Glossary

This glossary defines terms and concepts related to software sharing.

Click letter for quick access: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

B

BIND

The Berkeley Internet Name Domain. A distributed database lookup service that allows you to distribute the hosts database network-wide.

boot command

The boot command performs the initial installation and bootstrap of the operating system. You invoke the boot utility from the >>> console prompt. Refer to your hardware documentation for information about valid parameters for the boot utility on your system.

C

CDF

Configuration description file. There are two kinds of CDFs:

• An installation CDF (install.cdf) contains the results of the questions answered during the installation and is stored in the /var/adm/smlogs directory. You can copy and modify this file to use for Installation Cloning.

• A configuration CDF (config.cdf) contains network, internet, printer, and mail configuration information that save from a fully installed and configured system with the sysman -clone -save command. This file can be applied to a target system during a Full Installation, or it can be applied manually to a running system.

CDSL

A context-dependent symbolic link (CDSL) is a special form of symbolic link that dynamically resolves to a member-specific file, depending upon the cluster member accessing the file. CDSLs make it possible to maintain system-specific configuration and data files on file systems shared by the cluster.

See also cluster, cluster member, member-specific file, shared file

client

A computer system that uses resources provided by another computer, called a server.

See also server

client area

In DMS, an area containing a single client's custom-tailored root files including the operating system kernel.

cluster

A loosely-coupled collection of servers that share storage and other resources, providing high availability of applications and data. A cluster consists of communications media, member systems, peripheral devices, and applications. One system can form a single-member cluster.

See also cluster member

cluster alias

An IP address used to address all or a subset of the cluster members. A cluster alias makes some or all of the systems in a cluster look like a single system when viewed from outside the cluster.

See also cluster, cluster member

cluster member

A system configured with TruCluster software that is capable of joining a cluster. A cluster member must be connected physically to a private physical bus for intracluster communications and at least one shared SCSI bus.

See also cluster

configuration description file

See CDF

context-dependent symbolic link

See CDSL

D

Dataless Management Services

See DMS

DHCP

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. Enables the automatic assignment of an IP address to clients on networks from a pool of addresses. The IP address assignment and configuration occurs automatically whenever appropriate client systems (workstations and portable computers) attach to a network. The current implementation of DHCP is based on the JOIN product by Competitive Automation.

DMS

Dataless Management Services. A service where a server maintains the root, /usr, and /var file systems for client computer systems connected to the server by a local area network (LAN).

DMS area

A reserved disk area physically connected to a DMS server, which contains multiple copies of the root area, one for each DMS client.

DMS client

A computer system whose system disk area is physically connected to a DMS server rather than to the client itself, and is accessed across the network by the client.

DMS client area

A DMS client area resides in each DMS area and is called /clients. Multiple copies of the root area reside in the client area, each tailored from the appropriate generic root for an individual client.

DMS environment

A portion of a DMS area, containing software to support one or more clients. A DMS environment contains one or more DMS root areas. DMS environments are located in /var/adm/dms.

DMS root area

One root area is required for each client that is to be supported in the DMS environment. DMS root areas are located in /var/adm/dms/dmsN.alpha. Each root area contains a generic root directory and a shared /usr file system.

DMS server

A computer system that maintains the root, /usr, and /var file systems for DMS client systems. The DMS servers can contain multiple DMS environments to which clients are added. DMS clients are booted over a local area network (LAN). Swapping and dumping is not supported over the network and must be done on the clients' local disks.

dmu

Dataless management utility, located at /usr/sbin/dmu. A text-based interface used to manage the sharing of installed operating software between DMS servers and clients. The dmu utility allows users to install, configure, show, and delete DMS environments and add, list, modify, and remove DMS clients.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol

See DHCP

G

generic root

In DMS, a portion of the DMS environment that contains system software in a generic form, ready to be copied for tailoring to fit an individual client's requirements.

H

hardware product

A hardware product includes kernel modules to support hardware devices. A hardware product kit, such as a device driver, can be installed during the initial installation.

With bootlinking, a method to include kernel modules during the boot process, the device driver can be loaded and the device used during the device installation process.

See also NHD

K

kit

A kit is a collection of files and directories that represent one or more layered products. It is the standard mechanism by which layered product modifications are delivered and maintained on the operating system.

See also layered product

L

layered product

A layered product is an optional software product designed to be installed as an added feature of the operating system.

M

member-specific file

A file used by a specific cluster member. The contents of a member-specific file differ for each cluster member, and each member has its own copy of a member-specific file.

See also cluster, cluster member, shared file

N

Network File System

See NFS

new hardware delivery

See NHD

NFS

Network File System, an open operating system that allows all network users to access shared files stored on computers of different types. Users can manipulate shared files as if they were stored locally on the user's own hard disk.

NHD

New hardware distribution (NHD) provides delivery of support for new hardware without providing a new release of the operating system, and can be offered on a regular basis. The kit is usually provided on CD-ROM, and includes installation and testing instructions.

See also hardware product

NIS

Network Information Service. A distributed data lookup service for sharing information on a local area network (LAN). NIS allows you to coordinate the distribution of database information throughout your networked environment.

new file

In DMS, refers to files that are exactly as supplied in the software distribution kit and have not been customized. These files are used by the Update Installation process and allow the files to be delivered onto the system without overwriting the existing, and possibly customized version of the file. New files have a .new. prefix, and should never be modified.

See also prototype file

P

private area

In DMS, a portion of the DMS area that is reserved for the exclusive use of a single client. The private area contains the client's custom-tailored copy of certain operating system software files, including the kernel.

product environment

In RIS, a portion of the RIS area containing a set of software kits that are intended for installation on a particular client type, such as RISC processors.

product kit

See kit

profile set

A profile set is a subdirectory of the /var/adm/ris/clients/sets directory on a RIS server. It contains configuration description files (CDFs) and user-supplied files that can be invoked during a Full Installation and used for Installation Cloning. When you register a RIS client for a RIS area, you can specify a profile set that contains CDFs and user-supplied files that you want to execute when you install software from the RIS area.

See also CDF

prototype file

In DMS, refers to files that can be modified by the server's system administrator so that they can be customized for a particular client site, such as /etc/hosts entries. Prototype files are prefixed with .proto.. and can be customized before the DMS environment is configured.

See also new file

R

Remote Installation Services

See RIS

RIS

Remote Installation Services. A remote software distribution method where a server is set up to allow installation of software products over a local area network (LAN). RIS clients are registered on the RIS server to allow them access to specific software products. Using a RIS server makes installation of layered products faster and easier for all the clients on the network.

RIS area

A reserved disk area physically connected to a RIS server, containing one or more product environments. These contain software kits that can be installed on registered clients. Kits are organized so that a software product can supply several different versions for multiple hardware platforms.

RIS client

A computer system that has permission to install software across the network by accessing kits stored in the server's RIS area.

RIS server

A computer system that serves other computers by providing operating system software for them to install; the software is stored on disks belonging to the server and is accessed across the network by the clients.

ris

Remote Installation Services utility, located at /usr/sbin/ris. A text-based interface used to set up the RIS server and maintain RIS areas, the software products within the RIS areas, and RIS client registrations.

S

server

A computer system that serves one or more other computers, called clients, by providing resources to them.

See also client

shared file

A file used by all members of a cluster. There is only one copy of a shared file.

See also cluster, cluster member, member-specific file

software kit

See kit

subset

The smallest installable software kit module that is compatible with the operating system's setld software installation utility. It contains files of any type, usually related in some way.

T

TFTP

Trivial File Transfer Protocol. TFTP is used during the RIS startup procedure to transfer the network kernel and supporting files from the RIS server to the RIS client. For more information on TFTP, refer to the tftp(1) and tftpd(8) reference pages.

U

user-supplied file

User-supplied files are a way to extend and customize the installation process, and can contain scripts, executables, or programs. The Full Installation and Update Installation processes execute user-supplied files at predetermined points during the installation.

User-installed files may include some or all of the preinstall, update_preinstall, postload, update_postload, and postreboot files.