The OpenSolaris Thread

[phiber]

I have decided to try out OpenSolaris at home on a spare box. Before I started, I wanted to see the views of some users on this forum. I haven't found a thread here, so I decided to start one. If there is one already, please point me in the right direction.

I will probably only get down to installing this on the weekend, or next week. Been mainly looking for a nice server to stream to my PS3. Since the main app I use is PS3 media server (Java) and since Azures is also Java I think it should handle quite well.

Also been looking at trying out some J2EE and will be able to use this as my server.

Anyone have any thoughts/experience with OpenSolaris ?

EDIT: This is not exactly Linux, but I didn't know where else to put it. Please move if necessary.

 

[milomak]

Nah it can stay here. After all even LinuxQuestions.org has a section for it.

I have a partition setup to install it. Once I get off my lazy ass I will post my experiences.

Though not necessary for me, I womder if there is a local mirror for its repos.

 

[phiber]

Hmmm, didn't even think about that. On uncapped, but I just took a look. Came across this, looks promising.

ftp://ftp.saix.net/pub/solaris-freeware/

 

[milomak]

also on uncapped. but i do find that you are almost always guaranteed full line speeds from local repos. while some offshore servers that is not the case.

 

[ponder]

You should be able to get the open solaris dvd's from SUN for free. I got mine from them a while back so it's not the latest version I suppose.

https://oscd.sun.com/
http://get.opensolaris.org/

 

[milomak]

good shot for those not on uncapped

 

[spiderz]

If your looking at opensolaris, take a look a raidz & zfs.

 

[Nod]

ZFS is really nice, and also work ons Linux (package name is zfs-fuse).
Zones is another thing to look at.

Do create a mirror filesystem with ZFS you would simply do the following two commands:

zpool create data mirror c1t1d0 c1t2d0 ...
zfs create data/mysql

Your new mirrored path will then be /data/mysql.
You can also set the mountpoint with the following:

zfs set mountpoint=/other/dir data/mysql

No more config files to edit

 

[shadow_man]

I am looking at converting a home box too. Looking at installing it as I am going to do my SCSA Solaris admin exams sometime soon.

J

I have decided to try out OpenSolaris at home on a spare box. Before I started, I wanted to see the views of some users on this forum. I haven't found a thread here, so I decided to start one. If there is one already, please point me in the right direction.

I will probably only get down to installing this on the weekend, or next week. Been mainly looking for a nice server to stream to my PS3. Since the main app I use is PS3 media server (Java) and since Azures is also Java I think it should handle quite well.

Also been looking at trying out some J2EE and will be able to use this as my server.

Anyone have any thoughts/experience with OpenSolaris ?

EDIT: This is not exactly Linux, but I didn't know where else to put it. Please move if necessary.

 

[adrianx]

I've installed OpenSolaris and so far so good.

Unfortunately, Firefox is still at 3.1 Beta 3 and the AdBlock extension seems to kill Firefox. That's easily fixed by deleting ~/.mozilla, but then you lose all your settings and you still don't have AdBlock Plus.

I have managed to add the "extra" repository and install ttf-fonts-core, so my browser fonts look (MS) "normal".

Anyway, thanks to the OP for starting this thread. Now I know exactly what I'm going to do with what is left over of my 10GB WebAfrica trial account....

EDIT: Wait a second.... I've just discovered "Update All". Hmmm, let's see what happens...

 

[phiber]

Anyway, thanks to the OP for starting this thread. Now I know exactly what I'm going to do with what is left over of my 10GB WebAfrica trial account....

No problem. I finish download OpenSolaris, can't seem to find a spare hard disk to install it on. Try pick one up on Sunday, then give this a proper crack next week.

If your looking at opensolaris, take a look a raidz & zfs.

Quickly took a look at Raid-Z and ZFS. Once I run a few tests on a box, i will switch my C2D onto this, and setup ZFS. Sounds awesome. From what I understand Raid-Z users ZFS to prevent corruption of data if the parity doesn't get written. Am i correct there? I don't want to think I am setting up one thing, and actually setting up something else. I actually loose power quite often (eskom) and therefore this might be very useful (I currently do not have raid, but consider getting an array of 4 1.5tb drives in a couple of months).

Thanks for all the responses, I though I might be flogging a dead horse here. Glad so many people are interested.

I hear OpenSolaris performs really well on the Intel Xeon chips as well, might be a good choice OS for a server

 

[MidnightWizard]

IS-FTP

I seem to remember seeing it at ftp.is.co.za
and / or
ftp.sun.ac.za

I do have the Free DVD from SUN ( Version 10 )

but

also need to get off my lazy @rse and get it going.

SO much to do SO much to learn SO little time


MW

 

[phiber]

So i finally got around to installing this. Got VNC setup as well. Installed the java ps3 media server, and that works quite well too. Now i need mencoder. Anyone got any idea how i can go about getting menconder/installing mplayer(i assume this will install menconder).

 

[Sackboy]

I've heard FF is now released?

 

[adrianx]

I've heard FF is now released?

You've heard wrong.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Sorry, resurrecting this post, but had to say how pleased I was when I installed OpenSolaris 2009.06. By far the best out-the-box implementation of gnome I've seen. Everything has its place and there are no rough edges like in Ubuntu. Only problems are:

1. I'll have to learn a whole lot of new unix commands
2. The media codecs aren't open source and you have to pay for them (only mp3 codec is free).

But I think when I do a small fileserver again I'll definitely look at using OpenSolaris.