What is the Difference Between Solaris 10 and Solaris 11?

The main differences between Solaris 10 and Solaris 11 are in package administration, OS installation methods, zones enhancement, and network virtualization. Here are some key differences between the two versions:

• Packaging System: Solaris 10 uses the SVR4 packaging system, while Solaris 11 uses the Image Packaging System (IPS), which is a network repository-based packaging system similar to those used in Linux distributions.
• Installation and Upgrade: In Solaris 10, JumpStart is used for installation, while Live Upgrade is used for upgrading the OS. In Solaris 11, the Automated Installer and IPS commands are used for installation and upgrading.
• Zones: Solaris 10 supports both Solaris 8 and Solaris 9 branded zones, but they require additional licensing. In Solaris 11, zones are part of the base offering and are fully supported without any additional licensing requirements.
• Network Bandwidth Management: In Solaris 11, network bandwidth management is integrated into the data link layer to minimize performance impact.
• iSCSI Support: Solaris 10 uses the iSCSI target, the iscsitadm command, and the ZFS shareiscsi property to configure iSCSI LUNs. Administration is through the COMSTAR. In Solaris 11, a more flexible environment for iSCSI support is provided.
• Root File System: In Solaris 10, the root file system can be UFS-based or ZFS-based, while in Solaris 11, the root file system is ZFS.

While there are many differences between the two versions, the knowledge gained from basic Solaris 11 administration can be applied to Solaris 10, as both systems share many common concepts and features. However, some specific tools and commands may vary between the two versions.

Comparative Table: Solaris 10 vs Solaris 11

Here is a table comparing the differences between Solaris 10 and Solaris 11:

Solaris 11 introduces the Image Packaging System (IPS) as a modern, network repository-based packaging system, which simplifies the installation and maintenance of Oracle Solaris compared to Solaris 10. Solaris 11 also brings improvements in system software maintenance by updating packages instead of applying patches.

Solaris 10 supports Solaris 8 and 9 Branded Zones with additional licensing requirements, while Solaris 11 includes support for these zones as part of its base offering. However, ZFS dedupe is not supported in Solaris 10, but you can migrate a pool from a Solaris 11 system to a Solaris 10 system without further dedupe occurring when the pool is imported.