Extended File Attributes

The UFS, NFS, and TMPFS file systems have been enhanced to include extended file attributes. These attributes enable application developers to associate specific attributes to a file. For example, a developer of a file management application for a windowing system might choose to associate a display icon with a file.

For further information, see File System Enhancements.

New Fixed-Priority (FX) Scheduling Class

The FX scheduler provides a scheduling policy for processes that require user or application control of scheduling priorities. See System Resources Enhancements.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) service enables host systems to receive IP addresses and network configuration information. This information is received at boot time from a network server. Before the Solaris 8 7/01 release, DHCP configuration data could only be stored in text files or NIS+. Now, data access in the Solaris DHCP service has been redesigned to use a modular framework. Solaris DHCP provides an API that enables you to write shared objects that support any data storage facility for storing DHCP data.

The Solaris DHCP Service Developer's Guide provides an overview of the data access framework that is used by Solaris DHCP. The guide also provides general guidelines for developers. Also included is a listing of the API functions that you can use to write a module to support a new data store.

For further information, see the Solaris DHCP Service Developer's Guide.

Solaris Web Start Wizards SDK 3.0.1

Solaris Web Start Wizards simplify the installation, setup, and administration of native Solaris, Java, and non-Java applications. With Web Start Wizards, developers can copackage both Solaris and Microsoft Windows versions of their applications. The installation wizard manages the platform specifics.

The Web Start Wizards SDK 3.0.1 is now included with the Solaris 9 release. SDK 3.0.1 can be installed by using the Solaris Web Start installation program.

Modular Debugger (mdb)

The mdb utility is an extensible utility for low-level debugging and editing of the live operating system. The utility can also debug system crash dumps, user processes, user process core dumps, and object files. In the Solaris 9 release, mdb provides new symbolic debugging support for the Solaris kernel and new kernel debugger commands. The mdb utility also provides new features for the examination and control of live running user processes, and the ability to examine raw disk files and devices.

The Solaris Modular Debugger Guide and the mdb(1) man page provide more information.

Audio Enhancements

New audio directories have been added to the Solaris 9 operating environment. The /usr/include/audio directory is a new directory for applications' audio header files. The audio file format has a new header file, /usr/include/audio/au.h, and man page, au(4).

The /usr/share/audio directory is a new depository for miscellaneous audio files. The audio files from the /usr/demo/SOUND/sounds directory have been moved here. A symbolic link from /usr/demo/SOUNDS/sounds to /usr/share/audio/samples/au has been created. This link enables current applications and current scripts to run without failure.

Numerous bug fixes have been made to the audio kernel modules to improve reliability.

For further information, see the System Administration Guide: Basic Administration.

Vectored System Call: sendfilev()

The vectored system call, sendfilev(), enables better performance for sending data from application buffers or files. For example, in web performance, a web server can construct an HTTP response in a single system call. This HTTP response includes header, data, and trailer as well as server-side includes. This feature provides optimal performance with the Solaris Network Cache and Accelerator (NCA). The sendfilev() system call enables the return of multiple chunks, which might come from various files, for the response.

For further information, see the sendfilev(3EXT) and sendfile(3EXT) man pages.

Verify File Conformance With the appcert Utility

The appcert utility verifies an object file's conformance to the Solaris ABI. Conforming to the Solaris ABI greatly increases an application's probable compatibility with future releases of Solaris software.

For more information, see "Using appcert" in the Programming Interfaces Guide.

Generic Security Services Application Programming Interface (GSS-API)

The Generic Security Services Application Programming Interface (GSS-API) is a security framework that enables applications to protect their transmitted data.

See Security Enhancements.

Web-Based Enterprise Management Tools

The Solaris 9 release includes the following enhancements for web-based enterprise management.

Solaris WBEM Services 2.5

Solaris WBEM Services 2.5 is Sun Microsystems' implementation of Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM). WBEM is a set of management and Internet-related technologies. These technologies are intended to unify the management of enterprise computing environments. Developed by the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF), WBEM enables organizations to deliver an integrated set of standards-based management tools. These tools support and promote World Wide Web technology. Solaris WBEM Services was updated to version 2.5 in the Solaris 9 release.

For further information about WBEM, see the new Solaris WBEM Developer's Guide, which has replaced the Solaris WBEM Services Administration Guide and the Solaris WBEM SDK Developer's Guide.

New WBEM Batching API Added

The Java Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) client application programming interface (API) now supports the batching of multiple Common Interface Model (CIM) operations by a client into a single "request and response." The CIM Object Manager now accepts and services these batched requests as well. This facility is defined in the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) Specification for CIM Operations Over HTTP.

The number of remote calls that a client needs to make is consequently reduced.

For further information about WBEM, see the new Solaris WBEM Developer's Guide, which has replaced the Solaris WBEM Services Administration Guide and the Solaris WBEM SDK Developer's Guide.

WBEM CIM WorkShop Enhanced

CIM WorkShop provides a graphical user interface for the WBEM development tool. CIM WorkShop can be used by instrumentation, system, and network application developers. These developers can view and create WBEM classes and WBEM instances through CIM WorkShop.

In CIM WorkShop, you can do following:

• View and select namespaces

• Add and delete namespaces

• View, create, modify, and delete classes

• Add and delete properties, qualifiers, and methods to new classes

• View, create, and delete instances

• View, modify, and delete instance values

• Traverse associations

• Execute methods

• Display contextual help

Enhancements and new features that are available in CIM Workshop include the following:

• Updated and corrected contextual help.

• Ability to traverse associations.

• Ability to subscribe to and display information about events for a selected class, thus enabling you to debug applications that use events more easily. You can use this new feature only when you select the RMI protocol.

• Ability to submit WBEM Query Language (WQL) queries that search for and display WBEM information.

For further information about WBEM, see the new Solaris WBEM Developer's Guide, which has replaced the Solaris WBEM Services Administration Guide and the Solaris WBEM SDK Developer's Guide.