Preface

The Solaris^TM Transition Guide Update provides current information on topics documented in the Solaris Transition Guide. These books offer information for customers transitioning from SunOS^TM release 4 to SunOS releases 5.7 and 5.8.

The Solaris Transition Guide was originally delivered with the Solaris 7 operating environment to cover differences between SunOS release 4 and SunOS release 5.7. That guide is being re-delivered for Solaris 8 to correct minor technical flaws and problems in table formatting. The basic content of the guide remains unchanged as it relates to SunOS release 4 and SunOS release 5.7 differences.

The Solaris Transition Guide Update documents changes and enhancements to SunOS release 5.8 which possibly affect users, system administrators and developers transitioning from SunOS release 4. The update also provides references to Solaris documentation with current information on topics covered in the Solaris Transition Guide. Use the update with the Solaris Transition Guide to identify areas of functionality affected by changes made between SunOS release 4 and SunOS release 5.8.

The structure of the Solaris Transition Guide has been preserved in this update to enable easy comparison between the two books.

Who Should Use This Update

This update is for users, system administrators, and software developers who are making the transition from SunOS release 4 to a SunOS release 5.8 work environment.

What to Expect From This Update

The purpose of this update is to direct you to current information on topics covered in Solaris Transition Guide and to overview features added or changed for SunOS release 5.8. Because the Solaris Transition Guide Update is an overview that covers a wide range of topics, detailed information and procedures are not included. The update references the Solaris Transition Guide and other Solaris 8 documentation to consult for more information.

How This Update Is Organized

This guide is divided into 2 parts with 19 chapters.

Part 1: Transition Information for Users and System Administrators

You can use this part to find current information for users and system administrators on the transition from SunOS release 4 to a SunOS release 5.8 computing environment.

The part contains:

Chapter 1, Introduction references the Solaris Transition Guide on the benefits of migrating to the Solaris operating environment.
Chapter 2, Overview of Major Changes provides links to sections of the update with information on features added or enhanced in SunOS release 5.8.
Chapter 3, Converting a SunOS 4.x System to the Solaris 8 Environment includes references to current information on migrating from SunOS release 4 to a SunOS release 5.8 operating system.
Chapter 4, Using the Compatibility Packages briefly discusses the Source Compatibility Package and the Binary Compatibility Packages that enable you to use SunOS release 4 commands and applications during your migration.
Chapter 5, Security describes the major differences between SunOS release 4 and Solaris 8 security. The chapter also provides references to information that supersedes the Solaris Transition Guide.
Chapter 6, User Environment Administration provides udated information on the on setting up the local user environment after installing the Solaris 8 Operating Environment.
Chapter 7, Device Administration describes SunOS release 5.8 changes to device administration and provides updated references to information included in the Solaris Transition Guide.
Chapter 8, Startup and Shutdown describes changes to booting and shutting down a system.
Chapter 9, File System Administration explains changes to file systems, directories, and files. It also describes changes to file system administration.
Chapter 10, Setting Up a Solaris 8 Server to Support SunOS Release 4.x Diskless Clients provides current information on the SUNWhinst package used to add SunOS release 4 to a SunOS release 5 server.
Chapter 11, Managing Printers, Terminals, and Modems describes changes to printer Solaris 8 printer administration and provides updated references to information on serial port management.
Chapter 12, Network Service Administration outlines changes to the network services.
Chapter 13, Using Name Services provides updated information on NIS, NIS+ and the domain name system (DNS).
Chapter 14, Solaris Common Desktop Environment provides references Solaris documentation on CDE.

Part 2: Transition Information for Developers

You can use this part of the update to find current information for developers on transitioning from SunOS release 4 to a SunOS release 5.8 programming environment.

This part contains the following chapters:

Chapter 15, Compilers, Linkers, and Debuggers discusses which capabilities have been added to or removed from compilers, linkers, and debuggers.
Chapter 16, Tools and Resources discusses changes to tools and resources for the development environment including changes to ioctl() requests, ptrace() request values, libraries, and the make and SCCS facilities.
Chapter 17, Networking and Internationalization discusses Solaris 8 networking features as they relate to the programming environment. It also describes improved internationalization features.
Chapter 18, System and Device Configuration provides references to Solaris documentation on system and device configuration.
Chapter 19, Device Drivers and STREAMS provides references Solaris documentation on changes to device driver interfaces, the devinfo command, porting considerations, STREAMS, and the Solaris 8 driver architecture.

Related Books

For more information on the Solaris 8 operating environment, see the following documentation:

Solaris 8 Installation Collection
- Solaris 8 Advanced Installation Guide
- Solaris 8 (SPARC^TM Platform Edition) Installation Guide
- What's New in the Solaris 8 Operating Environment
Solaris 8 System Administrator Collection
Solaris 8 Software Developer Collection

Ordering Sun Documents

Fatbrain.com, an Internet professional bookstore, stocks select product documentation from Sun Microsystems, Inc.

For a list of documents and how to order them, visit the Sun Documentation Center on Fatbrain.com at http://www1.fatbrain.com/documentation/sun.

Accessing Sun Documentation Online

The docs.sun.com^SM Web site enables you to access Sun technical documentation online. You can browse the docs.sun.com archive or search for a specific book title or subject. The URL is http://docs.sun.com.

What Typographic Conventions Mean

The following table describes the typographic changes used in this book.

Table P-1 Typographic Conventions


Typeface or Symbol	Meaning	Example
`AaBbCc123`	The names of commands, files, and directories; on-screen computer output	Edit your `.login` file. Use `ls -a` to list all files. `machine_name% you have mail.`
`AaBbCc123`	What you type, contrasted with on-screen computer output	`machine_name%` `su` `Password:`
`AaBbCc123`	Command-line placeholder: replace with a real name or value	To delete a file, type `rm` `filename`.
AaBbCc123	Book titles, new words, or terms, or words to be emphasized.	Read Chapter 6 in User's Guide. These are called class options. You must be root to do this.

Shell Prompts in Command Examples

The following table shows the default system prompt and superuser prompt for the C shell, Bourne shell, and Korn shell.

Table P-2 Shell Prompts


Shell	Prompt
C shell prompt	`machine_name%`
C shell superuser prompt	`machine_name#`
Bourne shell and Korn shell prompt	`$`
Bourne shell and Korn shell superuser prompt	`#`

Getting Help from Sun Microsystems WWW Site

You can get additional Solaris transition information by accessing the following URL:

http://www.sun.com/smcc/solaris-migration/index.html

The Solaris Migration Initiative home page is a central point for the distribution of tools, documentation, and information to aid you in your transition from SunOS release 4.