[oi-dev] Where should SPARC go?

[Volker A. Brandt]

Hi Andrew!


> I have been discussing my options for what OS to install on a Sun
> T5140.  I plan to use this as a multi-user OS, virtualization host,
> and ZFS file server.

The T5140 are nice machines.

> It will be exposed to the Internet so other users can log in to the
> base OS or their VM's.  I will therefore harden the system and deploy
> it in a network environment such as a DMZ and/or allow access via a
> hardened VPN or jump box.

Depending on what hardware you have available, you may want to use
a LDOM for this.

> My current plan is first to install Oracle Solaris 11.3 and evaluate
> Solaris as an option.  Before 11.3 reaches EOL I would re-evaluate
> whether to invest in newer, supported hardware to run a newer and
> supported version of Solaris.

Solaris 11.3 has already reached EOL.  If you have a support contract,
you can still get security updates, but even those will stop soon.

[...]
> It would be ideal and preferable if I could use an illumos-derived OS
> as a user.  The aim would be to develop my skills and ultimately
> contribute to SPARC support.  This is a more productive goal I think.

That is certainly possible.

> This thread has given me the impression that OpenIndiana has (some?)
> SPARC support.  However according to the OI FAQ I would have to run a
> different illumos-derived OS for SPARC support (
> https://www.openindiana.org/documentation/faq/#does-openindiana-provide-a-sparc-release
> ).

This FAQ does not reflect recent developments.  Gary Mills has success-
fully compiled a subset of OpenIndiana to run on SPARC.

> Please could somebody clarify for me?  Also, would OpenIndiana run on
> my T5140?

That subset would, yes.

> I am looking for the most direct way to get started running *nix on
> this T5140.  Also I am investigating opportunities for contributing to
> SPARC ports -- on various OS'es -- of particular user-level libraries
> and applications.  I have been discussing this with potential
> collaborators.
>
> Thank you for any advice!

I would suggest that you investigate LDOMs a.k.a. "Oracle VM for SPARC",
and install Solaris 11.3 in a control domain on your T5140.  Then, you
can create LDOMs (= SPARC VMs) and install the Illumos-based OS of your
choice inside those LDOMs.

Currently, there are:

- Solaris 11.3

- Tribblix (a minimal system using the SVR4 package format)

- OpenIndiana (a subset of Openindiana using IPS packages)

- v9os (an older version of OmniOS, using IPS packages)

- Dilos, running Debian userland on an Illumos-based kernel

Unfortuately, OpenSXCE is not developed any more.

Feel free to ask any questions you might have.  The Illumos mailing list
is also worth joining, if you aren't on it already.


Regards -- Volker
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Volker A. Brandt        Consulting and Support for Solaris-based Systems
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