Importing Media

I am often asked how to import the Solaris or the Solaris Express media into JET/Jumpstart. So I'd thought I'd share this with everyone.

• Download the DVD isos.
• Merge the isos: # cat 1.iso 2.iso 3.iso 4.iso 5.iso > image.iso
• LOFI mount the iso image: # lofiadm -a `pwd`/image.iso
• Mount image to server: # mount -F hsfs -o ro /dev/lofi/1 /mnt
• Import image into JET: # /opt/SUNWjet/bin/copy_solaris_media -d /mnt

Then to unmount the image you would do the following:

• Unmount the image: # umount /mnt
• Remove LOFI mount: # lofiadm -d /dev/lofi/1

Not bad eh?

Upgrading to Solaris Express CR Build 37

Solaris Express: Community Release Build 37 is out! I've already downloaded the iso's and I've started to import the media into JET. So it's time again to back things up and do what I call the "jumpstart shuffle". I have to also upgrade my laptop and U10 at work. I really want to try out the latest JDS builds to see what's changed.

Sun Ray 4 Beta Software

So the beta for the Sun Ray software version 4 is out! This adds the Windows Connector and Controlled Desktop features to the SRSS 3.1 software. I'm going to give it a spin and see what's new. I'm hoping for better integration(SMF) with S10 and above. You can try it out from this link.

Solaris Internals Books Done!

So the long awaited 2nd edition to Solaris Internals is completed! Interestingly enough, soo much new material is covered, that it's not just one book, but two books! The new Solaris Internals book is 1001 pages long! Wow! I can't wait to get mine, which I've had pre-ordered since last year. The second book, called "Solaris Internals, Performance, and Debugging", is geared for systems administrators and is 550 pages. I'll have to order that book:) For those who have not read the first edition, you've missed out on a lot! The first edition has lots of detailed information, you won't find easily. So useful is the first edition that I have one at work and a signed copy at home;) In the mean time, I really need to finish my other books!

For more info, visit the offical site :)

Trusted JDS

A few months back it was announced that Sun would distribute the remaining "Trusted Solaris" components as an extentions add-on to Solaris 10. When I was working in Sun IT/Ops, I use to support some of the Trusted Solaris engineers. The first time I saw Trusted Solaris was on a Ultra 1 workstation. It was really interesting to see what was possible in CDE with Trusted Solaris. However, I've never really had the chance to play with it myself. Solaris 10 has the vast majority of the underline Kernel and OE frameworks out of the box. The extentions add the remaining components. I've known for a while that Sun was working on getting JDS to integrate into the framework. I was searching around to see if I could find any current info on this and came across a blog for one of the desktop engineers at Sun. The screenshots demonstrate the security labeling that make "Trusted Solaris" *trusted* :)

Might have to wait on T1000

Everything looked like it was working out fine until I got an Email from Sun that I needed to register a credit card with them for the T1000, incase I decide the buy the box. I have not intention of buying, not like I could afford to spend that kind of cash:( So I might just have to do this thru work and do the review there. Very unfortunate!

Getting a T1000 to Test!

It'll probably be a while before I can test a T1 system at work since we're soo busy with building a new datacenter. So I decided to do the "60-day try and buy" offer from Sun for a T1000 at home. This will give me a chance to really push Solaris 10 and Solaris 11 (Nevada). I'm planning on testing the following:

• Jumpstart
• ZFS
• Zones
• N1GE
• Sun Ray
• Sun Studio 11
• Oracle 10g
  
• Graphics rendering (Blender)

I think that should be enough stuff to test out;) I'm waiting for the call back from Sun and hopefully I'll get my T1000 in a few weeks or less. I'm going to post full reviews for it on my blog and get some nice pictures for people to look at.

Just so you know.. there's no way I can afford one of these servers. As such, when I'm done testing, I have to ship it back:( Hopefully, my review will catch Sun's eyes and maybe I'll get a discount(free) on it!

Sun Ray 2's are out!

I've been waiting to see the new Sun Ray 2's for a while now and finally they are out on Sun's website. Two models are released the SR2 and the SR2-FS. The second model has dual DVI ports! This is a huge win for Sun Ray users because in the past you had to have a Sun Ray per physical display. Definitely not good if you want to use the 16 max. displays for xinerama! Now, you only need 8 SR2-FS's to get to 16 displays:)

The foot print has been greatly reduced, the stand is integrated, and new metal look matches the Galaxy and T1 servers;) I'll definitely have to upgrade when I get the chance!