Part I: The System Manager

Chapter 1. Job Description

T HIS BOOK IS CONCERNED WITH THE TASK OF SYSTEM management, particularly with reference to systems running the Solaris operating environment. It should be noted that the majority of the principles discussed in the ensuing chapters are applicable to most computer platforms, not just Solaris. Any examples shown here, however, relate to the Solaris platform only. This chapter provides a gentle introduction to system management and, more specifically , to the job of the system manager.

What Is a System Manager?

The designation system manager refers to a role, not necessarily to a specific job title, even though "system manager" is itself a valid title and is used for convenience and consistency within this text. As with many other jobs, the titles can vary enormously, so the title of "system manager" could be taken as synonomous with "IT manager," "IS manager," or "senior system administrator."

The Solaris Operating Environment

Solaris is the name for the UNIX-based operating environment provided by Sun Microsystems. It is often referred to as the Solaris operating system , which is not entirely accurate ”the operating system, SunOS , is a component of Solaris , not the whole thing.

This book will be looking primarily at Solaris 7 , although it may occasionally make reference to new features becoming available with Solaris 8 . The components of Solaris 7 are listed here:

• SunOS 5.7 ”The operating system itself. SunOS comprises a number of packages that manage the system resources and provide network connectivity. The SunOS kernel (as of Solaris 2.0) is based on AT&T's system V release 4 kernel, although it contains a number of additions. Previous versions of SunOS were based on the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD) kernel.

• OpenWindows 3.6.1 ”Sun's own graphical user interface (GUI) based on AT&T's OpenLook functional specification.

• OpenWindows Deskset Tools ”A collection of desktop tools that supplements the OpenWindows software . It provides added functionality to the windowing environment in a standard look and feel, such as a mail tool for receiving and composing email, a desktop calculator, an electronic calendar, and an audio tool (for playing audio files), to name a few.

• Common Desktop Environment (CDE) 1.3 ”CDE comprises a windowing environment and a collection of desktop tools similar to those found with openwindows. CDE however, is based on the Motif specification and can be found on many other UNIX vendors' operating environments. It was adopted as the recognized standard for the look and feel of graphical applications at the time (about 1992) by the major UNIX vendors . Recently the standards have begun to shift with Netscape-based interfaces appearing on the market. Additionally, Linux now ships a graphical interface called the K Desktop Environment, or KDE, containing an integrated HTML display ”Motif came closest to becoming a defined standard. Figure 1.1 shows the standard CDE desktop.

  Figure 1.1. The CDE desktop, as it appears the first time it is run.

  

• Solaris Documentation Set ”This includes the Answerbook 2 server software and documentation sets for users, system administrators, and developers.

This list details the core release of Solaris 7 , the operating system itself, a choice of two windowing environments with associated deskset tools, and a set of online documentation. This constitutes what is known as the "Desktop Edition" for users just wanting to run the Solaris operating environment on the workstation. The Server Edition of Solaris 7 includes additional software such as Solstice Adminsuite, Disksuite, Backup, and AutoClient. These extra software packages allow server administration and management duties to be performed, something that would not normally be required for a desktop user. If the extra functionality is required, then the server version of the operating environment must be purchased.

Solaris 8 , on the other hand, has begun shipping more software with the distribution, such as Oracle 8i , a full enterprise version and a selection of iplanet software. It also includes a CD containing freeware, such as gcc ”a freeware C complier ”among others.

Warning

The Oracle software, (and some others), is distributed as a noncommercial offering ”that is, it cannot be deployed in a production environment. It is provided for evaluation and demonstration purposes. System managers should be aware of this distinction before allowing it to be installed.