ZONES (OS level Virtualization) !!!!

With the concept of ZONES (OS level virtualizing) can create multiple instance on existing OS. So that we can manage multiple applications and their environments within one operating system instance.

Let us start with types of zones :

1) Sparse root zone      2) Whole root zone      3) Branded zones

Whole root zone : A wholeroot zone copies all the packages from global zone. 

Sparse root Zone : It maintains an loop back filesystem (LOFS) of all the critical file system from the base OS. It shares the main configuration files from the global zone. /usr, /platform, /sbin, /lib are the file systems are shared from global zone. 

To know the difference between zone, create both whole and sparse root zone, then type the command: 

$zonecfg -z <zonename> info 

  inherit-pkg-dir:

Branded zones : We need to install packages from OS.

For any kind of zone there will be some common states.

1) Uninitialized : initial state of a zone.Not yet started anything.
2) Configured : soon after configuring paramaters, zone will be in configured state.No software has been installed yet. 
3) Incomplete : In this state we can install packages.Zone is ready to be installed or uninstalled.
4) Installed  : Package tools can be run.After installing complete parameters a zone will be in installed state.
5) Ready : Zone is installed and about to move to running state. 
6) Running : Zone will be providing its services.

If a zone is currently in running state to perform any operation like reboot or deletion we need to halt the zone first and then reboot or uninstall.

Let say to delete my existing zone , I need to follow below steps :

zoneadm -z <zone> halt                         ------ halting my zone.

zoneadm -z <zone> uninstall                 ------ uninstall now

zonecfg -z <zone> delete -F                   ------ now we can delete it 

All the administration related tasks will be done by using zoneadm command

and all configuration related tasks will be done by using zonecfg command.

Few regular usage commands :

To view list of zones         zoneadm list -cv

To verify a zone   zoneadm -z <zone> verify

To install a zone                zoneadm -z <zone> install

To make a zone ready   zoneadm -z <zone> ready

To boot a zone     zoneadm -z <zone> boot

To reboot a zone   zoneadm -z <zone> reboot

To halt a zone                   zoneadm -z <zone> halt

To uninstall a zone            zoneadm -z <zone> uninstall -F

zonecfg -z myz

myz: No such zone configured

Use 'create' to begin configuring a new zone.

zonecfg:myz>

zonecfg:myz> create

zonecfg:myz>

zonecfg:myz> set zonepath=/testz

zonecfg:myz> verify

zonecfg:myz> commit

zonecfg:myz> 

zonecfg:myz>add net

zonecfg:myz:net> set physical=eri0

zonecfg:myz:net> set address=192.168.100.111

zonecfg:myz:net> end

zonecfg:myz>add device

zonecfg:myz:device>set match = /dev/dsk/c1t0d0s5

zonecfg:myz:device>end

zonecfg:myz:fs> end

zonecfg:myz> add inherit-pkg-dir

zonecfg:myz:inherit-pkg-dir> set dir=/opt/csw

zonecfg:myz:inherit-pkg-dir> end
zonecfg:myz> info

 zonepath: /testz

 autoboot: true

 pool:

 inherit-pkg-dir:

         dir: /lib

 inherit-pkg-dir:

         dir: /platform

 inherit-pkg-dir:

         dir: /sbin

 inherit-pkg-dir:

         dir: /usr

 inherit-pkg-dir:

         dir: /opt/csw

 net:

         address: 192.168.100.111

         physical: eri0

 zonecfg:myz> verify

 zonecfg:myz> commit

 zonecfg:myz> exit

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