Installation (What's New in the Solaris 9 9/02 Operating Environment)

What's New in the Solaris 9 9/02 Operating Environment

Installation

Feature Description
Solaris Live Upgrade 2.0 Solaris Live Upgrade provides a method of upgrading that substantially reduces the usual service outage that is associated with an operating system upgrade. You can duplicate your current running boot environment, then while the original boot environment continues to run, you can upgrade the duplicate. The duplicate boot environment is then activated to become the active boot environment when the system is rebooted. If a failure occurs, you can quickly fall back to the original boot environment with a simple reboot. This feature eliminates the downtime for the production environment that is associated with a normal test and evaluation process. In addition to upgrading a boot environment, you can install a Web Start Flash archive on an inactive boot environment. When you reboot the system, the configuration that you installed on an inactive boot environment is active. The Solaris 9 release includes several Live Upgrade enhancements that apply to the command-line interface only. These enhancements affect the following: Progress Reporting When using Solaris Live Upgrade to upgrade or install a Web Start Flash archive, the percentage of the upgrade or install completed is reported. Changes to the `lumount` and `luumount` Commands The `lumount` command mounts all the boot environment's file systems. If you do not explicitly specify a mount point, `lumount` creates a mount point. This mount point uses the boot environment name rather than a random set of numbers, thus preventing a proliferation of mount points. This enhancement makes the `luumount` command easier to use. The `luumount` command unmounts the boot environment's root file system. The `luumount` command now accepts a mount point as well as the boot environment name. And with the `-f` option, a boot environment's file system can be forcibly unmounted. See the man pages lumount(1M) and luumount(1M). Scheduling Priorities Solaris Live Upgrade's main purpose is to minimize production environment downtime while migrating to a new operating system. Some Solaris Live Upgrade operations, such as upgrading and copying file systems, can cause significant load to a system. Solaris Live Upgrade now has the tools to control scheduling by priorities. This feature minimizes performance degradation on the production system. You can change the defaults in the `/etc/default/lu` file. Naming Boot Environments Solaris Live Upgrade commands allow long names for boot environments. The commands can now associate a description of any length with a boot environment name. For further information, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide or the man page, ludesc(1M). For further information on Solaris Live Upgrade, see "Solaris Live Upgrade (Topics)" in the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.
"Web Start Flash" Installation Feature The "Web Start Flash" installation feature enables you to create a single reference installation of the Solaris operating environment on a machine. You can then replicate that installation on several machines. For further information, see "Web Start Flash Installation Feature (Topics)" in the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.
Web Start Flash Archive Retrieval Using FTP The Web Start Flash program has been updated to allow you to retrieve a Web Start Flash archive by using FTP. When installing an archive, you can specify the location of an archive on an FTP server. For details about how to retrieve an archive from an FTP server, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.
Minimal Installation Files that constitute several features in the core software group, or metacluster, are now moved into separate, more logically organized packages. You can optionally exclude these packages from the Solaris operating environment when you install the Solaris software. You can also remove these packages by using the `pkgrm` command after installation. See the pkgrm(1M) man page. Files that constitute the following features are moved into new packages or existing packages: Cache file system NFS Kerberos security Distributed file system NIS-related Network routing daemons Remote network `r*` commands `telnet` server `tftp` server Domain name server DARPA name server Remote procedure call services Boot or install server `setuid` and `setgid`
Longer Package Names The `pkgmk` utility can now be used to create packages with names up to 32 characters in length. See the pkgmk(1) and pkgadd(1M) man pages.
Installation From the Solaris DVD You can now install the Solaris operating environment and additional software from the Solaris DVD. The DVD enables you to perform either a Solaris^TM Web Start installation or a custom JumpStart^TM installation. The Solaris DVD includes the Solaris software, ExtraValue software, and the Solaris documentation. For detailed instructions, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.
Solaris "Web Start" Program Uses `sysidcfg` File The Solaris "Web Start" installation method has been modified to use the `sysidcfg` file to configure system information during an installation or upgrade. Create a `sysidcfg` file with configuration information for your system. With this file in place, the Solaris "Web Start" program does not prompt you to enter the system information during installation. For detailed instructions, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.
Enhancements to the Solaris "Web Start" Program The Solaris "Web Start" installation method was updated to enable you to perform the following functions during the Solaris installation or upgrade: Select to automatically reboot the system after installation. Select to automatically eject the CD or DVD after installation. Select to preserve file systems. For detailed instructions, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.
Additions to Time Zone Selections The number of time zones that are available in the Solaris 9 operating environment has dramatically increased. When you install the Solaris operating environment, you can select time zones by geographic region. The time zone selections in the lists of continents and countries have been expanded. For detailed instructions, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.
Solaris "Web Start Wizards" SDK 3.0.1 Solaris Web Start Wizards^TM SDK simplifies the installation, setup, and administration of native Solaris, Java, and non-Java applications. With Solaris "Web Start Wizards" software, developers can copackage both Solaris versions and Microsoft Windows versions of their applications. The installation wizard manages the platform specifics. The "Web Start Wizards" SDK 3.0.1 is now included with the Solaris 9 release. SDK 3.0.1 can be installed by using the Solaris "Web Start" installation program.
New Boot Options for a Custom JumpStart Installation New options have been added for use with the `boot` command when you perform a custom JumpStart installation. With the `boot` command, you can specify the location of the configuration files to use to perform the installation. You can specify a path to an HTTP server, an NFS server, or a file that is available on local media. If you do not know the path to the files, you can require that the installation program prompt you for the path. The prompt displays after the machine boots and connects to the network. The `nowin` option enables you to specify that the custom JumpStart program not begin the X program. You do not need to use the X program to perform a custom JumpStart installation. You can shorten the installation time by using the `nowin` option. For detailed instructions about how to use these new options, refer to "Custom JumpStart Installation (Topics)" in the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.
Upgrading Mirrors The Solaris 9 release now supports operating environment upgrades of root mirrors and metadevices that were created by the Solaris Volume Manager, formerly Solstice DiskSuite. If you are upgrading a system that has a metadevice that was created by the Solaris Volume Manager, you no longer need to edit the system's `vfstab`. The root mirror is detected. And the operating environment on the mirror is upgraded. This process runs just as in a typical upgrade without metadevices.
Default Routing With System Identification Utilities The system identification utilities automatically attempt to determine the default router during installation. For installation information, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.
Configuration With System Identification Utilities During system identification, the system identification utilities can configure systems to be LDAP clients. Prior Solaris releases allowed the configuration of a machine only as an NIS, NIS+, or DNS client. For installation information, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.
Patch Analyzer The Patch Analyzer is now available when you use the Solaris Web Start program to upgrade to a Solaris Update release. The Patch Analyzer performs an analysis on your system. This analysis determines which patches would be removed or downgraded by an upgrade to a Solaris Update release. You do not need to use the Patch Analyzer when you upgrade to the Solaris 9 release. For further installation information, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.

Feature Description

Solaris Live Upgrade 2.0

Solaris Live Upgrade provides a method of upgrading that substantially reduces the usual service outage that is associated with an operating system upgrade. You can duplicate your current running boot environment, then while the original boot environment continues to run, you can upgrade the duplicate. The duplicate boot environment is then activated to become the active boot environment when the system is rebooted. If a failure occurs, you can quickly fall back to the original boot environment with a simple reboot. This feature eliminates the downtime for the production environment that is associated with a normal test and evaluation process.

In addition to upgrading a boot environment, you can install a Web Start Flash archive on an inactive boot environment. When you reboot the system, the configuration that you installed on an inactive boot environment is active.

The Solaris 9 release includes several Live Upgrade enhancements that apply to the command-line interface only. These enhancements affect the following:

Progress Reporting

When using Solaris Live Upgrade to upgrade or install a Web Start Flash archive, the percentage of the upgrade or install completed is reported.
Changes to the lumount and luumount Commands

The lumount command mounts all the boot environment's file systems. If you do not explicitly specify a mount point, lumount creates a mount point. This mount point uses the boot environment name rather than a random set of numbers, thus preventing a proliferation of mount points. This enhancement makes the luumount command easier to use.

The luumount command unmounts the boot environment's root file system. The luumount command now accepts a mount point as well as the boot environment name. And with the -f option, a boot environment's file system can be forcibly unmounted.

See the man pages lumount(1M) and luumount(1M).
Scheduling Priorities

Solaris Live Upgrade's main purpose is to minimize production environment downtime while migrating to a new operating system. Some Solaris Live Upgrade operations, such as upgrading and copying file systems, can cause significant load to a system. Solaris Live Upgrade now has the tools to control scheduling by priorities. This feature minimizes performance degradation on the production system. You can change the defaults in the /etc/default/lu file.
Naming Boot Environments

Solaris Live Upgrade commands allow long names for boot environments. The commands can now associate a description of any length with a boot environment name.

For further information, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide or the man page, ludesc(1M).

For further information on Solaris Live Upgrade, see "Solaris Live Upgrade (Topics)" in the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.

"Web Start Flash" Installation Feature

The "Web Start Flash" installation feature enables you to create a single reference installation of the Solaris operating environment on a machine. You can then replicate that installation on several machines.

For further information, see "Web Start Flash Installation Feature (Topics)" in the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.

Web Start Flash Archive Retrieval Using FTP

The Web Start Flash program has been updated to allow you to retrieve a Web Start Flash archive by using FTP. When installing an archive, you can specify the location of an archive on an FTP server.

For details about how to retrieve an archive from an FTP server, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.

Minimal Installation

Files that constitute several features in the core software group, or metacluster, are now moved into separate, more logically organized packages. You can optionally exclude these packages from the Solaris operating environment when you install the Solaris software. You can also remove these packages by using the pkgrm command after installation. See the pkgrm(1M) man page.

Files that constitute the following features are moved into new packages or existing packages:

Cache file system
NFS
Kerberos security
Distributed file system
NIS-related
Network routing daemons
Remote network r* commands
telnet server
tftp server
Domain name server
DARPA name server
Remote procedure call services
Boot or install server
setuid and setgid

Longer Package Names

The pkgmk utility can now be used to create packages with names up to 32 characters in length. See the pkgmk(1) and pkgadd(1M) man pages.

Installation From the Solaris DVD

You can now install the Solaris operating environment and additional software from the Solaris DVD. The DVD enables you to perform either a Solaris^TM Web Start installation or a custom JumpStart^TM installation. The Solaris DVD includes the Solaris software, ExtraValue software, and the Solaris documentation.

For detailed instructions, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.

Solaris "Web Start" Program Uses sysidcfg File

The Solaris "Web Start" installation method has been modified to use the sysidcfg file to configure system information during an installation or upgrade. Create a sysidcfg file with configuration information for your system. With this file in place, the Solaris "Web Start" program does not prompt you to enter the system information during installation.

For detailed instructions, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.

Enhancements to the Solaris "Web Start" Program

The Solaris "Web Start" installation method was updated to enable you to perform the following functions during the Solaris installation or upgrade:

Select to automatically reboot the system after installation.
Select to automatically eject the CD or DVD after installation.
Select to preserve file systems.

For detailed instructions, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.

Additions to Time Zone Selections

The number of time zones that are available in the Solaris 9 operating environment has dramatically increased. When you install the Solaris operating environment, you can select time zones by geographic region. The time zone selections in the lists of continents and countries have been expanded.

For detailed instructions, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.

Solaris "Web Start Wizards" SDK 3.0.1

Solaris Web Start Wizards^TM SDK simplifies the installation, setup, and administration of native Solaris, Java, and non-Java applications. With Solaris "Web Start Wizards" software, developers can copackage both Solaris versions and Microsoft Windows versions of their applications. The installation wizard manages the platform specifics.

The "Web Start Wizards" SDK 3.0.1 is now included with the Solaris 9 release. SDK 3.0.1 can be installed by using the Solaris "Web Start" installation program.

New Boot Options for a Custom JumpStart Installation

New options have been added for use with the boot command when you perform a custom JumpStart installation.

With the boot command, you can specify the location of the configuration files to use to perform the installation. You can specify a path to an HTTP server, an NFS server, or a file that is available on local media. If you do not know the path to the files, you can require that the installation program prompt you for the path. The prompt displays after the machine boots and connects to the network.

The nowin option enables you to specify that the custom JumpStart program not begin the X program. You do not need to use the X program to perform a custom JumpStart installation. You can shorten the installation time by using the nowin option.

For detailed instructions about how to use these new options, refer to "Custom JumpStart Installation (Topics)" in the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.

Upgrading Mirrors

The Solaris 9 release now supports operating environment upgrades of root mirrors and metadevices that were created by the Solaris Volume Manager, formerly Solstice DiskSuite. If you are upgrading a system that has a metadevice that was created by the Solaris Volume Manager, you no longer need to edit the system's vfstab. The root mirror is detected. And the operating environment on the mirror is upgraded. This process runs just as in a typical upgrade without metadevices.

Default Routing With System Identification Utilities

The system identification utilities automatically attempt to determine the default router during installation.

For installation information, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.

Configuration With System Identification Utilities

During system identification, the system identification utilities can configure systems to be LDAP clients. Prior Solaris releases allowed the configuration of a machine only as an NIS, NIS+, or DNS client.

For installation information, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.

Patch Analyzer

The Patch Analyzer is now available when you use the Solaris Web Start program to upgrade to a Solaris Update release. The Patch Analyzer performs an analysis on your system. This analysis determines which patches would be removed or downgraded by an upgrade to a Solaris Update release. You do not need to use the Patch Analyzer when you upgrade to the Solaris 9 release.

For further installation information, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.