When we asked Sun Inner Circle readers what type of content they'd most like to see, how-to tech tips was atop the list with 78 percent. So here you go. We've rounded up five of our latest and greatest how-to tech tips on such hot topics as virtualization, Solaris OS administration, MySQL, storage, and identity management.
This list is just the tip of the iceberg, and you don't have to wait for Inner Circle to deliver tech tips to your inbox. Whatever your interest, you can find a wealth of how-to guidance at Sun and user-supported Web sites to improve your productivity, avoid costly pitfalls, and make the most of Sun technology.
1. Virtualization
» Understanding the Sun xVM Hypervisor Architecture
Virtualization is mandatory in today's datacenters. If your organization is looking for ways to do more with less, learn how to use the new Sun xVM hypervisor architecture to consolidate servers.
This in-depth Sun BluePrints paper provides practical guidance on how Sun xVM virtualization technology enables you to run multiple disparate operating systems and applications on a single x64 server. Michael Haines and David Edmonson supply tips on:
- Building energy-efficient datacenters
- Creating and configuring virtual domains
- Migrating virtual machine instances
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2. Solaris OS Administration
» So You Wanna Write Solaris OS Device Drivers?
Too many devices, too little time? Keeping up-to-date with growing numbers of peripheral devices that depend on the Solaris OS kernel can require some tech-savvy knowledge and skill in writing and porting drivers. And for the uninitiated, a first crack at writing a device driver can be intimidating.
Get code-level insights into streamlining the hardware/kernel interoperability with this BigAdmin feature. Author James Liu demystifies the process with a walk-through on the basics for both systems administrators and developers and supplies expert tips and code samples for a skeleton driver. Learn about:
- Understanding and using kernel modules
- Device/driver and device/kernel interfaces
- The Solaris OS device tree
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3. MySQL Database
» MySQL Clusters with Solaris Zones Partitioning
An option to Sun's MySQL database, MySQL Cluster software is often used as an in-memory database that supplies high throughput and 99.9999 percent availability with a shared-nothing architecture and automated failover in multi-node environments.
In this in-depth BigAdmin report, Sun engineer Hashamkha Pathan outlines how you can set up MySQL Cluster software to run with Solaris Zones partitioning technology. This virtualization technique can be useful for replicating an environment in-house without the cost and management overhead of using multiple physical systems, though it's possible to extend the setup to use Solaris Zones on different physical systems. Learn about:
- Creating Solaris Zones with command lines or scripts
- Installing and configuring MySQL Cluster software
- Testing cluster operations and failover
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4. Storage
» Run ZFS on a Sun Storage J4000 Array in 10 Minutes
If you dread the storage administration tasks of assembling volumes, building file systems, and creating and backing up snapshots, we understand. In the past, these complex tasks have typically required separate pieces of software.
Not with Solaris ZFS. Find out how Sun's 128-bit file system provides a one-stop shop that makes administrative chores amazingly easy. This short guide from Sun's Dominic Kay shows you how to get Solaris ZFS up and running on a Sun Storage J4000 array in just 10 minutes, covering ZFS pools, RAID levels, snapshots, and online backups. Learn about:
- Building a ZFS pool
- Creating and backing up file systems
- Taking, saving, and sending snapshots
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5. Identity Management
» Sun Java System Access Manager FAQ
Unauthorized access to data and applications remains a primary IT concern. In this Sun Developer Network FAQ on Sun Java System Access Manager, our commercial version of the OpenSSO project, you get guidance on installing, configuring, and tuning Sun Java Access Manager to govern authentication and authorization in Web, Java, federated, and Web services environments.
Find out how to deploy secure single sign-on to streamline access for employees, customers, suppliers, and partners while doubling down security. Learn about:
- Managing users in multiple directory servers
- Configuring new data stores and identity plug-ins
- Modifying and encrypting user passwords
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Get Involved! Learn from Experts, Share Your Own Tips
Today, thousands of Sun users and experts from around the world contribute and share how-to information in wikis, message forums, blogs, and other networking mediums. They collaborate with Sun engineers and developers to build and fine-tune insider tips and best practices that help the full user community use technology more efficiently and productively.
Every technologist recognizes that the devil's in the details. Given the complexity of IT systems, it can be easy to overlook or misinterpret a crucial point. The consequences can range from poor performance to costly downtime and reverse engineering. It almost always pays off to invest some time researching and understanding how others have tackled an issue.
Conversely, few things are more gratifying to the enterprising IT professional than improvising a clever workaround or writing some inventive command lines that makes technology work better. Online communities make it easy to share your breakthroughs with the world and earn yourself a little fame, if not fortune.
User-supported Sun communities and Web resources provide the best of both worlds. Whatever your interest, you'll find a wealth of expert information that can make or break the success of your IT initiatives. And you have the opportunity to share your own insights — and even earn cool prizes with the BigAdmin bucks program.
- BigAdmin: Our systems administrator community portal is jam-packed with insider tips from both Sun and end-user experts. Find out what this dynamic community offers, including content in eight languages.
- BigAdmin Bucks Program: Submit your own systems administration tech tips and earn such cool prizes as coffee mugs, T-shirts, 2 GB memory sticks, fleece jackets, and more.
- Sun BluePrints Wiki: The new Sun BluePrints wiki lets you post and modify in-depth how-to content on such topics as security, virtualization, chip multithreading, and Web tier systems.
- Sun Developer Network: With user groups and forums, wikis, and events, SDN is a one-stop shop for everything from JavaFX to Sun Studio to the NetBeans IDE.
- Sun Microsystems Documentation: Now in a dozen languages, our extensive collection supplies the documentation you need to make the most of Sun servers, storage, workstations, and software, including Solaris OS and Java technologies.
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