---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Introducing Solaris 1.1 Version A SunFLASH Vol 42 #23 June 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- There will be some confusion over the name of this operating system. Here is a paragraph from later in this article that explains the relationship between Solaris X and SunOS Y: Solaris 1.1 Version A is comprised of the following components: OPEN LOOK, DeskSet, OpenWindows, SunOS and ONC. It is not correct to say Solaris *is* SunOS, since Solaris includes all 5 components and SunOS is only one piece of Solaris. Solaris 1.1 Version A contains SunOS 4.1.3 and OpenWindows Version 3 components. This is the o/s release that is required for the recently announced SS-10 and the new SPARCserver 600MP models. -johnj ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- o Full system software support for the new SuperSPARC based SPARCstation 10 and SPARCserver 600MP Series in addition to the current SPARC platforms o OpenWindows Version 3 is default windowing system o First European localized Solaris product with OpenWindows translated in French, German, Swedish and Italian Solaris 1.1 SMCC Version A brings the full benefits of SunSoft's 32-bit distributed system software environment to the new SuperSPARC based SPARCsystem 10 platforms in addition to SMCC's current SPARC product line. OpenWindows Version 3 as the default windowing system, translated in French, German, Swedish and Italian, will facilitate the migration to Solaris 2.0 worldwide. All well behaved applications will be able to take advantage of the binary compatibility between all Solaris 1.X releases - existing software application environments will run completely unchanged on any hardware platforms running Solaris 1.1 Version A. The SunUpgrade feature has been extended to allow quick and easy upgrades from previous versions of Solaris 1.X. When Solaris 1.1 Version A begins shipping in late August, it will become the default operating system. At that time, Desktop SPARCstations will transition to Solaris 1.1 Version A pre-installed and new updated versions of the Desktop SPARC Owner's Set will reflect OpenWindows Version 3. New Solaris 1.1 Version A related products include media (CD-ROM only), Full Documentation, Release Minibox, Desktop SPARC Owner's Set, AnswerBook, Encryption Kit, and Source Code. FEATURES AND BENEFITS --------------------- Features Benefits ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- SuperSPARC support Provides a consistent, rich system software environment across all SPARC platforms without change to existing applications OpenWindows Version 3 Facilitates the migration to SVR4 by providing the same windowing system as Solaris 2.0 DeskSet Version 3 Improves productivity and ease of use with enhanced, multimedia MailTool and multibrowse Calendar Manager Translated OpenWindows Version 3 Increases marketability and facilitates migration to Solaris 2.0 - increases ease of use and productivity for French, German, Swedish and Italian end-users XGL 2.0 Runtime Libraries Dynamically linked XGL based graphics applications will automatically benefit from the new library with out recompiling, relinking or re-releasing the application Binary Compatibility Allows all 4000 SPARCware products to run unchanged - protects software investment. Provides a complete, diverse, rich application software environment Performance tuning Software tuning increases the I/O performance and general system performance of the Cypress based SPARCserver 600MP Model 1x0 Series Bug Fixes Increased system software quality HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE CONSIDERATIONS ------------------------------------ - Required on all uniprocessor SuperSPARC based platforms - Systems adding additional SuperSPARC modules must upgrade to Solaris 2.X - Supports all currently shipping SPARC hardware configurations including multiprocessor Cypress based SPARCserver 600MP Model 1X0 - For improved performance using OpenWindows Version 3, 16 MB of memory is recommended; minimum required is 8 MB - Installation of the full OpenWindows Version 3 software requires 85 MB of hard disk space, minimum is 29 MB for minimal configuration QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS --------------------- Q: What's the relationship between Solaris and SunOS? A: Solaris is SunSoft's new name for their distributed computing system software environment. Solaris is comprised of the following components: OPEN LOOK, DeskSet, OpenWindows, SunOS and ONC. It is not correct to say Solaris *is* SunOS, since Solaris includes all 5 components and SunOS is only one piece of Solaris. Solaris 1.1 Version A contains SunOS 4.1.3 and OpenWindows Version 3 components. Q: What are the differences between Solaris 1.1 Version A and Solaris 1.0.1? A: The primary differences are in 3 main areas: kernel support for the new SuperSPARC processor, OpenWindows Version 3 as the default windowing system, and a modest number of bug fixes. The secondary differences are in additional hardware support: type 5 keyboard, FSBE/S, 1.3GB disk Q: Why is "Version A" tacked on to the Solaris name? A: SunSoft establishes the Solaris version number based on a set of features. A reference port of this technology base is made available to it's OEMs, one of which is SMCC. SMCC ports the OS to it's hardware platforms, adding SMCC specific bug fixes and performance tuning. Since the bits on the SMCC CD are potentially different from the bits on SunSoft's reference port CD, an additional version field was added to distinguish between other OEM ports of the same Solaris release. The full product name from SMCC is "Solaris 1.1 SMCC Version A". In the context of SMCC products, the shortened name is used, "Solaris 1.1 Version A". In the event SMCC requires another release for a new hardware platform, or additional performance tuning or bug fixes, only the SMCC Version number would be incremented, since it's still the same Solaris 1.1 feature set. If the software required for a new platform is fairly small, the SMCC Version number is incremented to A1, then A2, etc. If a larger set of software is impacted, such as new versions of hardware dependent libraries, the SMCC Version number is incremented to B, then C, etc. Q: When is Solaris 1.1 Version A required? A: For all SPARCstation 10 configurations, the new SuperSPARC based SPARCserver 600MP Series and the FSBE/S option. Q: Why does the Solaris 1.1 material claim it supports the SPARCserver 600MP when it only supports uniprocessor SuperSPARC CPUs? A: SPARCserver 600MP is the product name for the family of servers - including the UP configurations. Solaris 1.1 Version A does support the Cypress based SPARCserver 600MP Models 120 (2 CPUs) and 140 (4 CPUs). Q: Why doesn't Solaris 1.1 Version A support MP SuperSPARC processors? A: Primary reason is to provide an incentive to migrate to Solaris 2.x. The performance gain from the MP hardware is boosted much farther with the SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) kernel provided in Solaris 2.x than with the ASMP kernel in Solaris 1.0.1 and 1.1. Also, Sun has decided to concentrate our software investment on making Solaris 2.x the industry's best MP OS. With Solaris 2.x availability at hand, Sun also needs to be sensitive to our ISV partners. Making them try to optimize applications for two MP operating systems is too great a strain on resources. Q: What if I am planning on upgrading to Solaris 2.0? A: If Solaris 2.0 fits your needs, there is no reason to use Solaris 1.1 Version A. Q: If a customer never upgraded to Solaris 1.0.1 - can they upgrade directly from SunOS 4.1.1 to Solaris 1.1 Version A? A: YES! SunUpgrade has been extended to upgrade directly to Solaris 1.1 Version A from Solaris 1.0.1, SunOS 4.1.1 Rev B, or SunOS 4.1.1. Note that this means the sun-4m machines (SPARCserver 600 series) can now upgrade from Solaris 1.0.1 to Solaris 1.1 Version A. Q: When upgrading hardware, what are the OS upgrade requirements? A: All platforms upgrading to a uniprocessor SuperSPARC CPU require Solaris 1.1 Version A. Any platforms adding the additional SuperSPARC module (X1161A) must upgrade to Solaris 2.x. Platforms upgrading to multiprocessing SuperSPARC CPUs require Solaris 2.x. Q: What are the differences in the documentation for Solaris 1.1 Version A? A: When Solaris 1.1 Version A becomes the default, all Desktop SPARCstations will begin shipping with a new version of the Desktop SPARC Owner's Set, which has been updated to reflect OpenWindows Version 3. The Release Minibox (part of the Full Documentation Set) has updated manuals - Solaris 1.1 Version A Release Manual and Installing Solaris 1.1 Version A. These manuals include documentation on SunOS 4.1.3 and OpenWindows Version 3. Also, there is a new version of the Solaris AnswerBook. Q: Will my applications still run on Solaris 1.1 Version A? A: YES! Solaris 1.1 Version A is 100% binary compatible with Solaris 1.0.1, SunOS 4.1.1, Rev B, SunOS 4.1 and SunOS 4.0.3 for well behaved applications. Q: What makes an application well behaved? A: Applications that have been written to published, defined interfaces according to Sun documentation, and that don't depend on any kernel data structures or interfaces. Q: Do existing customers have to order a new Full Documentation Set? A: No. Since all other parts of the Full Documentation Set are identical to what's been shipping since SunOS 4.1, existing customers need only order the Release Minibox (SX-4.1.3-9E) to get the supplemental manuals to their existing Full Documentation Set. Q: If a customer is using the Encryption Kit, do they need a new one? A: YES! The bug fixes and kernel tweaking make the current encryption kit incompatible with Solaris 1.1 Version A. Make sure you order new encryption kits (SX-4.1.3-E-20) when ordering new systems or system software. Q: When will the new Encryption Kits ship? A: Solaris 1.1 Version A Encryption Kits will ship within 2 weeks of the binaries, so book early. Q: If a customer is using source code, is a new version available? A: Yes. Solaris 1.1 Version A Source Code for SMCC customers will be available within 2 weeks of FCS. Get the appropriate paperwork signed well in advanced to ensure receiving source as soon as possible. U.S. PRICING AND ORDERING INFORMATION ------------------------------------- All Solaris 1.1 Version A products will retain the same pricing as Solaris 1.0.1. Solaris 1.1 Version A will become the default OS in late August. Until that time, customers requiring Solaris 1.1 should use the release specific part numbers to ensure receiving the correct version. Customer's who prefer media and documentation which match the pre-installed Desktop SPARCstations should use the default marketing part numbers. Keep in mind that Solaris 1.1 Version A will not ship until late August - customers requiring media or documentation now must use the default part numbers published in the pricebook. Short Order List Discount Description Number Price Category ======================================================================== Solaris 1.1 Version A CD-ROM: US English SX-4.1.3-21 $200 A French SX-4.1.3-02-21 $200 A German SX-4.1.3-03-21 $200 A Swedish SX-4.1.3-06-21 $200 A Italian SX-4.1.3-74-21 $200 A US English - 10 Pack SX10-4.1.3-21 $1000 A Encryption Kit SX-4.1.3-E-20 $50 A Solaris 1.1 Version A Documentation: AnswerBook CD SS-4.1.3-23 $495 A Full Documentation Set SX-4.1.3-09 $995 A OpenWindows Developers Set OWN-V3-X-X-9P $595 A Release Minibox SX-4.1.3-9E $150 A Short Order Init. Add Major Minor Micro Description Number CPU CPU Upgrade Upgrade Upgrade =========================================================================== Solaris 1.1 Version A Source Code CD-ROM: University UN-SUNSRC-03-4.1.3 $1000 N/D $1000 $1000 $1000 $1000 Nonprofit NP-SUNSRC-03-4.1.3 $5000 N/D $5000 $2500 $1000 $1000 Commercial & SUNSRC-03-4.1.3 $20000 N/D $5000 $5000 $2500 $1000 Federal Notes: - Solaris 1.1 Version A CD contains SunOS 4.1.3 and OpenWindows Version 3 components. - Localized Solaris media contains 2 CDs, the US English Solaris 1.1 Version A CD and the OpenWindows Language Interface CD which includes the translated text, message and error files for all four locales and translated installation instructions in the appropriate language. - Refer to the SMCC SunOS Source Policy and Procedures for Source Code ordering instructions. AVAILABILITY ------------ August 31, 1992 Japanese and Asian Language Environments available within 30 days after FCS. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 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.