Pro OpenSolaris: A New Open Source OS for Linux Developers and Administrators
Harry J, Foxwell, PhD & Christine Tran
Apress, 280pp.
ISBN: 978-1430218913
Reviewed by Brandon Ching

Choosing a development environment for either desktop or web based application development is generally a trivial thought experiment. Most experienced developers have their preferences and generally don’t deviate much unless a new method or tool becomes available that better fits their development needs.

The OpenSolaris operating system is attempting to be that new tool that developers will want to have around. A community-developed and driven project based on the Solaris 10 code base, OpenSolaris is attempting to lure away the growing cadres of Linux centric developers and administrators. Touted as a platform for both desktop application and web development, OpenSolaris is a promising and potentially viable alternative to Linux based development.

In Pro OpenSolaris, Harry Foxwell and Christine Tran delve into the key features that make OpenSolaris an attractive option for developers and administrators. Topics like the Service Management Facility, the ZFS filesystem, and OpenSolaris virtualization are all covered in sufficient detail. While not an exhaustive text on the topic, the book is an excellent introduction and starting point for developers not familiar with OpenSolaris.

The book is broken down into three sections with nine chapters in all. The first section covers a general introduction to OpenSolaris including its history, unique benefits over Linux, a walk-through installation, and general usability coverage. For most experienced Linux developers, the first section of this book will probably not be as valuable as the remaining two sections. The OpenSolaris installation follows the general Linux installation process with the exception of virtualization options that are addressed in greater detail in Chapter 7. Once installed, the default GNOME desktop environment should be familiar to most.

Section two is where the fun really begins; working with OpenSolaris. In Chapter 5, Foxwell and Tran introduce the Service Management Facility (SMF) of OpenSolaris. Replacing the familiar /etc/rc* files and methods, the SMF is a service daemon that is responsible for all service management. The authors do an excellent job introducing the SMF and its associated tools by including feature outlines, screenshots, technical details, and a number of good examples. Each aspect of the SMF is well covered through detailed explanation and demonstration. By the end of this chapter, you should be an expert in the SMF.

In Chapter 6, the authors dive into what I feel is the most exciting feature of OpenSolaris; the ZFS file system. As a web developer, this was my first exposure to the ZFS and, as in the previous chapter, Foxwell and Tran do an excellent job of introducing the technology. The major features of the ZFS are massive addressable space (128-bits), active integrity checking, and my personal favorite, “nearly unlimited and instantaneous file system snapshots” (p. 103). The authors relate the system snapshots to Apple OS X’s Time Machine, but from their descriptions, it seems like a more customizable implementation. As with the previous chapter, this one is also full of tool usage details, snapshots, and practical examples.

In the last chapter of this section (Chapter 7), Foxwell and Tran present probably the strongest chapter of the book; OpenSolaris and virtualization. Over forty pages, the authors provide great detail, background, and examples utilizing OpenSolaris specific virtualization methodologies. Opening with a great general introduction to virtualization, the authors proceed to extensive coverage of OpenSolaris specific zones and zone management, followed by an introduction to the xVM hypervisor. Zones are incredibly powerful ways of managing applications and the authors stress the use of zones throughout the book.

Section three takes you through setting up a development environment in OpenSolaris and an introduction to a few more OpenSolaris specific features. Chapter 8 walks you through the installation of an Apache, MySQL, PHP (AMP) zone. While a seemingly trivial exercise to Linux natives, the authors cover OpenSolaris specific considerations including package management, service administration, and default file locations. The chapter closes with an introduction to the NetBeans IDE and integration of other third-party tools and products such as Subversion.

In the book’s final chapter, Foxwell and Tran seem to touch on a number remaining OpenSolaris tools and features that just don’t seem to fit anywhere else. Coverage in this chapter includes DTrace for system analysis, the Tracker utility for metadata file searching, and a few other resources for entertainment and educational pursuits.

Overall, Pro OpenSolaris is great introduction to the features and tools offered in the OpenSolaris operating system. While probably not the most complete guide to implementation in OpenSolaris, I do feel that the book is definitely of value to both Linux desktop and web developers, as well as system administrators and information managers. The writing style is technical yet approachable and connects topics nicely. As I mentioned, the chapters on ZFS and virtualization are incredibly strong and I would certainly recommend this book to anyone interested in a Linux alternative with cutting-edge features and an active community base.

Tags: Book Review, linux, OpenSolaris, service management facility, zfs