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[previous article] [next article]David A. Curry
Sun Microsystems is now shipping Solaris 2.1, the newest version of UNIX for Sun-4 (SPARC) systems. Unlike previous releases of Sun's UNIX, Solaris 2.1 is based on AT&T's System V Release 4.0 rather than 4.3BSD. Although it is still UNIX, you will most likely encounter several differences in commands and file layouts with the new operating system.
To help you move to the new operating system, the document, Migrating To Solaris, ECN #199, is available from your site specialist. A copy of this document will also be delivered by the ECN with any new system running Solaris.
At present, only newly installed SPARCstation LX systems, and some SPARCstation 10 systems, will be configured for Solaris. In the summer of 1994, the rest of the ECN SPARC systems will be converted to Solaris. There are several reasons for this delay, the primary one being that many of the third-party software packages in use on ECN Sun workstations are not yet available for Solaris. However, because the new workstations from Sun will only run Solaris, we are forced to support both versions of the operating system until we can complete the migration to the new release. Sun-3 systems have been end-of-lifed by Sun, and will continue to run SunOS 4.1.1 until they are removed from service.
The Migrating to Solaris1 document includes a number of important sections. The first half of the document is intended for all users and provides general information about the differences between Solaris and SunOS 4.1. Chapter 2 describes changes in the search path that will be implemented when we migrate to Solaris. In Chapter 3, we discuss differences in the window systems available for use on Solaris. Chapter 4 provides a list of commands that have changed or have been replaced between SunOS 4.1 and Solaris. The differences between the Solaris printing system and the SunOS 4.1 printing system are discussed in Chapter 5.
The second half of Migrating to Solaris is targeted at C programmers. If you will not be writing or porting C programs to Solaris, you don't need to read the information in these chapters. Chapter 6 describes the compilers available under Solaris and discusses some of the options available for the C compiler. It also describes some of the most common differences you will encounter when porting your programs to Solaris. Chapter 7 discusses ANSI C and some of the language differences you may encounter when porting your programs to Solaris. Chapters 8 and 9 discuss the Binary Compatibility Package and the Source Compatibility Package, respectively. Chapter 10 discusses the tools available to help you automate the porting process. Finally, Chapter 11 provides a list of commands and library functions that have changed or have been replaced between SunOS 4.1 and Solaris.
NOTE
Although Sun has assigned the name Solaris 1.x to its SunOS 4.1 releases, we will not follow that convention in this article because of the confusion it produces. In this article, we will use the term ``SunOS 4.1'' to refer to all versions of SunOS 4.1.x without distinction. We will use the term ``Solaris'' to refer only to the new operating system, Solaris 2x.
Solaris merges the best features of the most popular versions of UNIX - SunOS, Xenix, BSD , and System V - thereby serving as a platform for unifying the UNIX market. In addition to running on Sun platforms, Solaris is available for 386- and 486-based personal computers.
Solaris complies with the following standards:
The new technology, features, and standards compliance offered by Solaris far outweigh any disadvantages there may be to migrating to the new release, especially over the long term.
The document, Migrating to Solaris, provides the information that the ECN staff believes most users will require to migrate to Solaris. As we gain more experience with Solaris, and based on the types of questions received from users like yourself, we will be updating this document to include more information. You may wish to check with your site specialist periodically to see if a new version of this document has been released.
- User's Guide - SunOS 5.0, 800-6748-06, 200 pp. An introduction to the SunOS 5.x operating system in Solaris. For beginning to intermediate UNIX users.
- System Transition Guide for Users - SunOS 5.0, 800-6501-06, 120 pp. A guide to the Solaris environment for users who are learning the SunOS 5.0 system software for the first time. This is where you can find primary differences between SunOS 4.1 and SunOS 5.0.
- OpenWindows Version 3.0.1 User's Guide - SunOS 5.0, 800-6506- 06, 65 pp. How to use the OpenWindows environment and DeskSet Applications on your desktop. Includes information on useful productivity tools such as Calendar Manager and Mail Tool, as well as a guide to setting up your OpenWindows environment.
- OpenWindows Version 3.0.1 DeskSet Reference Guide - SunOS 5.0, 800-6540-06, 375 pp. A more detailed description of the applications that constitute the DeskSet environment: File Manager, Mail Tool, Calendar Manager, Text Editor, Print Tool, Tape Tool, Snapshot, Shell Tool, Command Tool, Console, Performance Meter, Clock, Calculator, Icon Editor, and Binder.
- SunOS 5.0 Reference Manual, 800-6445-06, and OpenWindows Version 3.0.1 Reference Manual - SunOS 5.0, 800-6389-06, 300 pp. All Solaris and OpenWindows command descriptions are printed in these books. All of these pages are also available on-line via the man command. These books are organized by type: User Commands, System Administration Commands, System Calls, C Library Routines, File Formats, Miscellany, Special Files, Maintenance Commands, OpenWindows Commands.
- System Transition Guide for Application Developers - SunOS 5.0, 800-6444-07, 150 pp. Describes compatibility issues with SunOS 4.x. and Solaris - whether the interface is incompatible, how it is incompatible, and how to migrate from the old interface to the new one.
- Application Developer's Guide - SunOS 5.0, 800-6363-06, 90 pp. Describes the Solaris application interfaces and how to use them in development. Also includes methods of porting and converting SunOS 4.x. applications to Solaris.
- SunOS/BSD Source Compatibility Package Guide - SunOS 5.0, 800-6443-06, 25 pp. How to use the SunOS/BSD Source Compatibility Package.
- Network Interfaces Programmer's Guide - SunOS 5.0, 800-6593- 06, 530 pp. Description of the primary facilities for implementing distributed applications.
- SunOS 5.0 Reference Manual, 800-6445-06. All Solaris system call and library descriptions are printed in these books. All of these pages are also available on-line via the man command. These books are organized by type: User Commands, System Administration Commands, System Calls, C Library Routines, File Formats, Miscellany, Special Files, Maintenance Commands.
The complete Sun documentation set is currently available for perusal Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm in room 104 of the MSEE building. As more hosts running Solaris are installed, we will make additional copies of the documentation available from other locations.
To begin, enter the command:
/opt/Solaris_2.1_AB/answerbook
This will create some windows, from which it should be obvious how to peruse the documentation. If you need help, contact your site specialist. Please do not attempt to print the documentation from AnswerBook; it consumes far too much paper.
General Use and System Administration
UNIX System V Release 4
General Programmer's Series
UNIX System V Release 4
System Programmer's Series
UNIX System V Release
4Please note that many of the user's manuals, programmer's manuals, and so on that have been written for System V UNIX describe Release 3.x. of System V, rather than Release 4. These manuals are not what you want. Make sure, before purchasing any commercial manual, that it describes System V Release 4 UNIX, Solaris 2.x. or SunOS 5.x.
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