Archive for November, 2005

Solaris running on an x86 or x64 platform generally only differs from the SPARC platform only in its interaction with the hardware, as with the boot process and low-level system configuration.

Given a scenario, explain the BIOS settings for booting, abort sequence, and displaying POST, including BIOS configuration for x64 and x86-based system.

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Sun’s SPARC platforms employs the OpenBoot architecture for accessing low-level boot PROM system configuration inforamation, similar to the BIOS of an Intel x86 system. Other low-level concepts covered in this objective include NVRAM (nonvolitile RAM), POST (power on self test), and the boot abort sequence.

Given a scenario, explain boot PROM fundamentals, including OpenBoot Architecture Standard, boot PROM, NVRAM, POST, Abort Sequence, and displaying POST to serial port for SPARC.

Knowing how to handle low-level system configuration is a must for a system administrator. Read the rest of this entry »

Most formal applications for Solaris are delivered in one or more packages. In fact, all of the software that makes up the Solaris operating environment is installed in packages. Once installed, software packages can be updated with fixes or upgrades with patches.

Perform Solaris 10 OS package administration using command-line interface commands and manage software patches for the Solaris OS, including preparing for patch administration, and installing and removing patches using the patchadd and patchrm commands.

The use of packages and patches simplifies application management Read the rest of this entry »

Solaris automatically mounts some filesystems during the boot process, and the volume management system mounts CD-ROMs for you, normally. There are times when you need to manually perform these tasks:

Perform mounts and unmounts on a Solaris 10 OS file system, and use volume management to access mounted diskettes and CD-ROMs, restrict access, troubleshoot volume management problems, and explain access methods without volume management.

Mounting a UFS filesystem is straightforward. Unmounting a filesystem can be trickier Read the rest of this entry »

Now that we have created filesystems, they need to be maintained and healthy. This objective covers checking, fixing, and monitoring Solaris filesystems:

Given a scenario, check and resolve Solaris 10 OS file system inconsistencies using fsck, and monitor file system usage using the command line (df, du, and quot commands).

The fsck command will, if you administer Solaris systems long enough, make you a hero. Read the rest of this entry »

A disk partition/slice is of no use to an operating system (most of the time) without a filesystem (like NTFS on Windows machines). This objective covers several types of filesystems available on Solaris and how to create a UFS filesystem:

Explain the Solaris 10 OS file system, including disk-based, distributed, devfs, and memory file systems related to SMF, and create a new UFS file system using options for <1Tbyte and >1Tbyte file systems.

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Solaris disks are partitioned into slices before they have a filesystem created on them. The partition table is represented in a disk’s label. There are several utilities for managing partition tables and labels which are covered in this objective:

Given a scenario, partition a disk correctly using the appropriate files, commands, and options, and manage disk labels using SMI and EFI labels as they relate to disk sets.

The bread and butter command for disk partitioning is format Read the rest of this entry »

Now that we understand filesystems and disk devices, the SCSA exam expects us to be able to administer them. This objective covers the following:

Use the prtconf and format commands to list devices, explain critical issues of the /etc/path_to_inst file and reconfigure devices by performing a reconfiguration boot or using the devfsadm command for SPARC, x64, and x86-based systems.

The prtconf command displays information about the system and peripheral devices Read the rest of this entry »

The whole point of a computer system is ultimately about manipulating files. Files live in a filesystem on disks. Understanding how these work is crucial to a system administrator. This objective:

Explain disk architecture including the UFS file system capabilities and naming conventions for devices for SPARC, x64, and x86-based systems.

The UNIX File System (UFS) is Read the rest of this entry »

Moving on to Objective section 2 in the SCSA Solaris 10 exam I, the exam requires certain knowledge of the file systems.

Explain the Solaris 10 OS directory hierarchy, including root subdirectories, file components, and file types, and create and remove hard and symbolic links.

Daniel Quinlan has a detailed explanation of UNIX directory hierarchies that goes far beyond what will be expected of you in the SCSA exam. If you ever question what a directory is (or should be) for, check that page. For the SCSA exam, knowing the directories in the / root filesystem should be adequate, with a few additions. Read the rest of this entry »