Welcome to the Solaris Operating System (OS) Hardware Certification Program for x86, x64, SPARC systems and components.

This program enables independent hardware vendors (IHVs), system manufacturers, system integrators, and end users to certify their systems and components for the Solaris OS on x86, x64 and SPARC platforms. You can also test the Solaris 10 OS or the OpenSolaris OS running as a guest OS on virtual platforms.

All hardware that passes certification testing by using the HCTS application is eligible to be included in the Solaris OS Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) as a Certified system or component.

Certification tests for x86, x64, and SPARC products cover both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures. Certification tests cover both the Solaris 10 OS and update releases and the OpenSolaris OS and updated releases.

This page provides the following information about the Hardware Certification Test Suite:

• Before You Begin
• Steps to Certify
• Certification for Systems
• Certification for Components
• Download HCTS
• Solaris Ready Logo Program
• More Information

The Hardware Certification Test Suite (HCTS) is an application to be used to test your system or component to verify that it is compatible with the Solaris OS on x86 and SPARC platforms. HCTS testing enables you to certify server, desktop, and laptop systems and to certify many different types of components. In June 2009, Sun released HCTS 4.3, which replaces the previous HCTS 4.2 version.

Read the User Guide ( HTML | PDF ).

Before You Begin

Note: Before you use HCTS, be sure to check whether your hardware is already shown on the Solaris OS Hardware Compatibility Lists (HCL).

If your system is not listed on the HCL, use one of the following tools to estimate how well the Solaris OS will install and run on your system:

• The Sun Device Detection Tool reports both built-in and third-party Solaris driver availability for particular x86 systems.
• On any x86 system, you can use the Installation Check Tool to determine quickly whether the system is likely to be able to install the Solaris OS.
• See Solaris for x86 Device Support for the latest list of device support that comes built in to the Solaris OS.

Any drivers that are needed for a system or component should be available from one of the following sources:

• Solaris OS media
• Download from Sun
• IHV web site

Modifications to Solaris image or drivers are not permitted.

Steps to Certify

To certify a system or component, perform the following steps:

1. Set up your systems.

   Set up your systems as described in the User Guide. This setup includes downloading and installing the Solaris OS and downloading and installing HCTS.

2. Run the required certification tests.

   Note that to certify a 64-bit system or device, you must run the HCTS tests with the system in 64-bit mode. Results from a 32-bit test run are not acceptable to certify a 64-bit system or device.

3. Submit the test results to Sun for audit.

   Note: Submissions using HCTS 4.2 are not acceptable after September 19, 2009. It is recommended to use HCTS 4.3 in such cases to make your submissions valid.

   As part of your submittal, make sure you complete the following steps:

   1. Legal agreement. A legal agreement is required to indemnify Sun and the Submitter before data can be published on the HCL. To complete the agreement online, click the following button:

      If you cannot submit a legal agreement online, complete the following steps to submit the legal agreement on paper:

      1. Click the above Legal Agreement button. Fill out the form completely.
      2. At the end of the process, click Decline instead of Accept.
      3. When you click Decline, you are asked why you decline. Click the button for the response, "I want to sign a hard copy."
      4. Then click the Hard Copy button.
      5. On the next page, click the View Agreement button.
      6. Print two copies of the agreement and have an authorized company representative sign both copies.
      7. Click the Continue button.
      8. Click the Exit button.

      To expedite your transaction, fax a signed copy to:

      Sun China Engineering & Research Institute
      86-10-62780968

      Mail both original signed documents to Sun at the following address:

      Sun China Engineering & Research Institute
      Hardware Certification Team
      10/F Chuangxin Plaza, Tsinghua Science Park
      Beijing, 100084, P.R. China

   2. Test results archive file. Email the test results archive file that was generated in /opt/SUNWhcts/package when you used HCTS. Include in the email the following information:

      • Manufacturer
      • Model
      • Company Name
      • Contact Name
      • Contact Email Address

The Systems Hardware Certification Program enables system manufacturers to demonstrate that their systems are compatible with the Solaris OS. Systems include desktop systems, laptops, servers, motherboards, and integrated components. Certification provides a higher level of assurance, which customers should consider when purchasing software support.

System certification requires two test machines: a Test Manager system and a System Under Test. Set up your systems as described in the User Guide.

The Solaris OS Hardware Certification Program for components enables IHVs to certify that the components supported by the device drivers under test are compatible with the Solaris OS.

You can use HCTS 4.3 to certify the following components or device types:

• Network components
  10-GB ethernet
  Gigabit ethernet
  Fast ethernet
  
• InfiniBand HCA
• Serial I/O components
  Serial Asynchronous Interface (SAI/P)
• Storage components
  SCSI
  iSCSI
  RAID
  Fibre channel
  SATA
  SAS
• USB devices
  USB hard disk and solid-state storage device
  USB CD/DVD reader device
  USB CD/DVD writer device
  USB keyboard device
• CD-ROM/DVD-ROM
• CD-RW/DVD-RW
• Audio
• Video
• WiFi cards

Network, serial I/O, WiFi card and InfiniBand HCA certification require two test machines: a Test Manager system and a System Under Test. The other types of certifications require only one test machine. Set up your systems as described in the User Guide.

• Network, InfiniBand HCA, WiFi card, and serial I/O certification

• Other types of certification

To download HCTS 4.3, click on the following link. You are directed to the download page. Provide the login and other details to download the product.

Download HCTS 4.3 Now

The HCTS 4.3 download window remains open while you download the HCTS 4.3 archive file.

Check the User Guide to make sure your system meets all requirements before you extract and install the HCTS.

Vendors and developers are also encouraged to consider registering their products for the Solaris Ready program. Information about registration and requirements to attain Solaris Ready certification is at http://www.sun.com/solarisready.

Solaris Ready certification provides third-party vendors with the opportunity to display the Solaris Ready logo on certified products. The logo is widely recognized. The Solaris Ready logo identifies products that have demonstrated functionality on Solaris platforms and that have vendor support available. A variety of co-marketing activities and technical assistance are also available to vendors.