Virtual Machine Templates VM Templates

We suggested to try the OpenSolaris 2008.11 JeOS prototype as a building block for building application VM templates earlier this week. Check out the blog entry. I thought, it would be worth spending a couple of words on, why should a VM template developer consider using OpenSolaris as a foundation of his/her VM Template at all. Hence, let me list a couple of features that can make OpenSolaris compelling for VM Template developers.[Read More]

We're pleased to announce the availability of a prototype form of an OpenSolaris^TM 2008.11 JeOS - Just enough Operating System (pronounced "juice") - virtual machine (VM) image.

This prototype image contains a reduced footprint, pre-installed form of the OpenSolaris 2008.11 distribution available for a variety of virtualization platforms.  It is intended to complement the existing, desktop-oriented Live Media form of OpenSolaris by providing a headless server installation.

The image is primarily geared toward server side application developers who need a lightweight installation of the advanced OpenSolaris operating system as a starting point to build their own application-specific images. Since it's a proper subset of the OpenSolaris distribution delivered by Sun Microsystems, it's easy for developers to produce their own custom images by adding and removing packages using the pkg(1) command line interface.

Download and learn more about the JeOS image.

What's next?

• OpenSolaris 2009.06 JeOS Prototype: Rudolf Kutina is busy putting together an OpenSolaris 2009.06 iteration of the JeOS prototype. See Rudolf's VirtualGuru blog for background on the creation of the JeOS images and a wide array of technical information about virtualization platforms.
  
• Establishing JeOS Project in OpenSolaris: We're working with the OpenSolaris Installation and Packaging community to establish a JeOS project.  Creation of this project was recently approved by that community.