Glossary
brand
An instance of the BrandZ functionality, which provides non-global zones that contain non-native operating environments used for running applications.
datalink
An interface at Layer 2 of the OSI protocol stack, which is represented in a system as a STREAMS DLPI (v2) interface. This interface can be plumbed under protocol stacks such as TCP/IP. In the context of Oracle Solaris 10 zones, data-links are physical interfaces, aggregations, or VLAN-tagged interfaces. A datalink can also be referred to as a physical interface, for example, when referring to a NIC or a VNIC.
default processor set
The processor set created by the system when pools are enabled.
See also processor set.
dynamic configuration
Information about the disposition of resources within the resource pools framework for a given system at a point in time.
dynamic reconfiguration
On SPARC based systems, the ability to reconfigure hardware while the system is running. Also known as DR.
extended accounting
A flexible way to record resource consumption on a task basis or process basis in the Oracle Solaris operating system.
fair share scheduler
A scheduling class, also known as FSS, that allows you to allocate CPU time that is based on shares. Shares define the portion of the system's CPU resources allocated to a project.
global administrator
The root user or an administrator with the root
role. When logged in to the global zone, the global administrator or a user granted the appropriate authorizations can monitor and control the system as a whole.
See also zone administrator.
global scope
Actions that apply to resource control values for every resource control on the system.
global zone
The zone contained on every Oracle Solaris system. When non-global zones are in use, the global zone is both the default zone for the system and the zone used for system-wide administrative control.
See also non-global zone.
memory cap enforcement threshold
The percentage of physical memory utilization on the system that will trigger cap enforcement by the resource capping daemon.
naming service database
The name service information database for both LDAP containers and local files.
native zones
solaris
branded non-global zones. Zones of other brands, such as the labeled
and solaris10
, or solaris-kz
brands are not native zones.
The operating system level within a running native zone always matches the level of the global zone. Because the same kernel is used, no system-call translation is performed.
Note that native zones are branded solaris
in Oracle Solaris 11 and native
in Oracle Solaris 10.
non-global zone
A virtualized operating system environment created within a single instance of the Oracle Solaris operating system. The Oracle Solaris Zones software partitioning technology is used to virtualize operating system services. The packages in a non-global zone are identical to the global zone packages because the zones share the same kernel.
Oracle Solaris Zones
A software partitioning technology used to virtualize operating system services and provide an isolated, secure environment in which to run applications.
processor set
A disjoint grouping of CPUs. Each processor set can contain zero or more processors. A processor set is represented in the resource pools configuration as a resource element. Configured using the pset
resource pool element.
resident set size
The size of the resident set. The resident set is the set of pages that are resident in physical memory.
resource
An aspect of the computing system that can be manipulated with the intent to change application behavior.
resource capping daemon
A daemon that regulates the consumption of physical memory by processes running in projects that have resource caps defined.
resource consumer
Fundamentally, an Oracle Solaris process. Process model entities such as the project and the task provide ways of discussing resource consumption in terms of aggregated resource consumption.
resource management
A functionality that enables you to control how applications use available system resources.
resource partition
An exclusive subset of a resource. All of the partitions of a resource sum to represent the total amount of the resource available in a single executing Oracle Solaris instance.
resource pool
A configuration mechanism that is used to partition machine resources. A resource pool represents an association between groups of resources that can be partitioned.
resource set
A process-bindable resource. Most often used to refer to the objects constructed by a kernel subsystem offering some form of partitioning. Examples of resource sets include scheduling classes and processor sets.
scanner
A kernel thread that identifies infrequently used pages. During low memory conditions, the scanner reclaims pages that have not been recently used.
static pools configuration
A representation of the way in which an administrator would like a system to be configured with respect to resource pools functionality.
task
In resource management, a process collective that represents a set of work over time. Each task is associated with one project.
working set size
The size of the working set. The working set is the set of pages that the project workload actively uses during its processing cycle.
zone administrator
The rights of a zone administrator are confined to a non-global zone.
See also global administrator.