The Solaris 2.5 Software Environment

Solaris 2.5 is a 32-bit operating environment that provides users and system administrators with the following:

• SPARC^(TM), x86, and PowerPC^(TM) system cross-functional compatibility enabling the Solaris 2.5 operating system to run on SPARC as well as Intel 386, 486, Pentium^(TM), and PowerPC hardware
• Industry standards: UNIX System V Release 4 (SVR4) and the ONC family of networking protocols
• OpenWindows^TM 3.5 graphical user interface (GUI) in the OPEN LOOK^TM Window Manager and DeskSet^TM environment or the Common Desktop Environment^TM (CDE) 1.0.1 Motif-based GUI

The Solaris 2.5 software environment provides an extensible operating system that is scalable across a wide variety of system configurations: from single standalone systems to enterprise-wide computing environments that run multiple file- and database-servers supporting hundreds, even thousands, of networked systems. This scalability allows you to add servers, systems, software tools, networking, and other features to your system as you need them. From a single system, it is possible to build a full enterprise-wide computing solution.

The Solaris 2.5 software environment is shipped on CDs (compact discs) for SPARC systems. For x86 and PowerPC systems there are both CDs and a boot diskette.

The Solaris 2.5 Products

Solaris 2.5 consists of many related products. These products are licensed as described below. See your specific license for your purchases. Use any of these products to extend and enhance your use of the Solaris 2.5 software environment. These come as separate products for SPARC, x86, or PowerPC systems.

• Solaris 2.5 Desktop--Used to install, configure, and run single-user systems or clients on a network.
• Solaris 2.5 Workgroup Server Light--Used to install, configure, and run the Solaris 2.5 operating environment on a small to mid-range server, serving a small workgroup of networked client systems; includes licensing for a single system.
• Solaris 2.5 Workgroup Server--Used to install, configure, and run the Solaris 2.5 operating environment on a small to mid-range server, serving a small workgroup of networked client systems. Includes additional system administration, networking, on-line tools, and licensing for up to 4 CPU systems.
• Solaris 2.5 Enterprise Server--Used to install, configure, and run the Solaris 2.5 operating environment on large, enterprise-wide server systems that require critical maintenance of databases, file servers, and multi-user applications. Supports multiple CPUs, large numbers of users, and many network nodes. Allows licensing for up to 32 CPU systems.

Other products may be purchased separately, such as

• The Solaris 2.5 Software Developer Kit (SDK)--Provides the software tools, documentation, training, and support needed to develop software applications for the Solaris 2.5 operating environment.
• The Solaris 2.5 Driver Developer Kit (DDK)--Provides the software tools, documentation, training, and support needed to develop device drivers and graphics device handlers for the Solaris 2.5 operating environment

Differences Between SPARC, x86, and PowerPC Systems

Solaris 2.5 software runs on SPARC, x86, and PowerPC systems. In most cases the differences between these environments are minimal. However, a few differences do exist.

x86: Differences

• Many x86 peripherals require manual hardware and software configuration. In general, the variety of hardware is greater with x86, including pointing devices and display devices.
• X86 keyboards do not have meta or L-keys; key sequences are used to provide the same functions.
• X86 systems require a boot diskette (in addition to a local or remote CD-ROM drive) to install.
• Machines that use OpenBoot or OpenFirmware allow the user to specify the boot device, boot file, and options from the command line. X86 platforms use an enhanced secondary boot program containing a command line interpreter to allow boot file and options to be specified.
• X86 hard disks have standard PC fdisk partitioning as well as standard Sun label partitioning.

PowerPC: Differences

• PowerPC keyboards do not have meta or L-keys; key sequences are used to provide the same functions.
• PowerPC systems require a boot diskette to install (in addition to a local or remote CD-ROM drive).
• PowerPC hard disks have standard PC fdisk partitioning as well as standard Sun label partitioning.