Dominique Merle's Weblog LYON

For the second time, i have upgraded my OpenSolaris, which was on build 91, to build 93.

In order to do that, i simply follow the procedure indicated here. 

However, after booting the new environnment, named opensolaris-3, /opt and /etc were missing.

I had to manually mount /opt with the following command:

#pfexec zfs set mountpoint=/opt rpool/ROOT/opensolaris-3/opt 

The benefits of this new release are numerous, but to name the ones that interest me:

• a new Gnome version 2.22.2
  
• an updated pidgin 2.4.2
  
• the suspend/resume capability available in the menu (works better, but not completely satisfactory) 

Below is the history of the available environments:

#beadm list
BE            Active Active on Mountpoint Space
Name                 reboot               Used
----          ------ --------- ---------- -----
opensolaris   no     no        -          9.84M
opensolaris-1 no     no        -          11.86M
opensolaris-2 no     no        -          32.18M
opensolaris-3 yes    yes       /          11.10G

This  is the beauty of OpenSolaris: you can always go back to a previous environment!

Here are the four commands i entered in a terminal to update OpenSolaris 2008 to the latest build 91:

# pfexec pkg refresh

# pfexec pkg image-update

(# beadm list)

# pfexec mount -F zfs rpool/ROOT/opensolaris-2 /mnt

# pfexec /mnt/boot/solaris/bin/update_grub -R /mnt

The full procedure is indicated here.

By comparison to Nevada, the Solaris Express Community edition i have been using since build 54 in December 2006, here are some numbers:

Isn't it enticing?

I have switched from Solaris Community express (a.k.a. Nevada build 86) to OpenSolaris 2008.05. It was a difficult decision to take as i was completely satisfied with Nevada and having lived with it since build 54 up to build 86.

But OpenSolaris is the future and the future begins today for me. This post is a step by step howto install OpenSolaris on a laptop. My laptop is a Toshiba Tecra M3, 1 cpu@2,1Ghz with 1GB Ram and 70GB hard disk.

A) Backup your PC.

Backup up took me about 1h 

Here is my checklist: 

• D partition (D is a common partition between Windows and Solaris)
  
• Thunderbird configuration : mail server and port
• Firefox bookmarks
• vsftab
• .bashrc
• .packingrules
• /etc/resolv.conf and /etc/nsswitch.conf
• your vpn configuration : client_backup -i /your_vpn_backup
  

B) Download OpenSolaris 2008.05

Download site is here.

and burn a CD.

Download and burn took me about 1h15. 

C) Installation

The installation last for me about 1h45 (reboot included) 

Insert the CD and boot over the CD: on my Toshiba, just after power on press the F12 key  and select CD. The CD then goes live and you will be presented with an installation icon: click on it!

The system will try to find a Solaris partition. If it finds a Solaris partition, it will propose you to erase it. The installation is via a GUI and is very simple. 

During the installation, you will be asked to enter a user account: i advise you to create {admin, admin}. This way, it will be easier for you later on to create via the GUI your own user, with specifics you want. For example, i had to create my own userid with uid which is the same (+10) of the one i have on the Swan. Mounting your home directory will be then without trouble.

D) Configuration

D)1) Mount the common partition beween Windows and OpenSolaris 

Add the following line in /etc/vfstab 

/dev/dsk/c4d0p2    -    /D    pcfs    -    yes    - 

D)2) Install the network driver

For my Toshiba Tecra M3, you have to use yukonx0 (yukon_xsol_x86v8.10.4.3.tar.z) (and not skge0 wich failed)

# pkgadd -d . YUKONXsol

By the way, you notice that with Opensolaris, the old packaging system is still compatible 

D)3) Mount your home directory

Add the following line in /etc/vfstab:

sunlyon.france:/export/home3/dmerle    -    /HOME    nfs    no    no    -

D)4) OpenOffice installation

# pfexec pkg install openoffice 

This is really cool! This is the new IPS packaging system: it goes over the network, get your bits and performs the installation. It took me about 20 minutes. 

D)5) vpn installation

Package installation. To get the package, go here and then do a pkgadd:

# pkgadd -d SUNWpunchin-i386.pkg
# pkgadd -d ITpunchin.pkg

Restore your vpn configuration :

# /usr/local/bin/client_restore -i your_backup_directory/punchin.backup

Your vpn will be automatically put in your menu: Applications->Internet->IPsec Punchin VPN

D)6) Projector configuration

The external projector being connected, run the following command:

#xrandr --output VGA-0 --auto

Then you can configure the resolution with the menu : Applications->SystemTools->NVidia server settings

Click on "Detect Displays"

Select clone in one of the option (more here)

D)7) Install frkit, it will silent your PC

Get frkit here, save it and run the script as root. Reboot your PC

D)8) Network configuration

I had some trouble with nwam (Network auto magic). So i disable it and installed Ginet instead.

Nwam desactivation:

#svcadm disable nwam
#svcadm enable network:/default

Get Ginetmenu: see my previous post here

D)7) Update your OS:

#pfexec pkg image-update

It will create for you and alternate boot environment directly on ZFS! On next boot, you can choose the new updated BE. Really cool!!!

E) Opensolaris documentation

It's here.

You are nearly all set.

What is missing for me: i did not succeed to install FreeMind^*, and the suspend resume is not working. I also did not have enough time to install Virtual Box.

^*(For Freemind, i had to modify the freemind.sh script and bluntly set freedir=/opt ) 

But i am quite happy with OpenSolaris. Compiz is integrated, desktop is very nice, ZFS by default, containers, the new system installer and the new package management system (IPS). For those who want support, a support subscription is available.

Eventually, the suspend resume capability is working on my Toshiba Tecra M3. And that's pretty cool!

To suspend, just run the command #uadmin 3 20 (You have to be root)

The system goes in "sleep" state in about three seconds. 

You can then go away and take your coffee. And furthermore, you feel less guilty as you save power and your act is eco-responsible :=)

To resume the laptop, just push your power button again and your system is up again in the same state as you let it.

I am running Nevada build 86. 

My very good friend Jérome help me at configuring the uadmin command as a profiled command with RBAC. This way, you do not need to start a terminal to run the command. You just add a Gnome Launcher. You can do it yourself in five steps. See the step by step instructions below:

1) First, edit a simple script for that command and save it as file sysresume:

#!/bin/ksh -p
#
#
# Allow the use of RBAC to control who can access this script. Useful for
# administrators without root permissions
#
if [ "$_" != "/usr/bin/pfexec" -a -x /usr/bin/pfexec ]; then
       /usr/bin/pfexec $0 $*
       exit $?
fi

/usr/sbin/uadmin 3 20

2) Add the following line in your /etc/security/exec_attr
sysresume:suser:cmd:::/home/dmerle/Tools/sysresume:uid=0

3) Add the following line in your /etc/security/prof_attr file
sysresume:::sysresume profile:

4)  Add the profile sysresume in your /etc/user_attr
dmerle::::type=normal;profiles=Ginetmenu,punchin,sysresume;auths=solaris.network.wifi.config,solaris.network.wifi.wep;defaultpriv=basic,dtrace_proc,dtrace_kernel

5) Add a Gnome Launcher:

Right click on the background and select "Create Launcher". Choose the icon you like, mine is coffee, and insert your sysresume path:

Here are some snaphots of Compiz running on Nevada build 86.

Four screens of Compiz, you get it when you point your mouse on the top left corner of your screen. You can then choose your windows. Notice the reflection: 

Here is a snapshot of the rotating cube. To move the cube, just do Ctrl + Alt + middle mouse key
 

I did the snapshot from my SunRay which seats aside left of my laptop. To do the snapshot, on the laptop i enable vnc and i login with Firefox from the SunRay. See my previous post.

 Thanks Erwann for Compiz on Nevada! That renders Solaris on the desktop more friendly.

Solaris 10 update 5 est disponible ici.

Les nouveautés de cette version sont décrites ici. 

54-60-63-67-76-82-86 : These are the nevada builds i put on my laptop since december 2006.

I only performed upgrades. Gnome desktop has made a lot of progress since 54. 

The last feature i am using is Remote Desktop.

I can share my desktop with colleagues and show them applications or sites executing on my desktop.

For this, go in Preferences, Remote Desktop and you allow the sharing of your desktop:

Your are then presented with the screen below : you can share and / or allow remote users to take control of your desktop. 

Then, from a remote location, you start your browser and connect to http://Desktop_IP_adress:5800. You are connected to the desktop.
 

I just made a try at Milax: the smallest Solaris, the size is about 91MB.

So download time is fairly reduced, compared to the previous Solaris distribution (6 CDs) 

Then, i simply burn it on a CD. Time to burn is also very quick: less than 2 minutes.

By the way, burning a CD on Solaris Express is no longer a nightmare. You just start Nautilus, locate your .iso file you downloaded, and right click on it and choose burn a CD.

And there you are, you get the Milax grub:

Twenty second later, you can connect with login alex and password alex:

Then if you want to have X, just type in startx

I have just finished the installation and configuration of VirtualBox on my Nevada build 82. Now Windows can run aside of Solaris on my laptop. The download of VirtualBox for Solaris in 32 bit mode, installation with a pkgadd and lastly installation of Windows took me about 1 hour. Everything run smoothly without any problem. I am very impressed as less than one week ago i did not know that product and the (now) colleagues from (ex) Innotek port the VM so quickly on OpenSolaris.

Please gang, keep your energy and invigorate us! That the pace we need!

Below is a snapshot of Windows running aside of Solaris:

Previously, i was using QEMU for the scarce time i had to show Windows, but i have to say that the installation was more complex. QEMU is also used in Sun xVM for the I/O virtualization part.

About QEMU and virtualization in general, i recommend the excellent blueprint from Chien-Hua Yen "Solaris Operating System hardware Virtualization Product Architecture". I learn many things about virtualization reading that blueprint.

It's one of my default: i cannot prevent myself to see what's in the box we sell or promote to our customers. Of course, that's not always possible due to time constraint. But, this time i tried VirtualBox from Innotek, which is now SUN.

My laptop is dual boot partitionned with Windows XP and Solaris Express build 82 (aka Nevada). I only use Solaris Express and scarcely Windows.

The reason why i tried VirtualBox on the Windows partition is that the OpenSolaris version is in Beta. The VirtualBox OpenSolaris compiled version needs a 64bit processor, which is not the case of my laptop. More information is here (Thanks Joe) for the VirtualBox for OpenSolaris.

My intention was to run Solaris Express build 82 as guest in a Virtual Box running on a Windows XP host.

So first you download the VirtualBox from VirtualBox site. It's only 17MB.

They are some tricks you have to know the first time. :

• Choose 512Mo of RAM for the VM
• Choose a dynamic disk with 6GB
• For the Solaris installation, choose a console installation (option #4)
• Remap the Ctrl key in Preferences to Ctrl + Alt if you are on a laptop without a Ctrl+Droite key. This way you'll be able to switch from VirtualBox to host operating system.
  

And here is the result, Solaris Express running as a guest in a Windows host:

So, i can now compare with QEMU, which i installed last year and described here.

To summarize, i can boot my laptop:

• with Solaris Express and then run QEMU when i want to run Windows on top of Solaris.
  

• with Windows XP and then run VirtualBox when i want to run OpenSolaris on top of Windows.
  

• with Solaris xVM.

Running Nevada build 76, i just backup my old photos and other professional data on my new usb disk with four commands:

a) rmformat and you get the disk

b) fdisk /dev/rdsk/c7t0d0p0

c) newfs /dev/rdsk/c7t0d0s2

d) mount /dev:dsk/c7t0d0s2 /BACKUP

Solaris, that also means solar energy to some companies:

On monday morning, i decided to install Indiana : OpenSolaris developer preview.

What's this all about? A strong kernel with ZFS, DTrace together with a large ecosystem from community:

Indiana is a binary distribution, that means that you can run it directly live from a CD or from an USB key. 

8 a.m.: kick-off

I simply downloaded the CD iso image : about 3/4 of an hour.

Then, i burn a CD : it took me about 20 minutes. I have a low speed CD burner. In the meantime, i just had a talk at the cafetaria with colleagues, and tchat about Indiana :=) 

Then, i booted the CDROM, yes you read it : a single CDROM and not a DVD:

and 5 minutes later i was live with OpenSolaris developer preview login. Then simply login with {user,password} : {jack, jack}.

9.15 a.m : OpenSolaris Go Live 

You then have Gnome panel, a little bit surprised as the menu is on the top left. Firefox and Thunderbird are already present! So the total time from download to Go Live did no take more than 1hour 15.

Then, i decided to install it on a partition on the PC : just click on  the install on disk icon. The installation is very fast : about 30 minutes, encompassing the reboot! Installation is on ZFS, which is default filesystem allowing a simplier packaging system : IPS (Image Packaging System)

Helas, i ran into two caveats :

• first, i was not able to see my windows partition, even after that grub menu has been updated.
• i cannot add a package for my ethernet connection (yukon) : a bug has already been reported for that case. I am going to help here.
  

But, what a great work and quite a good start for a preview. It makes me think of the early days of Java in 1995, where there was tons of innovations, we were talking of "dog years" or "internet time". Java was just out with JDK 1.0.2 : it was free, easily downloadable, buggy but having a lot of traction.

I have just upgraded my Nevada build 68 (OpenSolaris) to Nevada build 76 on my Toshiba Tecra PC and it works! Download is here.

But, to be honest it did not run ok at the fisrt upgrade. OpenSolaris requires sufficient space to upgrade. My / partittion was filled up to 86%, and there was not enough space.

So i went in /var, and then runs  du -ks * | sort -n (thanks Jérome) and make some house keeping (removing the /core directory)

So what's new with this release:

• First at boot, a new entry in Grub : Solaris xVM: yeah, cool XEN available on Solaris, ability to run multiple OS, including Windows (but for that one, you need a the latest cpus from Intel or Amd integrating virtualization capabilities (intel VT or Pacifica). I will ask my boss for a new PC as my Tecra does not have such a cpu. By the way, i can add new virtualized OS like Solaris or Suse with command virt-install. But before, read the xVM manual : man xVM
  

• a new gnome 2.14

• nwam : Network auto magic, after boot, the network is automatically discovered and configured

• i did not have to reinstall my PucnhIn vpn
  
• Compiz : if you were using it in build 68, you have to make this symbolic link : ln -s /usr/lib/libwnck-1.so.22 /usr/lib/libwnck-1.so.18 (thanks Erwann)
  

Go ahead and installs Nevad build 76!

If you want to pass the Sun Certified System Administrator exam, you have to follow the two cursus : SA-200-S10 (Intermediate System Administration for Solaris 10) and SA-202-S10 (Advanced System Administration for the Solaris 10).

You can benchmark yourself with pre-assessments.

The exam is a set of QCM. The problem with these QCM is that the questions go in so much details. You are sometimes asked to know a specific option for a specific command. If you don't administrate systems on a day to day basis, it's not obvious. To be successful, i have prepared some cheat sheets (using my favorite tool FreeMind) to give myself the maximum of chances for success. Here are the cheat sheets summarizing SA-200-S10 :

• the first cheat sheet covering modules from 1 to 5
• cheat sheet #2 covering modules from 6 to 9
  
• cheat sheet #3 covering modules from 10 to 13
• cheat sheet #4 covering modules from 14 to 16

My current working environment consists of either a SunRay, a PC or a Sparc Workstation. See photo below. From left to right : SunRay, PC, Sparc workstation:

Which one is the best as a working companion?

SunRay is very good at quietness (less than 3dB), time to boot (instantaneous), follow me sessions, session mobility. The way to access it is simply my badge. But i rely on an unknown administrator and i cannot manage what's running on it. It's not my job to care about viruses . There is an expected SLA. It is always on. If  i had an administrative job, that would be my preferred working environnement.

My PC is very good at mobility, using Windows (although i never boot it) or Nevada (Solaris). I have the dual boot, xen is already available and will be in a future coming Nevada release. For the time being, when i want to run windows, i either use QEMU directly from my nevada, or (scarcely) ask grub to run Windows. My PC is heavy to carry. No viruses when running Nevada. Of course, when i am outside Sun, at customer site or at home, that is my preferred working environment.

My Sparc workstation is very stable, always on and up to date as i can manage my nevada release on it. I use it to check new software on Sparc and access new Sparc machine like T1000. No viruses. In fact, i regularly use it to connect to back end machines like T1000. And this door open is a fantastic way to test LDOMS on  this 24 virtual cpu machines. I like the return of  the command #psrinfo -pv. I can feel the power behind. I am currently experimenting LDOMs domains, one domain with Niagara, an other domain with Solaris 10 and zones including a BrandZ zone (to run linux on Solaris). That will be the topic of a next post.

I cannot vote for the best working environment, as i regularly use each of those environment. But there is one element which is common to all these environments : Solaris!

Did you notice that the games Sudoku and Puissance 4 are in Nevada. This is one more reason to add Nevada as a dual boot for example.

With Nevada build 67, you can be a SMB server and a SMB client.

That means, you can access CIFS files from your colleagues working on Windows.

Start Nautilus, Open the "network" folder and then look for the shared folders of your windows colleagues:

That also means you can share your files or folders by using CIFS protocol.

You simply start Nautilus, and then right click the folder you want to share and there you are:

This is also the way to share via nfs without editing directly /etc/vfstab.

I have been using filesync for years now. It's very handy, simple and really puts me at rest.

What is it for?  

If you are a nomadic user, each time you come back at office, just type filesync to synchronize your work.

How to use it?

Just type filesync command in a terminal and it will synchronize your local directory with your server. You know, the server which is backup regularly and that you can trust.

How to configure it?

In your home directory, edit your .packingrules file. For example :

#.packinrules for Solaris 11 (nevada build 63)
BASE /HOME/Documents /export/home/dmerle/Documents
LIST FY07 FREEMIND

/HOME/Documents is my home directory on the server side which is synchronized with my PC local directory /export/home/dmerle/Documents

LIST is a key word indicating that FY07 and FREEMIND are directories i want to be synchronized.

Need more help:=)

#man filesync and #man .packingrules !

 

A big thanks to Jerome Blanchet for the how to!!!