What's New in the Solaris 9 12/02 Operating Environment

Chapter 1 What's New in the Solaris 9 Update Releases

This chapter summarizes new and enhanced features in the Solaris 9 9/02 and Solaris 9 12/02 Update releases. Prominent among these enhancements are SunTM Open Net Environment (Sun ONE) features. For a summary of all enhancements that are available in the Solaris 9 operating environment, see Chapter 2, Features in the Solaris 9 Operating Environment.

What's New for System Administrators

Networking

Description 

Release Date 

SPARC: Sun ONE Application Server Integration

Sun ONE Application Server 7, Platform Edition, (formerly iPlanetTM Application Server) is integrated in the Solaris 9 12/02 Update release. The Platform Edition of the Application Server provides the foundation for enterprise-class application services and web services. The server provides a high performance, small-footprint JavaTM 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EETM platform). J2EE enables the development, deployment, and management of enterprise applications and web services to a broad range of servers, clients, and devices.

The Sun ONE Application Server provides application portability and fast time to market for new Java and XML applications with J2EE 1.3 platform compatibility. The Application Server enables developers to build applications that are based on JavaServer PagesTM (JSPTM), Java Servlet, and Enterprise JavaBeansTM (EJBTM) technology. This technology supports a broad range of business requirements from small departmental applications to enterprise-scale, mission-critical services.

Some of the main feature highlights include the following: 

  • Integrated Sun ONE Message Queue and the HTTP server from the Sun ONE Web Server

  • Scalability and high performance

  • Comprehensive web services support – Java Web Services, SOAP, WSDL

  • Interoperability with the Sun ONE Portal Server 6.0 and Sun ONE Directory Server

  • Leverages the J2EE Reference Implementation


Note -

The following name changes have been made:

  • Sun ONE Message Queue (formerly iPlanet Message Queue for Java)

  • Sun ONE Web Server (formerly iPlanet Web Server)

  • Sun ONE Portal Server (formerly iPlanet Portal Server)

  • Sun ONE Directory Server (formerly iPlanet Directory Server)


For further information, see the Sun ONE Application Server 7 Getting Started Guide. See also http://wwws.sun.com/software/products/appsrvr/home_appsrvr.html.

For specific licensing terms, refer to the binary code license.  

12/02 

SPARC: Sun ONE Message Queue

The Solaris 9 12/02 Update release supports Java Messaging Service (JMS) applications. This release uses Sun ONE Message Queue (formerly iPlanet Message Queue for Java) as a JMS provider.  

JMS messaging allows applications and application components to exchange messages asynchronously and reliably. Processes that run on different platforms and different operating systems can connect to a common message service to exchange information.  

In the Solaris 9 12/02 Update release, Sun ONE Message Queue, Platform Edition, provides a full implementation of the JMS specification. The message queue provides additional features such as the following: 

  • Centralized administration

  • Tunable performance

  • Support for the Java Naming and Directory InterfaceTM (JNDI)

  • Support for SOAP messaging

For further information, see the Sun ONE Message Queue 3.0.1 Administrator's Guide and the Sun ONE Message Queue 3.0.1 Developer's Guide. For information on Sun ONE Message Queue editions and features, see also http://www.sun.com/software/products/message_queue/home_message_queue.html.

12/02 

Hosting Multiple Web Sites on a Single Solaris Machine

The Solaris Network Cache and Acceleration (NCA) kernel module now supports multiple instances of a web server. This support enables you to use a Solaris machine to perform IP address-based virtual web hosting. Solaris uses a single configuration file, ncaport.conf, to map NCA sockets to IP addresses.

For further information, see the ncaport.conf(4) man page.

12/02 

IP Quality of Service

IP Quality of Service (IPQoS) is a new feature in the Solaris operating environment. IPQoS enables system administrators to provide different levels of network service to customers and to critical applications. By using IPQoS, the administrator can set up service-level agreements. These agreements provide an ISP's clients with varying levels of service that are based on a price structure. A company could also use IPQoS to prioritize among applications so that critical applications get a higher quality of service than less critical applications. 

For further information, see the IPQoS Administration Guide.

9/02 

Routing Information Protocol Version 2 (RIPv2)

Solaris system software now supports RIPv2.  

RIPv2 adds Classless Inter-Domain Routing (CIDR) and Variable-Length Subnet Mask (VLSM) extensions to the RIPv1 protocol. MD5 extensions protect routers against intentional misdirection by malicious users. The new in.routed implementation also includes a built-in RDISC implementation.

RIPv2 supports multicast, if the point-to-point links are enabled with multicast. RIPv2 also supports unicast. If you configure a broadcast address by using the /etc/gateways file, then RIPv2 supports broadcast.

For information on how to configure RIPv2, see the in.rdisc(1M), in.routed(1M), and gateways(4) man pages.

9/02 

Packet Tunneling Over IPv6

This feature enables tunneling over IPv6 for both IPv4 over IPv6 tunnels and IPv6 over IPv6 tunnels. IPv4 packets or IPv6 packets can be encapsulated in IPv6 packets.  

For more information, see the IPv6 Administration Guide.

9/02 

Installation

Description 

Release Date 

Support for LDAP Version 2 Profiles

The Solaris installation programs now support Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) Version 2 profiles. These profiles enable you to configure your system to use a proxy credential level. During the Solaris Web Start or suninstall installation programs, you can specify the LDAP proxy bind distinguished name and proxy bind password. With any installation method, you can preconfigure LDAP before installation by using the proxy_dn and proxy_password keywords in the sysidcfg file.

For information, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.

12/02 

Excluding and Including Directories and Files From a Solaris Flash Archive

The flarcreate command is used to create a Solaris Flash archive. The command has been updated with new options that increase your flexibility to define archive contents when creating an archive. You now can exclude more than one file or directory. From an excluded directory, you can add back a subdirectory or file. This feature is useful when you want to exclude large data files that you do not want cloned.

For information on how to use these options, see the Solaris 9 Installation Guide.


Note -

In the Solaris 9 Update releases, note the following name change:

    Solaris Flash (formerly Web Start Flash)



12/02 

Web Browser Features

Description 

Release Date 

Netscape 6.2.3 for the Solaris Operating Environment

In the Solaris 9 12/02 Update release, NetscapeTM 6.2.3 is included in the Solaris operating environment. Netscape 6.2.3 is an application suite that includes a web browser, mail and newsgroups, and web publishing capabilities. Netscape 6.2.3 enables the user to navigate the Web, communicate with colleagues, participate in discussion groups, and create dynamic web pages. Netscape 6.2.3 also enables user customization. For example, My Sidebar provides access to sites of interest to the user. These sites can include bookmarks, search results, and stock or weather information. Additionally, Netscape's enhanced search capabilities offer fast, easy access to information across the Internet.

Netscape 6.2.3 includes the following features: 

  • LDAP support in Messenger – Enables users to set preferences that are associated with the Address Book and LDAP directories.

  • Search – Provides multiple access points to initiate a search. Includes the URL bar and Search button in the Netscape NavigatorTM browser, the Search tab in My Sidebar, and the Search Menu.

  • Quick Launch – Reduces the startup time of the browser.

  • Bookmark Management Window – Finds a web page through the web page name, its URL, date last visited, or other attributes.

  • Form Manager – Automatically fills an entire web form with key information such as the user's name and address.

  • Easy access to multiple email accounts – Enables the user to switch smoothly from business to personal identity while maintaining separate correspondence. Mail accounts can be located in Netscape WebMail and AOL Mail, as well as other Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) and Post Office Protocol (POP) email accounts, such as Yahoo.

  • Search and navigation – Allows integration of almost any search engine.

  • My Sidebar – Provides choices from hundreds of tabs from Netscape and third parties, including new tabs such as History, Shopping, and FedEx.

  • Instant Messaging – Allows users to sign up for multiple screen names.

  • Cookie Manager – Allows users to choose which sites can and cannot set cookies.

  • Password Manager – Remembers and automatically fills in user name and password for specific web sites.

12/02 

Security Enhancements

Description 

Release Date 

Enhanced crypt() Function

Password encryption protects passwords from being read by intruders. Three strong password encryption modules are now available in the software:  

  • A version of Blowfish that is compatible with BSD systems

  • A version of MD5 that is compatible with BSD and Linux systems

  • A stronger version of MD5 that is compatible with other Solaris 9 12/02 systems

For information on how to protect your user passwords with these new encryption modules, see the System Administration Guide: Security Services. For information on the strength of the modules, see the crypt_bsdbf(5), crypt_bsdmd5(5), and crypt_sunmd5(5) man pages.

12/02 

Password Management Feature in pam_ldap

The pam_ldap password management feature strengthens the overall security of the LDAP Naming Service when used in conjunction with the Sun ONE Directory Server (formerly iPlanet Directory Server). Specifically, the password management feature does the following:

  • Allows for tracking password aging and expiration

  • Prevents users from choosing trivial or previously used passwords

  • Warns users if their passwords are about to expire

  • Locks out users after repeated login failures

  • Prevents users, other than the authorized system administrator, from deactivating initialized accounts

For further information on Solaris naming and directory services, see the System Administration Guide: Naming and Directory Services (DNS, NIS, and LDAP). For information about Solaris security features, see the System Administration Guide: Security Services.

12/02 

PAM Enhancement

The Pluggable Authentication Module (PAM) framework was expanded by including a new control flag. The new control flag provides the ability to skip additional stack processing. This skipping is enabled if the current service module is successful and if no failure occurred on the previous mandatory modules. 

For more information about this change, see the System Administration Guide: Security Services.

12/02 

System Performance Enhancements

Description 

Release Date 

UFS Logging Performance Enhancements

UFS logging enables faster system reboots. Because the file system transactions are already stored, checking the file system is not required if the file system is already consistent. 

In addition, the performance of UFS logging improves or exceeds the level of performance of non-logging file systems in this Solaris release. Results of the SpecFS benchmark show that the performance of NFS-mounted file systems that have logging enabled equals the level of non-UFS logging performance. In some I/O-bound configurations, logging UFS file systems exceed the performance of non-logging UFS file systems by approximately 25 percent. In other tests, performance of logging UFS file systems is 12 times better than the performance of non-logging UFS file systems.  

For information on how to enable logging on a UFS file system, see the System Administration Guide: Basic Administration or the mount_ufs(1M) man page.

12/02 

Memory Placement Optimization (MPO)

The Solaris dispatcher and the virtual memory subsystem have been enhanced to optimize the time that is required for an application to access memory. This enhancement can automatically improve the performance of many applications. This feature is currently implemented to support specific platforms such as the Sun FireTM 3800–6800, the Sun Fire 12K, and the Sun Fire 15K.

9/02 

Dynamic Intimate Shared Memory (DISM) Large Page Support

Large page support is now provided for Dynamic Intimate Shared Memory (DISM). This large page support can increase the performance of applications that are capable of dynamically adjusting shared memory sizes. 

For further information on DISM, see System Performance Enhancements.

9/02 

System Administration Tools

Description 

Release Date 

Combine Data Address and Test Address for Singleton IP Network Multipathing Group

The use of a dedicated test IP address for failure detection on single-adapter IP network multipathing groups is no longer required. When failover is not possible because only one NIC is in an IP network multipathing group, you can now combine the test address and the data address. The in.mpathd daemon uses a data address to detect failure when a test address is not specified.

For further information on Solaris IP multipathing, see the IP Network Multipathing Administration Guide.

12/02 

X11 Windowing Features

Description 

Release Date 

Xserver Virtual Screen Enhancement

The Xserver Virtual Screen enhancement provides accessibility support for the upcoming release of the Gnome 2.0 Desktop for the Solaris operating environment. This capability enables support of magnification software on systems that have just one frame buffer. 

12/02 

Xrender Extension

The new Xrender feature increases performance for applications, such as the StarOfficeTM software suite, that run on the Solaris operating environment. The Xrender feature provides a modern appearance for these applications. Xrender uses hardware processing for alpha-blending and transparency effects.

12/02 

System Resources Enhancements

Description 

Release Date 

Extended Accounting Subsystem

You can now use extended accounting processes in conjunction with the flow accounting module for Internet Protocol Quality of Service (IPQoS). For information about IPQoS, see the IPQoS Administration Guide.

For information about the extended accounting feature, see "Extended Accounting" in the System Administration Guide: Resource Management and Network Services.

9/02 

Solaris Documentation Changes

Description 

Release Date 

New and Revised Documentation in the Solaris 9 12/02 Release

The following revised documentation is available in the Solaris 9 12/02 Update release:  

The following new documentation is available in the Solaris 9 12/02 Update release:  

12/02 

NIS+ to LDAP Transition Documentation

The "Transitioning From NIS+ to LDAP" appendix has been moved from the System Administration Guide: Naming and Directory Services (FNS and NIS+) to the System Administration Guide: Naming and Directory Services (DNS, NIS, and LDAP). Additionally, explanations and examples of various components have been added to the LDAP-related chapters in the System Administration Guide: Naming and Directory Services (DNS, NIS, and LDAP). No new features, however, are documented.

9/02 

New and Revised Documentation in the Solaris 9 9/02 Release

The following new documentation is available in the Solaris 9 9/02 Update release: 

The following revised documentation is available in the Solaris 9 9/02 Update release:

9/02 

What's New for Software Developers

Development Tools

Description 

Release Date 

SPARC: Sun ONE Application Server Integration

Sun ONE Application Server 7, Platform Edition (formerly iPlanet Application Server) is integrated in the Solaris 9 12/02 Update release. See Networking.

12/02 

SPARC: Sun ONE Message Queue

The Solaris 9 12/02 Update release supports JMS messaging applications. These applications are based on Sun ONE Message Queue, a JMS provider. See Networking.

12/02 

Enhanced crypt() Function

This Solaris Update release includes new extensions to the crypt() function and introduces the crypt_gensalt()function. These enhancements allow administrators to change the algorithm that is used to obscure users' UNIX® login passwords.

Modules are included for MD5 and Blowfish. The MD5 modules are at crypt_sunmd5 and crypt_bsdmd5. The Blowfish module is at crypt_bsdbf.

Developers can create new modules for alternate password-obscuring algorithms. Application developers must use the crypt_gensalt() function instead of manually generating the salt for passing to the crypt() function.

Modules for alternate algorithms are specified in the crypt.conf(4) file. The module_path field specifies the path to the shared library object that implements the two required functions:

  • crypt_gensalt_impl() – Generates the salt

  • crypt_genhash_impl() – Generates the encrypted password

For further information, see the crypt(3C) and the policy.conf(4) man pages.

12/02 

New Flags for madvise() Function

 

The madvise() function allows the kernel to optimize access to a user-defined region of memory. The Solaris 9 12/02 release includes three new flags for the madvise() function:

  • MADV_ACCESS_LWP – Gives a specified lightweight process (LWP) resource allocation priority

  • MADV_ACCESS_MANY – Specifies an address range that is intensively used by processes across the machine

  • MADV_ACCESS_DEFAULT – Resets an address range's access pattern to the system default

For further information on the madvise() function, see the madvise(3C) man page.

12/02 

Linkers and Libraries Updates

The Solaris 9 12/02 release includes new linker-editor features such as string table compression, unreferenced section elimination, and unreferenced dependency detection. For a complete list of these new features, see "New Linker and Libraries Features and Updates" in the Linker and Libraries Guide.

12/02 

Smartcard Middleware APIs

The Solaris Smartcard framework now provides low-level middleware APIs. These APIs can be used to exchange data with a smart card by using a smart card reader. The APIs can be used in platforms such as the Sun BladeTM and Sun RayTM systems. Applications that are written in the Java language or in C can use these interfaces.

For more information, see the libsmartcard(3LIB) man page and the JavaDocs in /usr/share/javadoc/smartcard.

9/02 

Solaris Documentation Changes

Description 

Release Date 

New and Revised Documentation in the Solaris 9 12/02 Release

The following revised documentation is available in the Solaris 9 12/02 Update release:  

    Linker and Libraries Guide – See the "Linkers and Libraries Updates" feature description in Development Tools.


The following new documentation is available in the Solaris 9 12/02 Update release:  

    Sun ONE Application Server 7 Getting Started Guide – See "Sun ONE Application Server Integration" in Development Tools.


    Sun ONE Message Queue 3.0.1 Developer's Guide – See "Sun ONE Message Queue" in Development Tools.


12/02 

What's New in Additional Software

Web Browser Features

Description 

Release Date 

Netscape 6.2.3 in CoBundled Directory

In the Solaris 9 9/02 Update release, Netscape 6.2.3 is available in the CoBundled directory. The CoBundled directory is located in the Solaris_9 directory at Solaris_9/ExtraValue/CoBundled. This directory is located on the Solaris 9 9/02 DVD and the Solaris Software 2 of 2 CD.

In the Solaris 9 12/02 Update release, Netscape 6.2.3 is included in the Solaris operating environment. See Web Browser Features.

9/02 

Freeware

Description 

Release Date 

New Freeware Package

The following new freeware package has been added in the Solaris 9 12/02 Update release: 

    ANT 1.4.1 – The Jakarta ANT Java/XML-based build tool



Note -

To view license terms, attribution, and copyright statements for ANT, the license path is /usr/sfw/share/src/<freeware name>. If the Solaris operating environment has been installed anywhere other than the default, modify the given path to access the file at the installed location.


For a list of freeware in the Solaris 9 operating environment, see Freeware.

12/02