Solaris Transition Guide

UUCP

The Solaris 7 UNIX-to-UNIX Copy (UUCP) is similar to the HoneyDanBer UUCP available with SunOS release 4 systems. It uses the same set of configuration files, scripts, and commands, so you should be able to restore most changes you made in SunOS release 4 files and scripts to run with this release. However, the spool directory is organized differently in Solaris 7 due to job grades, a mechanism to help sort and prioritize the work load.

Table 12-1 describes the new files and commands offered with Solaris 7 UUCP that were not part of the SunOS release 4 implementation. Table 12-2 describes the log files added to Solaris 7 UUCP.

Table 12-1 New SunOS release 5.7 UUCP Files and Commands

Command or File 

Description 

D. data files

P. data files

These data files are created when a UUCP command line specifies copying the source file to a spool directory. 

All data files have this format: systmxxxxyyy.

systm are the first five characters in the name of the remote system.

xxxx is a four-digit job sequence number assigned by UUCP.

yyy is a subsequence number used to distinguish between several D. files created for a work (C.) file.

/etc/uucp/Grades

Maps text grade names to system names. 

/etc/uucp/Limits

Specifies the number of concurrent UUCP sessions that can occur. Replaces Maxuuscheds and Maxuuxqts files in previous versions.

/etc/uucp/Config

Contains information to override UUCP parameters that can be tuned. Currently, the only parameter of this type is Protocol, so system administrators normally will not have to modify this file.

uuglist

Prints the list of service grades available on the system to use with the -g option of uucp(1C) and uux(1C).

Solaris 7 UUCP includes a few additional features that can affect system administration:

The following sections describe the system administration differences made by each of these additions.

Checkpoint Restart

When communication link failures interrupt UUCP transmissions between SunOS release 4 systems, the transmission starts again from the beginning of the file as soon as communication resumes. Communication between two systems running Solaris 7 UUCP resumes where it was interrupted instead of returning to the beginning. This makes better throughput possible, especially on erratic or noisy transmission lines.

The systems use two new files to store sent and received data and to compare the sizes of the files to determine where to restart transmission. The systems use.P files to store received data and.D files to store transmitted data. These files replace the TM. files of previous UUCP versions. If only one system is running SunOS release 5.7 UUCP, no comparison can take place and transmission restarts from the beginning.

User Job Grades

Job grading enables administrators to divide jobs into work loads that compete against others of similar size, type, priority, or all three. You can sort work loads using any one or a combination of these factors. You can also set access permissions allowing users and groups to obtain each grade of UUCP service.

In the SunOS release 4 software, the user has to choose the grade when the job is submitted. Grades are a single letter, not a name, as they are in the Solaris 7 operating environment. Solaris 7 systems enable administrators to define job grades for an entire site.

Limits File

The /etc/uucp/Limits file specifies the maximum number of concurrent uucico, uuxqt, and uusched processes permitted on a system. This single file replaces the Maxuusched and Maxuuxqt parameters on previous releases.

Config File

The /etc/uucp/Config file contains information to override UUCP parameters that can be tuned. Currently the only parameter available is Protocol and it normally should not be altered by system administrators.

Log Files

Solaris 7 UUCP provides four log files in addition to the four supplied in previous versions. These files record accounting, command, performance, and security information. The command and security log files are created if they do not exist. The accounting and performance log files are written only if they already exist.

Table 12-2 Additional SunOS Release 5.7 UUCP Log Files

File Name 

Function 

/var/uucp/.Admin/account

Records account information for billing 

/var/uucp/.Admin/perflog

Records statistics on uucico operations

/var/uucp/.Admin/security

Records attempted security violations 

/var/uucp/.Admin/command

Records information on commands issued by users or administrators 

When you are ready to set up and use SunOS release 5.7 UUCP, see TCP/IP and Data Communications Administration Guide for complete information.