DarkStar

OpenIndiana

2010-09-13T12:53:00.000-07:00

So, the guys from the Illumos-Project are really pushing their Project. If you look on the Website from the Illumos-Project they are ready to present the first Distribution based on the Illumos-Codebase (No, wait! The first one is Schillix 0.7.1i).

And I started to look after Alternatives for OpenSolaris and thought about a Migration to FreeBSD. But also I am still waiting for Oracle Solaris Express. I think I have to wait and see how good the Projects (Illumos and OpenIndiana) develop.

R.I.P. OpenSolaris

2010-08-14T02:34:00.000-07:00

There are various sources [1], [2], [3] where you can read what Oracle plans to do with Solaris. One sad thing:

"We will not release any other binary
distributions, such as nightly or bi-weekly builds of Solaris
binaries, or an OpenSolaris 2010.05 or later distribution."

So, OpenSolaris is dead. One good thing, maybe/hopefully:

"We will have a Solaris 11 binary distribution, called Solaris 11
Express, that will have a free developer RTU license, and an optional
support plan. Solaris 11 Express will debut by the end of this
calendar year, and we will issue updates to it, leading to the full
release of Solaris 11 in 2011."

And there is also Illumos, a Project which wants to replace all "Closed Binaries" with free Code (BSD/CDDL-License). You can read here [4] what one of their Project-Leaders thinks about Oracles move.

Sources:

[1] http://sstallion.blogspot.com/2010/08/opensolaris-is-dead.html

[2] http://opensolaris.org/jive/thread.jspa?threadID=133043

[3] http://www.cuddletech.com/blog/pivot/entry.php?id=1140

[4] http://gdamore.blogspot.com/2010/08/hand-may-be-forced.html

Illumos anyone?

2010-07-31T12:13:00.000-07:00

In one of my favourite Blogs regarding OpenSolaris, I found an interesting Article. I have no Idea what it is going to be (Ok, I have an Idea but I will keep it for myself ;-) ), but I will defenitly check it out on August, 3rd.

Hudson on OpenSolaris

2010-07-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

If you are a Java-Developer you might want do run a Continuous-Integration-Server on OpenSolaris. Fortunatly the Guys from Hudson provide a Pkg-Server for their Software.

So it is very simple to install it on an OpenSolaris-Server. Sidenote: It is one of the first 3rd-Party-Repositories I found so far.

Update to Build 134

2010-04-18T02:32:00.000-07:00

Recently I switched back to OpenSolaris from EON, because I wanted to run the Glassfish-Applicationserver. So I used an old CD with Dev-Build 130 to install OpenSolaris.

Since I now have a new Mobile-Internet-Contract (with HSPA) I decided to upgrade to the latest Build 134.

The "pkg image-update" ran for 2h. The only Issue I had after the Update was BUG 12380. I could not connect via putty from my Windows-Machine. But after using the Workaround in Comment 3 (adding "clone:ptmx 0666 root sys" to the File "/etc/minor_perm"), all was well.

OpenSolaris 2010.0x

2010-04-07T13:35:00.000-07:00

The Release of the next Version of OpenSolaris 2010.03 (26.03.2010) is delayed. Here are some Links to Discussions in OpenSolaris-Forums:

http://forums.opensolaris.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1775

http://opensolaris.org/jive/thread.jspa?threadID=126677&tstart=0

http://opensolaris.org/jive/thread.jspa?threadID=127306&tstart=0

Summary:

There are some Bugs which have to be fixed before the new Release (those from the last Forum-Thread). The Release should come with Build-Number 138.

For the general Question about Oracle supporting OpenSolaris read:

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/3867771/OpenSolaris-Alive-and-Well-at-Oracle.htm

http://www.pythian.com/news/10661/nobody-killed-opensolaris-stop-the-fud/

EON ZFS Storage

2010-02-06T01:27:00.000-08:00

Since I use my Solarisbox only as a Fileserver for my Windows-Notebook I decided to make the System simpler. I read about EON ZFS Storage earlier and decided to give it a chance.
Eon is a Distribution of Opensolaris wich can be installed on USB-Sticks. This was the Reason for me to use Eon, because I could get rid of my old System-Harddisk wich was:

pretty old
pretty noisy ;-)

I downloaded the Eon Image, burnt it to a CD and installed it to a 4GB USB-Stick. To install Eon, you just have to call:

#install

Yes, it's really that simple. More Information about the Installation-Process can be found here. If you configure the System for your needs, don't forget to save all Configurations by calling:

#updimg.sh

where

is given as an Example if you run the command without parameters.

Huawei ... "avoided"

2009-06-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

This time I didn't wanted to spent my Time on configuring my UMTS-USB-Modem and all the necessary Scripts to dial in. Instead I am just using the Internet-Connection (via UMTS-USB-Modem) of my Windows XP Notebook.
That's really simple to set up. Just right-click on the Dial-In-Connection and enable "Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)". This creates a Server (with DHCP-Service and the IP-Adress 192.168.0.1) behind an other Networkport (Ethernet or WLAN). Opensolaris will get all the necessary Data (IP-Adress, DNS and Defaultroute, etc.) automatically via NWAM.
But if you want to use SSH and/or VNC with your machine, you have to find out the IP-Adress. Since it gets its Adress from the DHCP-Service it will be always a different one. To find out the IP-Adress simply start the Command-Prompt on the Windows-Machine and type "arp -a". This shows the IP-Adress of the connected Machine (if there's only one Machine connected, like in my Case).

A new Shutdown Bug

2009-06-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

After installing Opensolaris 2009.06 and playing around a little bit, I wanted to re-activate my old CIFS-Share to backup my Windows Notebook with Sync Toy to the Share.
I installed the Packages, updated pam.conf, resetted the Password of the User and enabled sharing. All was fine and the Backup run smoothly.
But unfortounatly the Machine did not shutdown after work was done and I told it to do so. There was no Errormessage ... nothing, it just did nothing. Since I only added the CIFS-Stuff, I disabled the "smb/server" and tried to shut the Machine down. This time there was no Problem.
I found a discussion on opensolaris.org/cifs-discuss, but unfortounatly there is no Workaround or Fix (for 2009.06, the thread says the affected bugs are fixed in Build 114). So I wrote a simple Skript, wich disables the Server and shuts the Machine down.

Saying Hello to Solaris...

2009-06-20T08:53:00.000-07:00

...(again), this Time on my Fileserver. That machine was my old Desktop-Computer and now works as my Testlab for Testing Opensolaris and some Web-Application-Stuff. Since it is not connected to the Internet, I ordered an Opensolaris-CD to install the latest Version 2009.06.

Installation went smoothly and the "Shutdown-Bug" (see some Posts earlier) was also fixed. The only thing I did so far, was to enable Login via VNC and give the Machine a static IP-Adress (because my Network is only that Machine and my Notebook ;-) ).

For Installation I attached a Monitor and installed the NVIDIA-Driver for the Graphiccard to play around with Compiz a little. Unfortounatly the Windows don't have any Borders with Compiz enabled. But thats not a Problem, because I removed the Monitor after Installation and initial Configuration.

Saying Goodbye to Solaris ....

2009-05-24T02:06:00.000-07:00

... on my Notebook only, since I wanted to use all its Features (Fingerprint Reader, Suspend/Resume) and the ATI x1400 was only basically working (native Resolution of 1680x1050, but no Compiz).
Opensolaris is still running on my old Desktop-PC (now used as "Fileserver") and in VirutalBox on my Notebook, so its not really a Goodbye.
Let's see what 2009.06 will bring, I will defenitly check it out.

Update on compiling MPlayer

2009-04-13T02:49:00.000-07:00

I did an:

# gmake uninstall
$ gmake distclean
$ ./configure --prefix=/opt/mplayer --enable-gui
$ gmake
# gmake install

and now it is running. I also installed SUNWgroff. I am not sure why there were Errors about "MMX_EXT unknown in function gmc_mmx() " while compiling the first time. This time it was all OK.

(Also) Compiling MPlayer

2009-04-10T08:06:00.000-07:00

I tried to compile MPlayer by following this Post of the Observatory-Blog. Like some other People, I got some Errors. I try to collect the Actions and Workarounds here, that helped me to compile MPlayer.

As Enda O'Connor wrote in a Comment to the mentioned Blogpost, you have to install additional Packages. At least you need to install SUNWgawk. I recommend to check, if you have all needed Headers installed (like SUNWxorg-headers).

To make sure the GNU-Version of awk will be used while compiling, add it to your PATH-Variable:

$: export PATH=/usr/gnu/bin:$PATH

On my Machine (IBM z61m Noteboook) I had to disable MMX to compile:

$: ./configure --prefix=/opt/mplayer --enable-gui ~~--disable-mmx --disable-mmxext~~

Unfortunatly I could compile and install MPlayer whitout Errors, but if I start it I get the following Message:

Obviously something went totally wrong :-( I will try to compile (and configure) MPlayer again, and provide an Update if its running.

UPDATE: See next Blogpost. Disabling of MMX was not necessary!

It's shipping!!!

2009-02-14T01:35:00.000-08:00

Yeah!

Today I received the Shipping-Mail for my copy of the Opensolaris Bible. There are three Example-Chapters available for Download (Chapter 1, Chapter 3 and Chapter 8). And If you want to have a visual impression of the Book, just look here ;-)

Shutdown-Bug Workaround

2009-01-30T11:20:00.000-08:00

If you have installed Opensolaris 2008.11 and your Machine wont shut down, you're may hitting the Bug 4887 at defect.opensolaris.org. There is a Description of a Workaround in the Comments to this Bug (see here).
After applying these Changes my Laptop shuts down properly.

NWAM and static IP-Adress

2009-01-17T11:02:00.000-08:00

I wanted to give my Fileserver a static IP-Adress. While the GUI for NWAM was core-dumping when I tried to set up a static IP-Adress with it, I looked for other ways. The simpliest way is to change a Config-File of NWAM:

# svcadm disable nwam
# vi /etc/nwam/llp

change "bge0 dchp" to "bge0 static 192.168.1.1/24"

# svcadm enable nwam

And that's all.

Digging Deeper II: 2008.11 SysAdminGuide

2009-01-04T04:53:00.000-08:00

If you want to learn more about the last Opensolaris-Release (2008.11), you can read the "System Administration Guide" or download it.

It provides Information for the general use of Opensolaris:

Working from the Command Line (goto)
Configuring Thunderbird Mail Account Settings (goto)
Tips for the Opensolaris Release (goto)

And, of Course, Information for the Opensolaris-Killer-Features:

Managing Services (SMF) (goto)
Administering Automatic Network Connection (goto)
Managing ZFS/NFS/CIFS File Systems (goto)

Huawei e169 - Reloaded

2008-12-13T08:20:00.000-08:00

With help from Agus Priyadi I worked around the Bug that forced me to disable the 2nd Core of my Dual-Core Notebook. To make it easier for other People to find the necessary Information, I repeat his Tips:

1. Download the Patch:

host:# wget -c http://chototsumoushinp.dip.jp/solaris/usbser.tar.bz2

2. Untar the Patch:

host:# tar -jxvf usbser.tar.bz2

3. Backup existing Files:

host:# mkdir ~/backup
host:# cp /kernel/misc/usbser ~/backup/usbser.i386.orig
host:# cp /kernel/misc/amd64/usbser ~/backup/usbser.amd64.orig

4. Apply Patch:

host:# pfexec cp usbser/i386/usbser /kernel/misc/usbser
host:# pfexec cp usbser/amd64/usbser /kernel/misc/amd64/usbser
// change owner file
host:# pfexec chown root:sys /kernel/misc/usbser /kernel/misc/amd64/usbser

5. Reboot:

host:# reboot

And thats all!

SSH-Login and Nautilus sftp://

2008-11-13T06:08:00.000-08:00

I wanted to access my Fileserver with Nautilus by just typing "sftp://fileserver-ip/path", but I only got the Error-Message shown in the following Picture:

Because a Login via ssh and sftp on the Command Line took some Time between the Command and the Password-Prompt, I thought the Error-Message was caused by a Time-out. So I looked for something to speed up the Login.
What I found was:

Edit the File /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Append the Lines:
LookupClientHostnames no
VerifyReverseMapping no

Now I can use Nautilus to access my Fileserver, like I used to do with Konqueror and the fish://-Plugin.

Digging Deeper I: RBAC

2008-10-20T01:55:00.000-07:00

So Opensolaris is up and running on my Notebook, now it's Time to "look behind the Scenes". Every Post wich is called "Digging Deeper" will provide Information you our I won't actually need to solve a Problem, but is interesting to know and to understand the System.

First Thing I want to write about is RBAC (Role Based Access Control). This is the Opensolaris Way to handle User-Rights. Instead of having a Root-User who can perform all the Administration-Tasks, with Opensolaris you can give a User the Rights he needs to perform his Tasks. For Example a Web-Developer can administrate a Database, but doesn't have all the Priviliges he would have if he had used "su" or "sudo".

For further Information, there are other Blogs (Ben Rosewoods Blog) and of Course the Documentation by SUN (System Administration Guide [Chapter 17-19]), wich is as detailed as ever.

I have created a simple Java-Exampleproject with Netbeans, just to play around with the RBAC-Stuff. Right now, it only reads the File with the User-Attributes.

Replacing a Bootdisk without re-Install

2008-10-02T01:49:00.000-07:00

Jignesh K. Shah describes in this Post of his Blog how you can move the Bootdisk of an Opensolaris-System over to another Disk without reinstalling the OS. It is a really good Step-by-Step-Howto, so I won't repeat any Step here.

Huawei e169 USB UMTS GPRS Modem

2008-10-01T07:33:00.000-07:00

I have the Huawei e169 USB UMTS Modem and want to make it work under Opensolaris. In the Opensolaris.org-Forums I found two Threads [1, 2] about this Topic (just with other Hardware).
Problem with this Device is: If you plug it in, it first shows up as a Storage Device (wich contains the Driver-Software for WinXP). But if you connect it before you start your Engine, there's no Problem.
Before you can use the Modem, you have to associate it with the driver "usbsacm":

host:# update_drv -a -i 'usb12d1,1001' usbsacm
//NOTE: This is for the e169 ONLY, you have to
// replace the bold Numbers with those appropiate
// for your device
host:# devfsadm

You can test it easily with:

host:$ tip /dev/term/1
OK // output from tip
ati // input from you
Vendor-and-Product-Stuff // output from tip

Before you can dial-in, you have to create (or copy) several files located under /etc/ppp and /etc/ppp/peers. You can copy the isp-chat and the isp-Script from [1] and change it to your needs (dial-in-number, username, password, accesspoint; replace isp with the name of your Internet Service Provider).
If you have a Multiprocessor-System, then you have to disable all Cores except one. Otherwise the Connection will drop, when you start browsing the Internet with Firefox (BUG: 6719062)!

host:# psrinfo
// returns the cpus
host:# psradm -f
// this disables the cpu with that number
// with psradm -n you can enable the cpu

Now you can dial in:

host:$ pfexec pppd debug call isp

Right now, I am writing this with Opensolaris running.

Installing Java 6

2008-09-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

Download Java for Opensolaris here. Choose your Platform "Solaris x86" or "Solaris x64". Select the "*.sh"-File and download it. Copy the File to /opt (Note: You will need Root-Priveleges):

host:# cp jdk-6u7-solaris-i586.sh /opt/

Now you can simply run the Shellscript:

host:/opt# sh jdk-6u7-solaris-i586.sh

The Script shows you the License for the JDK, you have to type "yes" (or "no") and the Installtion will go on and complete after a while.

Of Course, with Opensolaris and a fast Internet Connection you can use the Image Packaging System (IPS). But I don't know wich Java-Version is in the Repository.

Sound for Opensolaris

2008-09-20T02:24:00.000-07:00

To enable Sound for my IBM z61m I had to install the OSS. The Installation was pretty easy. You can download a Package for Opensolaris and install it:

host:# pkgadd -d oss-solaris-v4.0-1016-i386.pkg

I just selected the Default Answers during install. Now it works and I can use the Fluendo-Plugin to listen to my mp3's.

MP3 Plugin

2008-09-19T14:38:00.001-07:00

If you want to listen mp3's on Opensolaris, you need the Codec for MP3. You can get it for free (just for Registration) from Fluendo-Webshop.
There is a good Install-Howto inside the Archive you will get from the Webshop.

Local DNS

2008-09-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

I wanted to get rid of typing the IP-Adress everytime I want to ssh to another PC in my LAN. Accidently I found this Solution (The Observatory - Local Hostname Resolution):

host:# cp /etc/nsswitch.conf /etc/nsswitch.conf.org
host:# cp /etc/nsswitch.dns /etc/nsswitch.conf
host:#
host:# svcadm enable /network/dns/multicast

Now you can use the Hostname and .local to ssh or whatever to a PC in your LAN.

$ ssh myhost.local

ZFS Root Mirror

2008-09-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

This is a simple Tutorial how you can create a bootable ZFS Root Mirror with Opensolaris. I had some help from both Opensolaris-Forums (com/org) and this Blog from Malachi.

And here we go with the Tutorial:

Making a bootable ZFS Root Mirror

1. Install Opensolaris to Disk A (c3d0s0).

2. Format Disk B (c3d1s0) properly:
host:# format
(choose fdisk)
(create 100% Standard Solaris Partition over the full Disk)

3. Overwrite the Diskformat properly:
host:# prtvtoc /dev/rdsk/c3d0s2 | fmthard -s - /dev/rdsk/c3d1s2
(NOTE: s2! on BOTH Disks)

4. Attach Disk B to the ZFS Root Pool:
host:# zpool attach -f rpool c3d0s0 c3d1s0

5. Install the GRUB-Stuff to Disk B:
host:# installgrub -m /boot/grub/stage1 /boot/grub/stage2 /dev/rdsk/c3d1s0

6. Test the worst Case: Disk A fails, you can still boot into Disk B
- Remove Disk A
- Replace it with an emtpy Disk C
- Start the System: Choose to boot from Disk B in the Bios
- Repeat Steps 2. till 5. for Disk C (swap c3d0s0 and c3d1s0)
- Start the System like before (from Disk C)