Solaris

Hello Everybody,

I am a mid-level Linux administrator trying to get a hold of Solaris. So far, my experience has been painful.

I think it's confusing and it's just a big mess...

To be more specific, I have noticed that whenever I install a package... it never followed a specific pattern. I could install a package and I won't know if it will be installed under /opt, /usr/local, etc... and the configuration of these services is even more complicated.

Also, services could run under svcs, or executed directly as a script...

Does it really need to be this complicated? Is there an easier way to learn Solaris? and why do some people prefer such a complicated and unstable system like Solaris?

Moderator's Comments:

The negative comment above about Solaris is against forum rules (and incorrect) - Addressed below.

I think you need to allow yourself some time to get to know Solaris. It is different than what you are used to. Like with any new situation, things that are not as expected get noticed first. Things that are better will take time to discover. It takes time before a clear and balanced picture remains. I do not think Solaris is "unstable".

I think Solaris is different to any Unix I have used before. It can seem overly complicated, and unnecessarily convoluted at times, compared to what you might have used before.

But I've never heard it described as "unstable" before. It's likely the most stable operating system ever created. Assuming you know how to handle it, that is!

I think "linux is better than <any OS>"potentially is a kinda trolling topic...

But here is a usefull link to help you to find the equivalence for a same command on different Unix system (if you know linux command and want to find the equivalent solaris one : UNIXguide.net ( AIX, FreeBSD, HP-UX, LINUX, SOLARIS & Tru64)

I certainly can be confusing but "a big mess" probably means you missed how SVR4 packaging and service administration are managed under Solaris.
Solaris has standards defining where files should go but that's up to the package creator to follow them. Unfortunately, not all of them do it and precisely /usr/local is a wrong directory for packages installation. You cannot blame the OS for things it doesn't control. In any case, you can query a package to know where the files it contains are located, and that must not necessarily be under a single directory, the recommended way would be different top directories for different use of files. Solaris 10 introduced five years ago a new model for service management with which you manage and monitor services with just three commands (svcs, svcadm and svcprop). Here again, external contributors do not necessarily comply with this standard and still use the now legacy rc scripts. Yes and hopefully, for compatibility reasons, legacy scripts are still supported. Every transition introduce some form of complexity. One could equally ask: does Gnu/Linux package management need to be this fragmented and incompatible between distributions ? Easier than what ? Hmm, please refrain from trolling. Solaris 10 and older might have had complex ways of doing things but as already commented, stability is certainly one of Solaris strengths.