Step By Step Guide ~ How to Install Solaris 9 as a container on a Solaris 10 System Using Zones

Hello folks, I finally managed to successfully install a Solaris 9 Container Zone on my Solaris 10 System. I would like to share the relevant information here.

MY HARDWARE -

Sun Fire 280R (2 x Ultra SPARC III+ at 1200MHz, 6GB RAM, 2 x 80GB HDD)
5 network interfaces - eri0, ce0, ce1, ce2, ce3

though i used only eri0 and ce0. Remaining, i will use later as and when the need arises.

MY SOFTWARE -

Solaris 10 OS - Update 5 (downloaded from sun.com and burned this sol-10-u5-ga-sparc-dvd.iso on a DVDROM)

Solaris 9.0 Container Application - (downloaded from sun.com this file named - s9containers-1_0-rr-solaris10-sparc.tar.gz)

Solaris 9.0 OS Image file - (downloaded from sun.com this file named - solaris9-image.flar)

MY OBJECTIVE -

To install Solaris 9 OS as a container on a Solaris 10 zone. We have some native apps on Solaris 9, so i need to check if that would work fine.

STEPS I FOLLOWED -

STEP 1 - Solaris 10 OS Installation on the System

Installed Solaris 10 update 5 on my Sun Fire 280R. Chose Entire Distribution and allocated my second 80GB HDD only for storing Zone data. So i formatted and mounted /zones on my second hard disk c1t1d0s2. I dedicated my first disk (c1t0d0) to run Solaris 10 exclusively. Installation was successful without a hitch. Below is my install configuration -

hostname - sol10
ip address - 10.10.8.46/24 (on eri0 interface)

plumbed my ce0 interface so that i can dedicate this to my solaris 9 zone that i would be creating in the next step.

globalzone # cat /etc/release
Solaris 10 5/08 s10s_u5wos_10 SPARC
Copyright 2008 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Use is subject to license terms.
Assembled 24 March 2008

globalzone #ifconfig ce0 plumb

STEP 2 - Install Solaris 9 Container Application 1.0

I uploaded the file s9containers-1_0-rr-solaris10-sparc.tar.gz to my home directory. Followed by which i gave the below commands to install the application.

globalzone # gunzip s9containers-1_0-rr-solaris10-sparc.tar.gz
globalzone # tar -xvf s9containers-1_0-rr-solaris10-sparc.tar
globalzone # cd ./s9containers-1_0-rr/Product
globalzone # pkgadd -d ./

The following packages are available:
1 SUNWs9brandk Solaris 9 Containers: solaris9 brand support RTU
(sparc) 11.10.0,REV=2008.04.24.03.37
2 SUNWs9brandr Solaris 9 Containers: solaris9 brand support (Root)
(sparc) 11.10.0,REV=2008.04.24.03.37
3 SUNWs9brandu Solaris 9 Containers: solaris9 brand support (Usr)
(sparc) 11.10.0,REV=2008.04.24.03.37

Select package(s) you wish to process (or 'all' to process
all packages). (default: all) [?,??,q]:

(select all and accept all the default parameters. the installation was successful.)

STEP 3 - Create Solaris 9 branded zone

After the system booted, i followed the below commands to create a branded solaris 9 zone.

globalzone # zonecfg -z solaris9
solaris9: No such zone configured
Use 'create' to begin configuring a new zone.
zonecfg:solaris9> create -b
zonecfg:solaris9> set brand=solaris9
zonecfg:solaris9> set autoboot=false
zonecfg:solaris9> set zonepath=/zones/solaris9
zonecfg:solaris9> add net
zonecfg:solaris9:net> set physical=ce0
zonecfg:solaris9:net> set address=10.10.8.91/24
zonecfg:solaris9:net> end
zonecfg:solaris9> info
zonename: solaris9
zonepath: /zones/solaris9
brand: solaris9
autoboot: false
bootargs:
pool:
limitpriv:
scheduling-class:
ip-type: shared
net:
address: 10.10.8.91/24
physical: ce0
zonecfg:solaris9> verify
zonecfg:solaris9> commit
zonecfg:solaris9> exit

STEP 4 - Installed Solaris 9 on the Branded Zone

I uploaded the file solaris9-image.flar to my home directory and performed the below commands to Install solaris 9 zone.

globalzone # zoneadm -z solaris9 install -u -a /export/home/vishal/solaris9-image.flar
Log File: /var/tmp/solaris9.install.846.log
Source: /export/home/vishal/solaris9-image.flar
Installing: This may take several minutes...


Postprocessing: This may take several minutes...

Result: Installation completed successfully.
Log File: /zones/solaris9/root/var/log/solaris9.install.846.log
globalzone #
globalzone #
globalzone # zoneadm list -cv
ID NAME STATUS PATH BRAND IP
0 global running / native shared
- solaris9 installed /zones/solaris9 solaris9 shared

globalzone # cat /var/tmp/solaris9.install.846.log
[Mon Jun 23 12:09:03 SGT 2008] Log File: /var/tmp/solaris9.install.846.log
[Mon Jun 23 12:09:03 SGT 2008] Product: Solaris 9 Containers 1.0
[Mon Jun 23 12:09:03 SGT 2008] Installer: solaris9 brand installer 1.21
[Mon Jun 23 12:09:03 SGT 2008] Zone: solaris9
[Mon Jun 23 12:09:03 SGT 2008] Path: /zones/solaris9
[Mon Jun 23 12:09:03 SGT 2008] Starting pre-installation tasks.
[Mon Jun 23 12:09:03 SGT 2008] Installation started for zone "solaris9"
[Mon Jun 23 12:09:03 SGT 2008] Source: /export/home/vishal/solaris9-image.flar
[Mon Jun 23 12:09:03 SGT 2008] Media Type: flash archive
[Mon Jun 23 12:09:03 SGT 2008] Installing: This may take several minutes...
[Mon Jun 23 12:09:03 SGT 2008] cd /zones/solaris9/root &&
[Mon Jun 23 12:09:03 SGT 2008] do_flar < "/export/home/vishal/solaris9-image.flar"
[Mon Jun 23 12:13:58 SGT 2008] Sanity Check: Passed. Looks like a Solaris 9 system.
[Mon Jun 23 12:13:58 SGT 2008] Postprocessing: This may take several minutes...
[Mon Jun 23 12:13:58 SGT 2008] running: p2v -u solaris9
[Mon Jun 23 12:13:58 SGT 2008] Postprocess: Gathering information about zone solaris9
[Mon Jun 23 12:13:58 SGT 2008] Postprocess: Creating mount points
[Mon Jun 23 12:13:58 SGT 2008] Postprocess: Processing /etc/system
[Mon Jun 23 12:13:58 SGT 2008] Postprocess: Booting zone to single user mode
[Mon Jun 23 12:14:11 SGT 2008] Postprocess: Applying p2v module S20_apply_patches
[Sun Jun 22 21:14:12 PDT 2008] S20_apply_patches: Unpacking patch: 115986-03
[Sun Jun 22 21:14:12 PDT 2008] S20_apply_patches: Installing patch: 115986-03

Checking installed patches...
Verifying sufficient filesystem capacity (dry run method)...
Installing patch packages...

Patch number 115986-03 has been successfully installed.
See /var/sadm/patch/115986-03/log for details

Patch packages installed:
SUNWesu
SUNWesxu

[Sun Jun 22 21:14:29 PDT 2008] S20_apply_patches: Unpacking patch: 112963-32
[Sun Jun 22 21:14:29 PDT 2008] S20_apply_patches: Installing patch: 112963-32

Checking installed patches...
Patch 112963-32 has already been applied.
See patchadd(1M) for instructions.

Patchadd is terminating.
[Mon Jun 23 12:14:33 SGT 2008] Postprocess: Applying p2v module S31_fix_net
[Mon Jun 23 12:14:33 SGT 2008] Postprocess: Applying p2v module S32_fix_nfs
[Mon Jun 23 12:14:34 SGT 2008] Postprocess: Applying p2v module S33_fix_vfstab
[Mon Jun 23 12:14:34 SGT 2008] Postprocess: Applying p2v module S34_fix_inittab
[Mon Jun 23 12:14:34 SGT 2008] Postprocess: Applying p2v module S35_fix_crontab
[Mon Jun 23 12:14:34 SGT 2008] Postprocess: Applying p2v module S36_fix_pam_conf
[Mon Jun 23 12:14:34 SGT 2008] Postprocess: Applying p2v module S40_setup_preload
[Mon Jun 23 12:14:35 SGT 2008] Postprocess: Performing zone sys-unconfig
[Mon Jun 23 12:15:00 SGT 2008] Postprocess: Postprocessing successful.
[Mon Jun 23 12:15:00 SGT 2008] Result: Postprocessing complete.
[Mon Jun 23 12:15:01 SGT 2008] Service Tag: Gathering information about zone solaris9
[Mon Jun 23 12:15:01 SGT 2008] Service Tag: Adding service tag: urn:st:f703f244-18f1-cf25-a9db-fdd4ea20ffe6
Solaris 9 Containers 1.0 added
Product instance URN=urn:st:f703f244-18f1-cf25-a9db-fdd4ea20ffe6
[Mon Jun 23 12:15:01 SGT 2008] Service Tag: Operation successful.
[Mon Jun 23 12:15:01 SGT 2008]
[Mon Jun 23 12:15:01 SGT 2008] Result: Installation completed successfully.
[Mon Jun 23 12:15:01 SGT 2008] Log File: /zones/solaris9/root/var/log/solaris9.install.846.log
globalzone #

STEP 5 - Configuring the Solaris 9 zone

Configuration process involves booting your zone, setting up your hostname, IP Address Configuration, TimeZone Settings, Naming Configuration etc.

globalzone # zoneadm -z solaris9 boot

globalzone # zoneadm list -cv
ID NAME STATUS PATH BRAND IP
0 global running / native shared
3 solaris9 running /zones/solaris9 solaris9 shared
globalzone # zlogin -C solaris9

[zlogin solaris console]

After this you will be asked to set up your hostname, IP Address, TimeZone Settings, Naming Configuration etc. After successfully completing this, the zone would reboot. After the system has rebooted, you are all set to go.

globalzone # zoneadm list -cv
ID NAME STATUS PATH BRAND IP
0 global running / native shared
3 solaris9 running /zones/solaris9 solaris9 shared
globalzone #


SOME QUICK TESTS I PERFORMED

After all this, i was able to connect to my Solaris 9 container that i just created using SSH. Just to test out, i performed the following commands -

solaris9-zone # uname -a
SunOS solaris9 5.9 Generic_Virtual sun4u sparc SUNW,Sun-Fire-280R

solaris9-zone # cat /etc/release
Solaris 9 9/05 HW s9s_u9wos_06b SPARC
Copyright 2006 Sun Microsystems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Use is subject to license terms.
Assembled 25 September 2006
solaris9-zone # df -h
Filesystem size used avail capacity Mounted on
/ 67G 1.9G 65G 3% /
/.SUNWnative/lib 9.6G 162M 9.4G 2% /.SUNWnative/lib
/.SUNWnative/platform
9.6G 162M 9.4G 2% /.SUNWnative/platform
/.SUNWnative/usr 29G 3.1G 25G 11% /.SUNWnative/usr
/dev 67G 1.9G 65G 3% /dev
proc 0K 0K 0K 0% /proc
mnttab 0K 0K 0K 0% /etc/mnttab
swap 11G 16K 11G 1% /etc/svc/volatile
/dev/ksyms 29G 3.1G 25G 11% /dev/ksyms
fd 0K 0K 0K 0% /dev/fd
swap 11G 0K 11G 0% /tmp

solaris9-zone # psrinfo
0 on-line since 06/23/2008 11:52:30
1 on-line since 06/23/2008 11:52:31
solaris9-zone #

I hope the above would be useful to you guys. Do feel free to comment, if you happen to have any questions.

Installing Solaris 9 Zone on a Solaris 10 System

Hello Folks,

I am now working on doing a Solaris 9 OS install on a Solaris 10 system using Solaris 10 Zones. If you dont know already know, Solaris 10 can run container versions of Solaris 8 and 9 within a Solaris 9. There are some specific applications that you need to install on your global zone to make it work. From what all i have read so far, all that is needed is a Solaris 9.0 Container Software 1.0 and Solaris 9 install image. You can download both from the Sun Download website. Also make sure that the version of Solaris ten is Update 4 or above. I will be illustrating the procedure with Update 5 release. Stay tuned....

Step By Step Guide ~ How to Change Zone Network Parameters

I would presume here that the zone is already created and i would detail out the process to change an "existing" zone's network parameters.

Please Note - The network parameters can be changed without halting the zone. But the changes would only take affect after the zone is rebooted. So be careful with this part. Before you can use any network interface on a local zone, that interface must be plumbed first (e.g. ifconfig plumb, on the global zone) in the global zone. If no network address is assigned on the global zone to that interface, its default address will be set to inet 0.0.0.0 netmask 0.

Objective - To change network properties of zone "ora9"

FROM -
Interface - ce0
IP Address - 10.10.10.8/24

TO -
Interface - ce1
IP Address - 10.10.10.11/24


STEP 1 - Use zoneadm list on the global zone to show status of zones on your system.

On the global zone, use the zoneadm list -cv to show current status of all installed zones.

In the illustration below, i have two zones installed, one being ora9 and another being ora8

globalzone# zoneadm list -cv
ID NAME STATUS PATH
0 global running /
1 ora9 running /zone/ora9
- ora8 configured /zone/ora8
globalzone#

Note: You may also use zoneadm -z list -v to verify the specific zone status.

STEP 2 - Use zonecfg -z to enter the zone modifying environment

On the global zone, use the zonecfg -z to enter the zone configuration environment. The enviromental prompt "zonecfg:" will display.

Use info in the zone configuration environment to verify the network values.

globalzone# zonecfg -z ora9
zonecfg:ora9> info
zonepath: /zone/ora9
autoboot: true
pool:
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /lib
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /platform
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /sbin
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /usr
net:
address: 10.10.10.8/24
physical: ce0
zonecfg:ora9>

STEP 3 - Use set address= and set physical= to change the network address and physical interface.

Use set address= and set physical= in the zone configuration environment .

zonecfg:ora9:net> set address=10.10.10.11/24
zonecfg:ora9:net> set physical=ce1
zonecfg:ora9:net> info
net:
address: 10.10.10.11/24
physical: ce1
zonecfg:ora9:net> end
zonecfg:ora9> verify
zonecfg:ora9> info
zonepath: /zone/ora9
autoboot: true
pool:
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /lib
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /platform
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /sbin
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /usr
net:
address: 10.10.10.8/24
physical: ce0
net:
address: 10.10.10.11/24
physical: ce1
zonecfg:ora9> remove net address=10.10.10.8/24
zonecfg:ora9> info
zonepath: /zone/ora9
autoboot: true
pool:
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /lib
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /platform
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /sbin
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /usr
net:
address: 10.10.10.11/24
physical: ce1
zonecfg:ora9> commit
zonecfg:ora9>

The zone does not require a reboot for this parameter to take place as the zone will use the new value if it is halted.

Note:
* If you set the autoboot resource property in a zone’s configuration to true, that zone is automatically booted when the global zone is booted. The default setting is false.
* for the zones to autoboot, the zones service svc:/system/zones:default must also be enabled.

STEP 4 - Use remove net address= to remove the old network values.

Use exit in the environment to save the changes and leave the zone configuration environment.

zonecfg:ora9> info
zonepath: /zone/ora9
autoboot: true
pool:
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /lib
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /platform
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /sbin
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /usr
net:
address: 10.10.10.8/24
physical: ce0
net:
address: 10.10.10.11/24
physical: ce1
zonecfg:ora9> remove net address=10.10.10.8/24
zonecfg:ora9> info
zonepath: /zone/ora9
autoboot: true
pool:
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /lib
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /platform
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /sbin
inherit-pkg-dir:
dir: /usr
net:
address: 10.10.10.11/24
physical: ce1
zonecfg:ora9> commit
zonecfg:ora9>

Note:

Performing either remove net address=
or
remove net physical=
will delete both network parameters. You do not nor can you perform both command after you have issue one of them.

STEP 5 - Use commit and exit to save the changes to the parameter

Use commit and exit in the environment to save the changes and leave the zone configuration environment.

zonecfg:ora9> verify
zonecfg:ora9> commit
zonecfg:ora9> exit
globalzone#

Use zoneadm -z halt followed by zoneadm -z boot

The new network parameters will not come into force until the zone is booted. Use zoneadm -z halt to halt the zone. Then use zoneadm -z boot to start the zone with the new network parameters.

globalzone# ifconfig -a
lo0: flags=2001000849 mtu 8232 index 1
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask ff000000
lo0:1: flags=2001000849 mtu 8232 index 1
zone ora9
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask ff000000
ce0: flags=1000843 mtu 1500 index 2
inet 10.10.10.14 netmask ffffff00 broadcast 10.10.10.255
ether [removed]
ce0:1: flags=1000843 mtu 1500 index 2
zone ora9
inet 10.10.10.8 netmask ffffff00 broadcast 10.10.10.255
ce1: flags=1000843 mtu 1500 index 3
inet 10.10.10.15 netmask ffffff00 broadcast 10.10.10.255
ether [removed]

globalzone# zoneadm -z ora9 halt

globalzone# ifconfig -a
lo0: flags=2001000849 mtu 8232 index 1
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask ff000000
ce0: flags=1000843 mtu 1500 index 2
inet 10.10.10.14 netmask ffffff00 broadcast 10.10.10.255
ether [removed]
ce1: flags=1000843 mtu 1500 index 3
inet 10.10.10.15 netmask ffffff00 broadcast 10.10.10.255
ether [removed]

globalzone# zoneadm -z ora9 boot

globalzone# ifconfig -a
lo0: flags=2001000849 mtu 8232 index 1
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask ff000000
lo0:1: flags=2001000849 mtu 8232 index 1
zone ora9
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask ff000000
ce0: flags=1000843 mtu 1500 index 2
inet 10.10.10.14 netmask ffffff00 broadcast 10.10.10.255
ether [removed]
ce1: flags=1000843 mtu 1500 index 3
inet 10.10.10.15 netmask ffffff00 broadcast 10.10.10.255
ether [removed]
ce1:1: flags=1000843 mtu 1500 index 3
zone ora9
inet 10.10.10.11 netmask ffffff00 broadcast 10.10.10.255

globalzone#