---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Augus 1992 Software Technical Bulletin Contents SunFLASH Vol 43 #10 July 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This article describing the contents of the Software Technical bulletin (STB) 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 the support contract. They have limited duplication rights (see notice included each month within the STB). ****** I have been given permission to place the PostScript version of the whole STB (about 100 pages) in the SunFlash archives on solar.nova.edu:/pub/sunflash/1992 185,395 stbaug92.ps.Z This file is also on ftp.uu.net:systems/sun/sunflash/1992 This article contains two parts: o Table Of Contents for August 1992 o STB Editor's Introduction -johnj Contents -------- 1. STB Editor's Introduction 1-1 STB Overview 1-1 Updates 1-4 SVR4 vs. BSD Printing (May 1992) 1-4 Changing OpenWindows Default Font Size (May 1992) 1-4 Availability of Perl (December 1991, April 1992) 1-4 2. Multithreading 2-1 Beyond Multiprocessing - Multithreading the SunOS Kernel 2-1 Introduction 2-1 Overview of the Kernel Architecture 2-2 Synchronization Architecture 2-8 Interrupts as Threads 2-11 Kernel Locking Strategy 2-15 Implementation Technology 2-17 Summary 2-18 3. Solaris 2.0 3-1 System Administration in Solaris 2.0 3-1 Industry Standard Merged UNIX 3-1 SVR4 Contents for Systems Administrators 3-3 The Solaris 2.0 Operating Environment Features 3-4 Directory Layout Changes 3-6 The root File System 3-7 The /etc Directory 3-8 The /var Directory 3-10 The /opt File System 3-11 The /proc File System 3-12 The /usr File System 3-12 System Parameters 3-15 Kernel Parameters in SunOS 4.x 3-15 Kernel Parameters in Solaris 2.0 3-15 The File /etc/system 3-16 STREAMS Networking Drivers 3-17 4. Graphics 4-1 Improving Performance with Direct Xlib 4-1 Direct Xlib Implementation 4-2 Direct Xlib Performance Numbers 4-2 Direct Xlib Supported Primitives 4-4 Programming Tips: Improve Your Application Performance 4-5 Direct Xlib and the X Window System 4-6 Positioning Direct Xlib, XGL, and Other APIs on SPARCstation 4-6 Benefits from Direct Xlib for XGL API and Applications 4-7 Systems and Software Requirements for Using Direct Xlib 4-7 Installing Direct Xlib 4-7 Using Direct Xlib 4-9 Includes, Compiles, and Links with Direct Xlib 4-11 Documentation 4-12 5. Languages 5-1 Dynamic Linking 5-1 When to Use Dynamic Linking 5-1 When to Avoid Dynamic Linking 5-2 The Link Editor 5-3 Shared Library Naming Conventions 5-4 Building Shared Libraries 5-5 Dynamic Linking and the Binary Compatibility Package 5-7 Programmatic Interface to Dynamic Linking 5-8 Increasing Shared Library Performance 5-10 6. Tools 6-1 SunSolve 6-1 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 Sun Server & Database Software 7-2 Graphics Software 7-2 Network Management 7-2 Software Development 7-3 Other Products 7-3 Connectivity 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: August 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. ** Multithreading "Beyond Multiprocessing - Multithreading the SunOS Kernel" is a technical paper from the SunSoft team that met the challenge of incorporating multithreading technology into the new kernel of SunOS 5.0 for the Solaris 2.0 distribution. This paper was written for the Summer 1992 USENIX meeting in San Antonio, Texas. ** Solaris 2.0 This month, we begin a 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. The opening article, "System Administration in Solaris 2.0," offers a brief overview of the changes and other features available to the System Administrator in the new environment. "Directory Layout Changes" describes the revised file system structure of the principal directories; and "System Parameters" details parameters that either are new or can now be controlled dynamically without rebuilding the kernel. In later issues, we will cover the Service Access Facility, Print Services, Boot and Run Levels, and other relevant topics. ** Graphics "Improving Performance with Direct Xlib" introduces the newly released 1.0 version of Direct Xlib, Sun's new, unbundled product that transparently improves the rendering performance of graphics-intensive Xlib-based applications. ** Languages We continue our series of articles relating to conversion of C programs for Solaris 2.0. "Dynamic Linking" is the preferred compilation method for System V Release 4 (SVR4). This article provides an overview of dynamic linking concepts and describes the improvements made in dynamic linking between SunOS 4.1.x and SVR4. ** Tools "SunSolve" introduces the newly shipped SunSolve product, an online service and support utility that delivers the latest and most important system information on CD-ROM to support contract customers, including common symptoms and resolutions, software bug reports, bug and patch descriptions, current and back issues of the Customer Distributed Bugs List and Software Technical Bulletin, various manuals, guides, and technical support articles, and more. ** 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. ** SVR4 vs. BSD Printing (May 1992) This article included a section on "Setting Up Remote Printers" under Solaris 2.0, which contained an error in one given command: 2. Set up the remote printer: # lpsystem -t bsd printserver_name # lpadmin -p printer_name -s printserver_name <-- ERROR # /usr/lib/lpsched # accept printer_name # enable printer_name # lpadmin -d printer_name The first lpadmin command should read: # lpadmin -p printer_name -s printserver_name\!printer_name We regret any confusion that this error may have caused. ** Changing OpenWindows Default Font Size (May 1992) This article, while discussing the method of changing OpenWindows fonts, mentioned in passing the "new DVT035 display terminala compact 13" monitor". This product was, in fact, not named DVT035 upon its release in April 1992, nor was it a 13" monitor: the product was the new Mid-Range 16" monitor that is an option with the SPARCstation IPC (order number 4/40EC-8-P40). ** Availability of Perl (December 1991, April 1992) We remind readers who have expressed unfamiliarity with the Perl language that the July issue reprinted excerpts from a common information file on that language. The entire file is available to readers upon request. Further information can be obtained from Larry Wall, the author of the language, at e-mail address lwall@netlabs.COM. ***************************************************************************** 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.