How close are Solaris x86 and Solaris Sparc versions?

Michael Farace

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Jul 30, 1996, 3:00:00 AM7/30/96

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I am getting ready to buy Solaris x86 2.5.1 Desktop, but would like some
feedback first.

My goal is that since I don't have an extra Sparc to test with, I could
setup Solaris x86 2.5.1 to learn the differences between SunOS 4.1.3
and Solaris x86 from an Administrative standpoint.

Things I want to test are DNS, NIS/NIS +, NFS Client/Server mounts,
UUCP, PPP, sendmail configs, using Solaris as a router, and things of
this nature. I know SunOS 4.1.3 very well, and have done most of the
above on it, but need the practice on Solaris.

So will Solaris x86 2.5.1 do the trick, or should I go buy a used Sparc
1+ with lots of 30 pins simms and put Solaris on that?

Any and all input is greatly appreciated!

Michael Farace
Edge Information Systems
(408) 433-4453
mfa...@edgeis.com
mfa...@interramp.com

Norm Young

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Jul 31, 1996, 3:00:00 AM7/31/96

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In article <31FEF6...@interramp.com>,

Michael Farace <mfa...@interramp.com> writes:
>I am getting ready to buy Solaris x86 2.5.1 Desktop, but would like some
>feedback first.
>
>My goal is that since I don't have an extra Sparc to test with, I could
>setup Solaris x86 2.5.1 to learn the differences between SunOS 4.1.3
>and Solaris x86 from an Administrative standpoint.
>
>Things I want to test are DNS, NIS/NIS +, NFS Client/Server mounts,
>UUCP, PPP, sendmail configs, using Solaris as a router, and things of
>this nature. I know SunOS 4.1.3 very well, and have done most of the
>above on it, but need the practice on Solaris.
>
>So will Solaris x86 2.5.1 do the trick, or should I go buy a used Sparc
>1+ with lots of 30 pins simms and put Solaris on that?
>

I work daily on both x86 and SPARC machines running Solaris 2.5.
If I don't look in /devices I can't tell which type of machine
I'm on. As far as I can tell all the administrative tools and
procedures are identical with the exception of hardware related
activities such as partitioning/slicing disks, configuring video
device support etc.

Casper H.S. Dik - Network Security Engineer

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Aug 1, 1996, 3:00:00 AM8/1/96

to

Michael Farace <mfa...@interramp.com> writes:

>I am getting ready to buy Solaris x86 2.5.1 Desktop, but would like some
>feedback first.

>My goal is that since I don't have an extra Sparc to test with, I could
>setup Solaris x86 2.5.1 to learn the differences between SunOS 4.1.3
>and Solaris x86 from an Administrative standpoint.

>Things I want to test are DNS, NIS/NIS +, NFS Client/Server mounts,
>UUCP, PPP, sendmail configs, using Solaris as a router, and things of
>this nature. I know SunOS 4.1.3 very well, and have done most of the
>above on it, but need the practice on Solaris.

>So will Solaris x86 2.5.1 do the trick, or should I go buy a used Sparc
>1+ with lots of 30 pins simms and put Solaris on that?

Running 2.5.1 on an x86bwill do the trick.

The main differences between x86 Solaris and SPARC Solaris are in
how booting works and the FDISK partitioning.

Once you're up and running, everything is the same, though the different
x86 peripherals may make setting up PPP & UUCP slightly different.

Solaris SPARC and Solaris x86 are build from the same source code and
have the same bugs and features.

Casper
--
Expressed in this posting are my opinions. They are in no way related
to opinions held by my employer, Sun Microsystems.
Statements on Sun products included here are not gospel and may
be fiction rather than truth.