---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash September 1992 Software Technical Bulletin Contents SunFLASH Vol 44 #27 August 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This article describes the contents of the Software Technical bulletin (STB) for September, 1992. Is posted to SunFlash to make those customers who have a support contract aware that they should be receiving this execellent publication. Note that copies of the STB are sent to the people listed in your support contract. They have limited duplication rights (see notice included each month within the STB). ****** I have been given permission to place just two PostScript STBs (about 100 pages each) in the SunFlash archives on solar.nova.edu:/pub/sunflash/1992 185,395 stbaug92.ps.Z 171,958 stbjul92.ps.Z These files are also on ftp.uu.net:systems/sun/sunflash/1992 *** Consider these two PostScript versions as examples of what's included in this monthly service. I will continue to post the Table Of Contents and Editor's Introduction so that you can determine if you should obtain a copy of the STB from the person listed in your support contract (if you have one). This article contains two parts: o Table Of Contents for September 1992 o STB Editor's Introduction -johnj ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year: 1992 Month: September Title: Contents ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contents -------- 1. STB Editor's Introduction 1-1 STB Overview 1-1 Updates 1-4 Dynamic Linking (August 1992) 1-4 2. Solaris 2.0 2-1 Print Service 2-1 Overview 2-1 Local Printing 2-7 Remote Printing 2-10 Print Requests 2-14 Printer Classes 2-19 User Commands 2-20 Adminstrator Commands 2-20 Configuration Files 2-21 Required Software Packages 2-21 Service Access Facility 2-22 Overview 2-22 Why Improve Service Access? 2-23 Service Access Facility Architecture 2-24 Service Access Controller (SAC) 2-25 Port Monitors 2-26 TTY Port Monitor: ttymon 2-27 sacadm(1M) Utility 2-28 pmadm(1M) Utility 2-29 Port Monitor-Specific Administration Commands 2-31 Network Listener Port Monitors 2-32 Terminal Control 2-34 Troubleshooting 2-39 3. SunOS 3-1 Virtual Swap Space in SunOS 5.0 3-1 Introduction 3-1 The 4.x Implementation 3-3 The 5.0 Implementation: Virtual Swap Space 3-7 Performance Discussion 3-13 Conclusions 3-13 Acknowledgements 3-14 4. System Administration 4-1 Performance Improvements 4-1 Introduction 4-1 Signs of distress 4-2 Where's the problem? 4-3 Scrubbing system calls 4-5 Guidelines 4-6 5. Network 5-1 How to Use the STREAMS Data Link Provider Interface (DLPI) 5-1 Introduction 5-1 Background 5-1 DLPI Quick Tutorial 5-3 How to Use DLPI 5-5 Converting NIT Programs to Use DLPI 5-18 Twisted Pair Ethernet: Link Integrity Test 5-24 Problem Symptoms 5-24 Troubleshooting 5-25 Sun Ethernet Interfaces 5-25 6. Languages 6-1 Introducing SunPro Licensing 6-1 How Licensing Works 6-1 How Many License Servers Should You Use? 6-2 Obtaining a License Password 6-3 Proof of License Certificate 6-4 Certificate Denominations 6-4 Getting Upgrades 6-5 Adding Rights for Additional Licenses 6-5 Changing License Servers 6-6 Indivisibility of Multi-User Licenses 6-6 Start of Warranty 6-6 Network License Questions and Answers 6-6 ANSI C and C++: Making the Choice 6-12 7. Software Release Versions 7-1 Current Sun Software Products and Release Versions 7-1 Operating Systems 7-1 Window Systems & Desktop Utilities 7-1 Graphics Software 7-2 Software Development 7-2 System Management 7-3 Connectivity Products 7-3 Other Products 7-4 Updated Sun Operating System Support Matrix 7-5 8. Notes & Comments 8-1 World Hotlines 8-1 Reporting Bugs 8-3 Submitting Software Bugs: United States and Canada 8-3 Submitting Software Bugs: Europe 8-4 Submitting Software Bugs: Intercon 8-9 Your STB Subscription 8-12 Index ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Year: 1992 Month: September Title: STB Editor's Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STB Overview ------------ This month's STB contains articles of general interest in the topics outlined below. Please note the Updates section at the end of the chapter. This section features new or updated information about articles from past issues of the STB. We appreciate the participation of our readership in calling this information to our attention. ** Solaris 2.0 We continue our series of articles on System Administration in Solaris 2.0, Sun's operating environment based on System V Release 4 (SVR4). This material is extracted from Sun internal training materials. "Print Service" describes the elements of the new Print Service in Solaris 2.0. The article covers terminology, new programs and processes, new files and directory structures, and new and revised commands. The article also notes the various components of SunOS 4.x print routines that have been preserved in Solaris 2.0, either in their original form or in the Compatibility Package. "Service Access Facility" describes the new suite of administrator's tools in Solaris 2.0, including the Service Access Controller and its administrative utilities; port monitors for both TTY devices and network connections; and the new methods of terminal control. ** SunOS This month, we present a revised version of a technical paper on "Virtual Swap Space in SunOS 5.0," co-written by two SunSoft engineers who were involved in the challenging effort to expand the concept of swap space in the new release of Sun's SVR4-based operating system. The paper describes in detail how anonymous memory works in SunOS 4.x, and how the method was expanded in SunOS 5.0 with the introduction of the new vnode type swapfs. ** System Administration "Performance Improvements" discusses various methods that programmers or administrators can use to troubleshoot performance problems on their workstations and servers, including monitoring I/O buffer sizes and inefficient use of system calls. ** Network This month's lead article, "How to Use the STREAMS Data Link Provider Interface (DLPI)," shows how user-level programs in SunOS 5.x can use DLPI to transmit and receive raw datalink-level frames from the datalink device drivers, illustrated by extensive program examples. "Twisted Pair Ethernet: Link Integrity Test" introduces the Link Integrity Test and describes how to use it to determine the status of a twisted pair cable link between a host and a hub. ** Languages "Introducing SunPro Licensing" announces Sun's first use of network licensing software to enforce product licensing on a "floating" user basis. The article details the concepts of license servers (redundant or independent), and the methods of obtaining and maintaining licenses and passwords. A Question-and- Answer section supplies further details. "ANSI C and C++: Making the Choice" is an examination of the comparative features of these two evolutions of the traditional C language. This article was recently published elsewhere in abridged form; we are presenting the full version of the article, with considerable technical detail and code samples. ** Software Release Versions This section includes the current Sun software products and release version tables. We also include a revised updating of Sun's support matrix for Operating System release levels and platforms. Updates ------- This section presents updates on subjects covered in past issues of the Sun Technical Bulletin. ** Dynamic Linking (August 1992) This article drew a few comments from Sun field personnel: 1. The environment variables LD_BIND_NOW and LD_RUN_PATH are unique to SunOS 5.0, and will have no effect if utilized in SunOS 4.x. 2. Applications must be linked with libc in SunOS 4.1.x to take advantage of the Binary Compatibility Package. They do *not* have to be dynamically linked with libnsl as well. 3. The program code on page 5-9 contained a typographical error: access_handle = dlsyn (open_handle, "pnum"); <-- ERROR This line should read: access_handle = dlsym (open_handle, "pnum"); We regret any confusion that these errors may have caused. ***************************************************************************** We would like to encourage our readership to e-mail us any comments or suggestions regarding the content of the Sun Technical Bulletin, including requests for articles on specific subject matters. We are aiming at a broad spectrum of topics that are of interest to all sectors of our audience, both highly experienced technical people and relatively inexperienced users who are new to desktop workstations. We are not the appropriate channel for researching any and all technical problems that may come up in the field, but we will do our best to follow up on questions about articles that we have printed in the recent past. Please let us know what you think, and we will do our best to accommodate you in future issues. Thanks. The STB Editor sun!stb-editor or stb-editor@Sun.COM ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu, paris.cs.miami.edu, uunet.uu.net, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770.