add a host enables you to log in remotely to another system by using its host name. (Without an entry in the /etc/hosts file, you would have to log in remotely to another system by using its IP address.)

If you use the Admintool to add a host to your local system and your site uses a network name service such as NIS or NIS+, Admintool host operations may not have the desired effect. This is because information in the network name service will take precedence over the information in the local /etc/hosts file, which is where Admintool updates information. If you want your Admintool operation to take precedence over information in the network name service database, see your system administrator.

F.2.2 About Managing Printers

You can use Admintool to enable your system to access a printer that is either attached to your system or available on your site's network. You can connect the printer to the system and turn the power on before or after using the Admintool to enable access to that printer. Connecting a printer to your system generally involves the following steps:

• Physically connecting the printer to the system

• Setting any required switches and configuring the baud rate, port, and other settings on the printer, if necessary. (See the printer vendor's manual and your system's hardware installation manual for information about switch settings and cabling requirements.) You usually connect printer cables to a serial port, but in some cases, depending on the requirements of the printer involved, you can use a parallel port.

• Plugging the printer into a power outlet.

• Logging in to the system and become root.

• Starting Admintool and select Printers from Browse menu to update local system files necessary to use the printer.

For detailed information about installing and managing printers, see the System Administration Guide, Volume 2, which is part of the Solaris 2.5 System Administrator AnswerBook.

F.2.3 About Managing Serial Ports

A modem is a device that enables your system to transmit and receive information over telephone lines. Modems are typically plugged into serial ports, so you need to set up your system's serial port with Admintool to use a modem. You can connect the modem to the system and turn the power on before or after using the Admintool to enable access to that modem. Connecting a modem to your system generally involves the following steps:

• Physically connecting the modem to the system, or installing it (if you have a modem card).

• Setting any required switches and configuring the baud rate, port, and other settings on the modem, if necessary. (Consult the modem vendor's documentation and the installation documentation for your system for information you may need to perform these tasks.)

• Plugging the modem or its adapter into a power outlet, if required.

• Logging in to the system.

• Starting Admintool and selecting Serial Ports from the Browse menu to update the local system files necessary to use a modem.

For additional information about installing and configuring modems, see the System Administration Guide, Volume 2, which is part of the Solaris 2.5 System Administrator AnswerBook.