In the Solaris operating environment, almost all network management information is stored in databases (tables or files). When you enter information through the Computers and Networks tool's dialog boxes, you are actually updating one or more of those databases.
Note: The databases referenced here exist on any Solaris machine that functions as a network management server. Solaris network management servers can support a specific list of client computers, managing one computer at a time, or can support entire NIS or NIS+ domains, managing multiple computers simultaneously.
Computers and Networks |
|
Table or File |
Description |
hosts |
Computer Descriptions -- Names, IP addresses, descriptions, and aliases for individual computers, routers, gateways, printers, scanners, or any similar host devices |
ethers |
Ethernet Addresses -- Names and Ethernet addresses of individual computers, routers, gateways, printers, scanners, or any similar host devices |
networks |
Network Descriptions -- Names, IP addresses, descriptions, and aliases for networks or subnetworks |
netmasks |
Netmask Values * -- Restrict valid IP addresses for computers on a given subnetwork. If you plan on creating subnetworks within a given network, then the network must have an entry in the netmasks table. |
* When defining netmask values, the number 255 means that the given segment of the IP addresses for computers on that subnetwork must exactly match the number used on the network for that same segment. The number 0 means that the segment can be any number from 0 to 255.
For example, a netmask of 255.255.0.0 means that IP addresses on the subnetwork must match the first two IP segments exactly, but can use any number in the last two segments. Any computer's IP address that does not match the netmask must use a gateway computer to connect to the network.
To continue with this example, in a network with an IP address of 130.155 and a netmask of 255.255.0.0, the IP addresses for all computers on that network must begin with 130.155, but can use any number from 0 to 255 for the last two segments of the IP address.