Oracle Solaris 11 software is distributed in IPS packages. IPS packages are stored in IPS package repositories, which are populated by IPS publishers. IPS packages are installed into Oracle Solaris 11 images. A subset of the capabilities that are available through the IPS command-line interface is available through the Package Manager graphical user interface.
IPS tools provide the following capabilities. See IPS Concepts for definitions of terms such as publisher and repository.
List, search, install, restrict installation, update, and remove software packages.
List, add, and remove package publishers. Change publisher attributes such as search priority and stickiness. Set publisher properties such as signature policy.
Upgrade an image to a new operating system release.
Create copies of existing IPS package repositories. Create new package repositories. See Copying and Creating Package Repositories in Oracle Solaris 11.3.
Create and publish packages. See Packaging and Delivering Software With the Image Packaging System in Oracle Solaris 11.3.
Create boot environments and other images.
To use IPS, you must be running the Oracle Solaris 11 OS. To install the Oracle Solaris 11 OS, see Installing Oracle Solaris 11.3 Systems.