Oracle Solaris 11.2 System Administration Handbook (Oracle Press) summary

Comprehensive Guide to Oracle Solaris 11.2 System Administration

In Oracle Solaris 11.2 System Administration Handbook by Harry Foxwell, we are taken on a deep dive into the administration of Oracle Solaris 11.2, a Unix-based operating system. The book begins with an introduction to the new features of Oracle Solaris 11.2, such as Unified Archives, Automated Installer, and OpenStack. These features are designed to simplify system administration, reduce deployment time, and enhance security and compliance.

Harry Foxwell then proceeds to guide us through the installation process, covering both SPARC and x86 systems. He provides detailed instructions for the Automated Installer, which allows for the unattended installation of Oracle Solaris 11.2 across multiple systems. This is followed by a discussion on the packaging system, image packaging system (IPS), and the management of software packages.

Understanding Oracle Solaris 11.2 Virtualization

The next part of the book is dedicated to virtualization. Here, Harry Foxwell explores the concept of Oracle Solaris Zones, a lightweight virtualization technology, and provides a step-by-step guide for deploying and managing zones. He also covers the use of Kernel Zones, which offer full virtualization within Oracle Solaris, and the Oracle VM Server for SPARC, a hypervisor for SPARC-based systems.

The author then delves into networking, explaining how to configure and manage physical and virtual networks using the Oracle Solaris network stack. He discusses network interfaces, IPMP (IP Multipathing), and virtual networking with VNICs (Virtual Network Interfaces). Additionally, he covers the use of the Crossbow technology for resource management and quality of service (QoS) in network traffic.

Ensuring Security and Compliance

Security and compliance are critical aspects of system administration, and Harry Foxwell addresses these topics in detail. He explains the role of the Service Management Facility (SMF) in managing system services and introduces us to the concept of compliance reporting using the Automated Compliance Engine (ACE). The book also covers the use of cryptographic features in Oracle Solaris for data protection and secure communication.

Furthermore, the author introduces us to the Puppet configuration management tool, which can be used to automate system administration tasks. He explains how Puppet can be used to maintain system configuration consistency, deploy software, and enforce security policies across a large number of systems.

Cloud Computing with Oracle Solaris 11.2

In the final sections of the book, Harry Foxwell focuses on cloud computing with Oracle Solaris 11.2. He provides an overview of the OpenStack cloud management platform and explains its integration with Oracle Solaris. He discusses the components of OpenStack, such as Nova (compute), Cinder (block storage), and Neutron (networking), and how they can be used to build and manage private clouds.

In conclusion, Oracle Solaris 11.2 System Administration Handbook by Harry Foxwell is a comprehensive guide for system administrators, covering every aspect of Oracle Solaris 11.2 administration. The book offers a detailed exploration of the new features, virtualization, networking, security, compliance, and cloud computing, providing a solid foundation for managing Oracle Solaris 11.2 in enterprise environments.