Unix Systems Support

Solaris System Administration Resources

One of the most important issues in managing any operating system is keeping your system secure so as to minimize downtime. This involves keeping your system up-to-date on security patches, adding additional security packages, subscribing to electronic mailing lists for security announcements for your operating system, and subscribing to the campus sysadmin-l mailing lists.

Although Sun makes security related patches available for free, without a support contract or software subscription, the other patches are only available in "Update Releases." Time between update releases seems to be around 12 months.

Sun recommend that any production systems be covered by a subscription or support contrac.  More info:
    Stricter Solaris patch entitlement implementation roll-out commencing this week


    Solaris Software Updates (i.e Patch) Entitlement Access Policy


Solaris security: Sun’s resource for security advisories, T-patches, security bulletin archives and Sun Alerts

Solaris patch portal: Starting point for Solaris patches

Sun BigAdmin: Sun’s SysAdmin portal for Sun operating system and hardware information

Sun BluePrints: Sun articles explaining the "latest best practices using Sun solutions."

Sun software: Software has been grouped by categories and links lead to additional details on each category. Or go directly to Sun Microsystems Download Center to download software such as GNOME, Java, Mozilla, or OpenOffice.