Solaris.

[B1gg3stN00b]

What exactly is this OS like? Is it complex like Linux or does it have the simplicity of Windows or Mac when it comes to installing/running apps? What is it compatible with/used for? I've seen a lot about this on this forum and on business job listings, so I'm guessing it's good for offices?

 

[KBD]

i dont know about the OS, but we have Solaris right here on TPU


but seriously, i'm interested in this also.

 

[Solaris17]

Solaris isnt linux but its kinda like it...think xandros (for look) Solaris is usually run on work stations and servers as the OS itself is built for the sole reason of being HIGHELY scalable. most prefer to run solaris on a sparc processor because of this as newer sparc procs have like 32 threads

 

[KBD]

Solaris isnt linux but its kinda like it...think xandros (for look) Solaris is usually run on work stations and servers as the OS itself is built for the sole reason of being HIGHELY scalable. most prefer to run solaris on a sparc processor because of this as newer sparc procs have like 32 threads

wow, 32 threads for a sparc, that puts i7 to shame. but i bet its not as powerful, otherwise we'd be using sparcs now.

 

[Solaris17]

wow, 32 threads for a sparc, that puts i7 to shame.

unfprtunetely because of the arch windows cannot be installed on a sparc platform but i have an old spark server one of the older ones with 4 cores and even though its only clocked at 1Ghz i personally think the arch is superior it is crazy fast...not to mention
sun has had time to devolope it multi core sparc procs were available long before amd and intel added more cores. i think the proc in my sparc system pre dates Athelon x64 infact i think with some tasks the sparc proc out performs my E7200 at 4Ghz and i talking about a 1Ghz 4 core sparc.

 

[B1gg3stN00b]

Sun should make a more consumer friendly version of Solaris then and market it to the mainstream PC market then.

 

[KBD]

unfprtunetely because of the arch windows cannot be installed on a sparc platform but i have an old spark server one of the older ones with 4 cores and even though its only clocked at 1Ghz i personally think the arch is superior it is crazy fast...not to mention
sun has had time to devolope it multi core sparc procs were available long before amd and intel added more cores. i think the proc in my sparc system pre dates Athelon x64 infact i think with some tasks the sparc proc out performs my E7200 at 4Ghz and i talking about a 1Ghz 4 core sparc.

wow, didnt know that. I wonder if there are any mobos for Sparc

I thought AMD was the first multicore CPU, i guess it still is for desktops.

I found this article on wiki about Solaris:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solaris_(operating_system)

 

[Solaris17]

Sun should make a more consumer friendly version of Solaris then and market it to the mainstream PC market then.

Solaris 10 has added support for todays AMD and intel processors their is also openSolaris 10 which adds features and compatability for the main stream user

just for some info the Niagara 2 sparc has a clock speed between 1Ghz and 1.4Ghz has 8 cores and 8 threads per core for a total of 64 usable threads. their is also the ultra sparc RK (rock core) coming out in 09 that is clocked at 2.3Ghz with 16 cores and 2 threads per core for 32 usable threads.

 

[KBD]

just for some info the Niagara 2 sparc has a clock speed between 1Ghz and 1.4Ghz has 8 cores and 8 threads per core for a total of 64 usable threads. their is also the ultra sparc RK (rock core) coming out in 09 that is clocked at 2.3Ghz with 16 cores and 2 threads per core for 32 usable threads.

i'm surpised we are not hearing more about this. i think the enthusiast community will be interested in something like this, especially those jumpin on corei7. I wonder how those 16 core CPUS will overclock?

 

[B1gg3stN00b]

I could only imagine how amazing those 16 cores would handle Reason 4/encoding/decoding of video.

I think I came a little bit.

 

[Solaris17]

i'm surpised we are not hearing more about this. i think the enthusiast community will be interested in something like this, especially those jumpin on corei7. I wonder how those 16 core CPUS will overclock?

the enthusiest community isnt intrested as its not x86 so their isnt much gaming going on on sparc systems as for OC'ing i wouldnt know they are primarily for workstations so overclocking probably isnt even implimented on the boards and i dont think they have ever made an enthusiest type of mobo for sparc systems though the newer sparc chips are made on the 65nm fab so their might be oc head room if anyone could ever figure it out. though i imagine the throughput would be amazing for like super pi as sparc procs have massive amounts of cache.

 

[B1gg3stN00b]

Currently downloading openSolaris just for poops and giggles - now once I get it installed, what can I do with it?

 

[Solaris17]

Currently downloading openSolaris just for poops and giggles - now once I get it installed, what can I do with it?

same stuff as linux.

 

[KBD]

the enthusiest community isnt intrested as its not x86 so their isnt much gaming going on on sparc systems as for OC'ing i wouldnt know they are primarily for workstations so overclocking probably isnt even implimented on the boards and i dont think they have ever made an enthusiest type of mobo for sparc systems though the newer sparc chips are made on the 65nm fab so their might be oc head room if anyone could ever figure it out. though i imagine the throughput would be amazing for like super pi as sparc procs have massive amounts of cache.

thats a shame, they should find a way to make it work with x86 and x64 and Windows, i bet Sun can be a player in the desktop segment as well.

 

[B1gg3stN00b]

same stuff as linux.

That's part of the reason I never stuck with Linux, what can you do in it?

 

[Solaris17]

thats a shame, they should find a way to make it work with x86 and x64 and Windows, i bet Sun can be a player in the desktop segment as well.

they could if they tried but their pouring their money into the workstation segment as their top contenders. because they have the segment both ways either a company buys a bunch of blade systems (servers) or even if they settle for opteron/xeon servers they bank on the os

 

[Tau]

I remember hearing somewere that Sun was stoping Sparc development and moving towards some kind of joint venture with IBM? Though i could be confusing that with something else.

Think of Solaris as you would think of certain linux distros, its purpose built. its NOT for tweeking/gaming its basically a server os, that some people use for BASIC worstations as well.

I have been considering migrating some of my data servers over to it for ZFS (the Solaris filesystem) and giving Raid Z a go, as it sounds pretty nice on paper.

Just need to give it a couple more weeks on the virtual network to see how things boil out.

 

[B1gg3stN00b]

I'm already loving this more than Ubuntu, the interface is much better looking and so far decently easy to navigate. Now I just need to learn to install things!

It already has drivers for my video and network, which was a huge hassle to get in on Ubuntu! OpenSolaris is already making the cons of Ubuntu (for me, the inexperience know-nothing about unix) better.

 

[Solaris17]

I'm already loving this more than Ubuntu, the interface is much better looking and so far decently easy to navigate. Now I just need to learn to install things!

It already has drivers for my video and network, which was a huge hassle to get in on Ubuntu! OpenSolaris is already making the cons of Ubuntu (for me, the inexperience know-nothing about unix) better.

excellent thats awsome to hear

 

[B1gg3stN00b]

Yeah, I think it's gonna be nice for my school laptop because I've not had any errors/lag/anything of the sort, it runs smoother compared to Vista in general, and I'm sure OpenOffice will be compatible with it as it's a Sun product.

Plus it's really pretty

But anyways, it's rare to find a free OS that finds hardware/drivers right away, even XP wouldn't take to my sound/network/video drivers, but this does. I'm very impressed.

 

[Solaris17]

Yeah, I think it's gonna be nice for my school laptop because I've not had any errors/lag/anything of the sort, it runs smoother compared to Vista in general, and I'm sure OpenOffice will be compatible with it as it's a Sun product.

Plus it's really pretty

But anyways, it's rare to find a free OS that finds hardware/drivers right away, even XP wouldn't take to my sound/network/video drivers, but this does. I'm very impressed.

ooo pretty you say? you should post a screen shot

 

[B1gg3stN00b]

I will when I figure out the interwebs, it recognized the device, turns out, but didnt have the driver.

I also made the mistake of installing in UK English for shits and giggles, not knowing their keyboard layout was different, therefore I'm starting all over

 

[Solaris17]

I will when I figure out the interwebs, it recognized the device, turns out, but didnt have the driver.

I also made the mistake of installing in UK English for shits and giggles, not knowing their keyboard layout was different, therefore I'm starting all over

hahaah

 

[B1gg3stN00b]

Yeah, stupid, I know. But I'm gonna get this worked out! There's no better way to learn than reading and doing!

I've just got the sound drivers in

 

[Solaris17]

Yeah, stupid, I know. But I'm gonna get this worked out! There's no better way to learn than reading and doing!

I've just got the sound drivers in

awsome tell me how it goes i was going to put suse on my laptop but if the newer solaris works out then i might give it a go think the last one i used was 8