Solaris

Solaris pointers

This page includes a a few pointers for the Solaris operating system.

Open source packages for Solaris

Packages do not always install in the same way. It's probably best to work with only one of these friendly providers ...

• Sunfreeware.com. Read the Download and Installation Instructions first. This archive is the one we are using at TECFA mostly.
  • Solaris Freeware (FTP at the Swiss Switch mirror).
  • HTTP at the Swiss Switch mirror
  • Packages install mostly in /usr/local and /usr/local/bin should be in the path.

• Solaris Package Archive. Read the Readme file for more information.
  • Mirror at Switch (Switzerland)

• Open Source Software for Solaris (Blastwave). See the HowTo file

How to use the packaging system

1. Gunzip the file
2. Become root
3. Type:

pkgadd -d <filename> E.g. pkgadd libpng-1.2.32-sol10-sparc-local

There can only be one version of a package. This means that you may have to remove old ones:

• Find it first. pkadd will tell you the name.

The following packages are available:
1  SMClibpng     libpng
(sparc) 1.2.32

• Else, you can find a package that is installed by typing:

pkginfo | grep <part_of_the_package_name>

• Then think hard if you could damage something by removing it. E.g. look at details first:

pkginfo -l SMClibpng
PKGINST:  SMClibpng
NAME:  libpng
CATEGORY:  application
ARCH:  sparc
VERSION:  1.2.12
.....

• Then remove it

pkgrm <packagename> E.g. pkgrm SMClibpng

HELP

• SunSolve The "official" knowledge destination for troubleshooting advice & best practices. It has the official handbooks.
  • solaris 10 docs
• Bolthole.com is a mix of Solaris info, Java programming, and other techie tips
• sunhelp.org Independent news, reviews, and reference information for users of Sun Microsystems' hardware and software products
• Unix System Administration Independent Learning (last updated 2006)

Specialized topics

(such stuff might be moved to a generic Unix page some day ...)

• The Unofficial Samba HOWTO by David Lechnyr.
• Window Managers for X
• imake-Related Software and Documentation