Solaris <-> Linux

3p0ch · 01-02-2005, 01:22 PM

What is the difference between linux and solaris..

I have access to some installation cds of solaris, and i would like to know if there is some point in me trying to install solaris..

( i already have a linux distro )

acid_kewpie · 01-02-2005, 02:06 PM

well they are just totally independent implementations of the UNIX specifications. they work somewhat differently underneath it all, and are usually classed as distinctly different skills on a CV...

3p0ch · 01-02-2005, 02:11 PM

Do you thing i should try them?

Is there much software around, or is it some sort of "build your on software, we just provide the OS" ?

whansard · 01-02-2005, 02:20 PM

Everytime i've installed solaris, it funked up my partition table where my other os's wouldn't boot until i hand edited my partition table in expert mode to put it back the way it was. The solaris boot manager will still boot the stuff though, the way it is. If you're already sharp with unix and such, solaris has some tools that other things don't. Linux supports a lot more weird hardware. Like some winmodems. I have a solaris 10 beta on my machine, but i still use a lucent modem, so i can't go online with it in solaris.
If you have a seperate hard drive to install it on, give it a shot. And try the BSD's too.

Most solaris software can be gotten at a few solaris sites pre-compiled.

3p0ch · 01-02-2005, 02:24 PM

Thank you very much, with the first chance, if i get another PC, ill give them a shot..

itsjustme · 01-02-2005, 03:07 PM

Some fun stuff to consider when using Solaris:

slices instead of partitions
Instead of something like /dev/hda1 you get something like:
/dev/dsk/c0t0d0s1

vfstab instead of fstab

/export/home instead of /home

Lots of differences... along with a lot of similarities.

etc...

jlliagre · 01-03-2005, 02:35 AM

Quote:

slices instead of partitions

It is not instead, but in addition:
Solaris has partitions (p1, p2, p3 and p4) and one of the partition has slices (s0, s1, ...), a concept pretty similar to extended partitions.
BTW, this is not specific to solaris but shared with BSD (ufs), with a differing device naming though.

itsjustme · 01-03-2005, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jlliagre
It is not instead, but in addition:
Solaris has partitions (p1, p2, p3 and p4) and one of the partition has slices (s0, s1, ...), a concept pretty similar to extended partitions.

Ah... I reckon I was being a bit general, however, the c0t0d0s1 thing was the fun part.

jlliagre · 01-03-2005, 12:11 PM

Actually, /dev/dsk/c0t0d0s1 is a simplified name of the real thing that is something like

/devices/pci@1f,0/pci@1,1/ide@3/dad@0,0:b or /devices/pci@8,700000/scsi@1/sd@6,0:b