Summary of System Administration Differences

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Table A-1 on the next page summarizes the differences between the SPARC and x86 system administration tasks.

Table A-1

Category	SPARC	x86
System operation before kernel is loaded	A programmable read-only memory (PROM) chip with a monitor program runs diagnostics and displays device information. It is also used to program default boot parameters and test the devices connected to the system.	The basic input/output system (BIOS) runs diagnostics and displays device information. A Solaris boot diskette with a program called Multiple Device Boot (MDB) is used to boot from non-default boot partitions, the network, or CD-ROM.
Booting the system	Commands and options at the PROM level.	Commands and options at the MDB, primary, and secondary boot subsystems level.
Boot programs	bootblk - the primary boot program, loads ufsboot ufsboot - the secondary boot program loads the kernel	mboot - the master boot record, loads pboot pboot - the Solaris partition boot program, loads bootblk bootblk - the primary boot program, load ufsboot ufsboot - the secondary boot program, executes the /etc/bootrc script and loads the kernel
Reboot commands	The shutdown, init 6, or reboot commands can be used without additional operation intervention.	The shutdown, init 6, or reboot commands are used but requires operator intervention at the type any key to continue prompt.
Disk Controllers	SCSI, IPI, and Xylogics	SCSI and IDE
Disk slices and partitions	Maximum of eight slices, numbered 0-7.	Maximum of four fdisk partitions. The Solaris fdisk partition may contain up to ten slices, numbered 0-9, but only 0- 7 can be used to store user data.
Diskette drives	Desktop systems usually contain one 3.5-inch diskette drive.	Systems may contain two diskette drives: a 3.5-inch and a 5.25 inch drive.