Summary

This chapter reviewed the Solaris startup and shutdown procedures. Powering up the system in the proper sequence, entering the OpenBoot PROM, booting the system, and loading the kernel were discussed.

The various system init states were then described, detailing how Solaris processes and services are started beginning from bootup and continuing to multiuser mode. The system administrator can further control these services by adding and removing run control scripts.

Finally, the chapter described how important it is to shut down the system properly because the integrity of the data can be compromised if the proper shutdown steps are not performed. All the various commands used to shut down the system in an orderly manner were outlined.

The next chapter will describe OpenBoot in more detail. In upcoming chapters, you’ll learn more about the Solaris operating environment and— just as important—the computer hardware. Thorough knowledge of these two system components is essential before you can adequately troubleshoot system startup problems.