In this chapter, you will

• Understand the role of the kernel, shell and file system

• Review commonly used Solaris shells

• Investigate the distinction between a multiuser system and a multitasking system

• Explore the role of clients and servers

• Define hosts, hostnames, networks, and IP addresses

• Explore the range of SPARC and Intel hardware supported by Solaris

Understanding what makes Solaris different from other operating systems is critical to appreciating why it is the environment of choice for high-availability client/server environments. In this chapter, we review the terms used to describe Solaris systems and major components, as well as networking terminology associated with Solaris networks. Understanding these terms will ensure that you understand some of the concepts discussed in later chapters. Much Solaris terminology is particular to the context of Solaris systems, and some generic terms may have one meaning in Solaris but another meaning for other operating systems. For example, while the term host may be used generically to identify any system attached to a network, it may be used in Solaris, to refer to multihomed hosts.