1. Introduction to Oracle Solaris 11.4 Virtual Environments
  2. Combining Virtualization Technologies in Oracle Solaris 11.4

2 Combining Virtualization Technologies in Oracle Solaris 11.4

This chapter illustrates, at a high level, the implementation of a virtual environment that consolidates existing systems with virtualized and non-virtualized elements onto a single SPARC T5-2 system. The new system configuration uses Oracle VM Server for SPARC, Oracle Solaris Zones, and Oracle Solaris Kernel Zones to run virtual instances of different versions of the Oracle Solaris OS.

Note:

You could also implement this configuration on a SPARC T4, SPARC T7, SPARC T8, SPARC M5, SPARC M6, SPARC M7, or SPARC M8 system.

Goals of a Combined Virtualized Environment on a SPARC T5-2 System

This chapter describes an example consolidation of existing systems that contain some virtual elements. By implementing this consolidation, you would accomplish the following goals:
  • Consolidate existing Oracle Solaris 11, Oracle Solaris 10, and Solaris 8 servers onto a single SPARC server.
  • Increase hardware and software efficiency and streamline system maintenance through the exclusive use of virtual environments.
  • Run applications with different SRUs or update schedules on the same server by using Oracle Solaris kernel zones.
  • Maintain isolation and perform application monitoring by running each application in its own zone or guest domain.

Figure 2-1 Mapping Existing Systems Onto a Single SPARC T5-2 System


Description of Figure 2-1 follows
Description of "Figure 2-1 Mapping Existing Systems Onto a Single SPARC T5-2 System"

The following migrations and consolidations are performed:
  • Two Oracle Solaris 11.1 systems, sol11-sys1 and sol11-sys2, run in the Oracle Solaris 11.3 guest domains ldg1 and ldg4. The guest domains ldg1 and ldg4 host applications in native Oracle Solaris zones and kernel zones.
  • The Solaris 8 system sol8-sys1 runs on an Oracle Solaris 10 guest domain ldg3.
  • Two Solaris 8 systems, sol8-sys2 and sol8-sys3, are migrated onto the solaris8 zones in an Oracle Solaris 10 guest domain ldg2.

The high-level tasks to perform the consolidation into virtual environments are described in the following sections.

Implementing the Combined Virtualized Configuration

This section describes the steps to implement the virtualized environment shown in Figure 2-1. A systems overview and background requirements are described in Implementation Assumptions.

The following tasks are required to implement the combined virtualized solution:
  1. Configure and Install the Oracle VM Server for SPARC Software
  2. Configure and Install Oracle Solaris Zones
  3. Configure and Install Oracle Solaris Kernel Zones
  4. Create Zones That Run Legacy Solaris Systems in Virtual Oracle Solaris 10 Environments

Implementation Assumptions

Review the following overview and requirements prior to implementing your virtualized environment.

  • The Oracle Solaris 11.3 operating system, which includes the Oracle VM Server for SPARC software, is installed on the SPARC T5-2 host called system.
  • The system firmware on system supports Oracle VM Server for SPARC and Oracle Solaris Kernel Zones.
    To verify that you have the correct versions of the software and firmware installed, run the following commands:
    pkg install entire
    Shows whether the server runs at least the Oracle Solaris 11.3 operating system.
    ldm -V
    Shows whether the server runs at least the Logical Domains Manager 3.3 software and at least version 9.5.1 of the system firmware.
    If your SPARC T5-2 system is not current, see the following documentation for information about installing and upgrading the Oracle Solaris OS, Oracle VM Server for SPARC software, and SPARC system firmware:

Configure and Install the Oracle VM Server for SPARC Software

Use this procedure to configure and install the Oracle VM Server for SPARC software.
  1. Configure services and the Oracle VM Server for SPARC control domain.

    Set up the control domain services on the SPARC T5-2 system. See the Oracle VM Server for SPARC 3.6 Installation Guide.

    For information about Oracle VM Server for SPARC security features, see Oracle VM Server for SPARC Security in Oracle VM Server for SPARC 3.6 Administration Guide.

  2. Configure and install the Oracle VM Server for SPARC guest domains.
    Create and start the following guest domains:
    1. ldg1 – Runs the Oracle Solaris 11.3 operating system. ldg1 hosts the following zones:
      • zone1, a solaris branded zone which runs a database application
      • zone2, a solaris branded zone which runs a web server application
      • kzone1, a solaris-kz branded zone, or kernel zone, that hosts an application running a different SRU from the rest of the server
    2. ldg2 – Runs the Oracle Solaris 10 operating system and hosts the following zones:
      • sol8-zone2, a solaris8 branded zone running a legacy application
      • sol8-zone3, a solaris8 branded zone running a legacy application
    3. ldg3 – Runs the Oracle Solaris 10 operating system
    4. ldg4 – Runs the Oracle Solaris 11.3 operating system and hosts the following zones:
      • zone3, a solaris branded zone that hosts user logins
      • kzone2, a solaris-kz branded zone that runs another application managed on a monthly, rather than quarterly cycle

    See Creating and Starting a Guest Domain in the Oracle VM Server for SPARC 3.6 Administration Guide.

    After the guest domains are started, you can install the appropriate version of the Oracle Solaris OS software on the ldg1, ldg2, ldg3 and ldg4 guest domains. See Installing Oracle Solaris OS on a Guest Domain in the Oracle VM Server for SPARC 3.6 Administration Guide.

  3. Convert the legacy Solaris 8 system sol8-sys1 to a logical domain on a SPARC T5-2 system.

    Use the Oracle VM Server for SPARC ldmp2v command to convert an existing physical Solaris 8 system onto a logical domain running Oracle Solaris 10. You can convert an Solaris 8, Solaris 9, or Oracle Solaris 10 system to a virtual system that runs the Oracle Solaris 10 operating system in a logical domain on a SPARC T5-2 system. See Oracle VM Server for SPARC Physical-to-Virtual Conversion Tool in the Oracle VM Server for SPARC 3.3 Administration Guide.

Configure and Install Oracle Solaris Zones

Use this procedure to configure and install Oracle Solaris Zones.
  1. Configure Oracle Solaris zones in the guest domains.
    Create the following zones in the specified guest domains:
  2. Install the zones.

Configure and Install Oracle Solaris Kernel Zones

Use this procedure to configure and install Oracle Solaris Kernel Zones.
  1. Configure the Oracle Solaris kernel zones in the guest domains.

    Create the following kernel zones:

  2. Install each kernel zone by using a kernel zone direct installation.

Create Zones That Run Legacy Solaris Systems in Virtual Oracle Solaris 10 Environments

Use this procedure to create zones that run legacy Solaris systems in virtual Oracle Solaris 10.
  1. Configure Solaris legacy containers.

    Configure Solaris legacy containers to migrate the Solaris 8 systems sol8-sys1 and sol8- sys2 onto the zone sol8-zone hosted in an Oracle Solaris 10 guest domain. The sol8-zone runs the Solaris 8 environment. See Configuring a solaris8 Zone in the System Administration Guide: Oracle Solaris 8 Containers.

  2. Install the Solaris legacy containers.

Related References

For further information about virtualization in Oracle Solaris OS systems, see the following references: