Zones in Sun Servers

Features:

• Virtualization
• Solaris Zones can hosts only instances of Solaris. Not other OS
• Limit 8192 zones per Solaris host
• Primary (global) zone has access to ALL zones
• Non-global zones, do NOT have access to other non-global zones
• Default non-global zones derive packages from global zone
• Program isolation – zone1 (Apache), zone2 (MySQL)
• Provides ‘z’ commands to manage zones
• At least 100mb required for the creation of non-global zone
• Type:
1. Sparse Root Zones – Share key files (/usr, /lib) with global zone. Default zone type.
2. Whole Root Zones – Require more storage

### Global Zones ###

1. Solaris ALWAYS boots to the global zone
2. Knows about ALL hardware devices attached to the system
3. Knows about ALL non-global zones

### Non-Global Zones ###

1. Installed at a location on the file system of the Global zone ‘zone root path’ - /export/home/zones/{zone1,zone2,zone3,…}
2. Share packages with the global zone
3. Manage distinct hostname and tables files
4. Cannot communicate with other non-global zones by default. Use standard tcpip
5. GLOBAL zone admin can delegate non-global zone administration
6. Requirements: hostname, zone rootpath, IP address,

### Zone Configuration ###

Commands:
zonename      Lists current zone name
zonecfg         Configure zones. Can run interactively, non-interactively, command-file modes
zlogin            To open the console fo zones
zoneadm       To administrate the zones

Steps for configuring non-global zone:

1.       mkdir /export/home/zones/testzone1 && chmod 700 /export/home/zones

2.       zonecfg –z testzone1

zonecfg:testzone1> create

zonecfg:testzone1> set zonepath=/export/home/sonez/testzone1

zonecfg:testzone1> add net

zonecfg:testzone1:net> set address=192.168.1.60

zonecfg:testzone1:net> set physical=e1000g0

zonecfg:testzone1:net> end

zonecfg:testzone1> info

zonecfg:testzone1> set autoboot=true    (OPTION)

zonecfg:testzone1> add attr                     (OPTION)

zonecfg:testzone1:attr> set name=comment

zonecfg:testzone1:attr> set type=string

zonecfg:testzone1:attr> set value=”TestZone1”

zonecfg:testzone1:attr> end

zonecfg:testzone1> verify

zonecfg:testzone1> commit

zonecfg:testzone1> exit

Other Commands:

1. To show details of a zone :
# zonecfg –x testzone1 info    

2. To install a zone :
# zoneadm –z testzone1 install

3. To view the state of the zones :  
# zoneadm list –iv

4. ReBoot the non-global zone :  
# zoneadm –x testzone1 boot|reboot

5. Login to console mode :
# zlogin –C testzone1

6. Login Interactively :                    
# zlogin –l username zonename

7. Login Non-Interactive :               
# zlogin options zonename

8. Safe mode Login : 
# zlogin –S zonename