System Concept
kernel: Collection of software tha manages the physical (devices) and logical (processes & memory) resources of the computer.
shell: Software module that provides the interface between the user and the kernel.
file system: Collection of files stored on a disk drive in a hierarchial structure.
· Identify the three most common shells in the Solaris environment
The three most common shells for use as command interpreters are the bourne shell (sh), the C shell (csh) and the Korn shell (ksh). The Bourne shell is the default.
Aliases No Yes Yes
Command line editing No Yes Yes
History capability/editing No Yes/Yes Yes/No
History execution No !n r n
Prompt* $ system $
name%
Repeat last command No !!
Initialization file:
- login .profile .login .profile
- shell startup No .cshrc user defined
· Distinguish between multitasking and multiuser
Multitasking: A processor can run more than one task
Multiuser: More than one user can run processes
· Describe the client-server relationship
Two entities (processes or systems) that cooperate to accomplish a task. A client requests a server to obtain access to information or perform some operation. The server provides the information or operation on behalf of the client. This architecture allows information or specific operations to be performed by a single entity on behalf of multiple clients. This simplifies the design of the client and provides data consistency by making a single entity (the server) responsible for the data.
· Define the following basic system terms: host, host name, network, IP (Internet Protocol) address, client, and server
host: A computer system that provides resources to locally and/or remotely logged in users.
hostname: A name assigned to a host.
network: A shared medium used by computers to communicate and exhange information.
IP (Internet Protocol): A unique 32-bit (4-byte or 4-octet) address assigned to a networked computer using the IP addressing scheme. Consists of four numbers from 0-255.
server: A computer system that is configured or designed to provide one or more services to other computers via the network.
client: A computer system that is configured or designed to interact with a user and to provide an interface to one or more services runnin on a server via the network.
THE BOOT PROM.
· Use OpenBoot PROM commands to identify basic system configuration information
OpenBoot is the firmware (stored in the boot Programmable Read-Only Memory or PROM) used to boot the operating system, run diagnostics, modify boot-related parameters stored in nonvolatile RAM (NVRAM), and provide a Forth interpreter. OpenBoot commands entered at the Forth Monitor or OpenBoot ok prompt:
For displaying System Config Data:
banner Display power-on banner
devalias Display all current device aliases
.enet-addr Display ethernet address
.idprom Display formatted ID PROM contents
module-info Display CPU speed (OpenBoot 2.x)
printenv Display current NVRAM parameters & default values
showdevs Lists installed devices
.speed Display CPU and bus speeds (OpenBoot 3.x)
.traps Display a list of SPARC trap types
.version Display version & date of the boot PROM
For Selecting Boot Devices:
boot cdrom Boots from local CD-ROM
boot disk Boots from default hard disk
boot floppy Foots from diskette drive
boot net Boots from the network
boot tape Boots from SCSI tape drive
Check on the following – not sure:
show-disks Lists device paths for installed SCSI disk controllers
show-displays Lists device paths for installed display devices
show-nets Lists device paths for installed ethernet controllers.
show-sbus Lists all installed & probed Sbus devices.
show-tapes Lists device paths for installed SCSI tape controllers.
show-ttys Lists device paths for installed tty devices.
· Use OpenBoot PROM commands to alter the system boot device
The default boot device can be changed using the setenv boot-device diskn command where n is the disk number, then using the reset command to save the new boot-device value.
· Use OpenBoot PROM commands to perform basic hardware testing
For Performing Hardware Testing:
pcia-list Test PCI
probe-scsi Tests built-in SCSI for connected devices
probe-scsi-all Tests all SCSI devices
test-all Tests a group of install devices
test floppy Tests diskette drive
test /memory Tests system memory
test net Tests the on-board Ethernet interface
watch-clock Monitors system clock
watch-net Monitors network connection
· Boot the system from more than one device
The system can be booted from a different boot device and/or program using boot device file options where device is cdrom, disk, floppy, net or tape; file is the name of the program and options are –a (interactive), -h (halt after loading), -s (single user mode).
· Create a custom device alias using nvalias
At the ok prompt: nvalias disk2 /sbus/esp/sd@2,0
This would create an alias called disk2 for the device /sbus/esp/sd@2,0
This would be stored in NVRAM and retained until changed.
Another method that creates the same alias which is lost after the system is rebooted:
At the ok prompt: devalias disk2 /sbus/esp/sd@2,0
· Remove a custom device alias using nvunalias
At the ok prompt: nvunalias disk2
· Use the Solaris eeprom command to modify EEPROM parameters
Format: eeprom parameter=value
Example: eeprom auto-boot?=false
· Use boot command options to observe system boot problems
At the ok prompt: setenv diag-switch? true
Initialization messages will be sent to tty serial port A rather than to file.
· Use keyboard commands to abort a hung system
stop + a
stop Bypasses the POST
stop + a Aborts the operating system or boot process
(Returns to OpenBoot ok prompt)
stop + d Enters diagnostic mode
stop + f Enters the Forth Monitor on TTYA
(instead of system console)
stop + n Resets NVRAM contents to default values