Preface

This guide describes the Alternate Pathing (AP) software that runs on the Sun^TM Enterprise^TM server product line. Some AP features apply only to the Sun Enterprise 10000 server; these features are noted throughout this guide.

Before You Read This Book

This manual is intended for the Sun Enterprise system administrator, who should have a working knowledge of UNIX® systems, particularly those based on the Solaris^TM operating environment. If you do not have such knowledge, you should first read the Solaris User and System Administrator AnswerBook2^TM documentation provided with this system, and consider UNIX system administration training.

How This Book Is Organized

This document contains the following chapters:

Chapter 1, Introduction to Alternate Pathing introduces AP.

Chapter 2, Alternate Pathing Database covers the AP database operations.

Chapter 3, Using Metadisks and Disk Pathgroups describes metadisks and disk pathgroups, and explains how to use them.

Chapter 4, Using AP Boot Devices covers unattended system boot issues.

Chapter 5, Using Metanetworks and Network Pathgroups describes meta-networks and network pathgroups, and explains how to use them.

Chapter 6, Interaction Between AP and DR describes how Dynamic Reconfiguration (DR) and AP work together.

Appendix A, AP Commands provides a list of all AP commands.

Appendix B, AP Components provides an overview of the underlying AP architecture.

Appendix C, Driver Layers provides an overview of the underlying AP drivers.

Using UNIX Commands

This document does not contain information on basic UNIX commands and procedures such as shutting down the system, booting the system, and configuring devices.

See one or more of the following for this information:

• AnswerBook2 online documentation for the Solaris(TM) 2.x software environment, particularly those dealing with Solaris system administration.

• Other software documentation that you received with your system

Typographic Conventions

Table P-1 Typographic Conventions

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

Shell Prompts

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

Related Documentation

Application	Title	Part Number
AP 2.0.1 Installation and Release Notes	Sun Enterprise Server Alternate Pathing 2.0.1 Installation Guide and Release Notes	805-7644-10
Reference (man pages)	Sun Enterprise Server Alternate Pathing 2.0.1 Reference Manual	xxx-xxxx-10
Other Release Notes	Release Notes Supplement Solaris 7 5/99 Platform Notes: Sun Enterprise 6x00, 5x00, 4x00, 3x00 Systems	xxx-xxxx-10
Other	Sun Enterprise 6x00, 5x00, 4x00, 3x00 Dynamic Reconfiguration User's Guide Sun Enterprise 10000 Dynamic Reconfiguration User's Guide Sun Enterprise 10000 Dynamic Reconfiguration Reference Manual	806-0280-10    805-7985-10    805-7986-10

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