Solaris: Clock Synchronization, Max Username Length, Removable Media

Synchronize System Time with a Remote Host

One option is to rely on Network Time Protocol. If NTP is not available, rdate is an alternative to set the local system time to the time and date returned by the remote host (server).

1. NTP

   eg.,

   # date
   Thu Jan 28 13:47:54 PST 2016
   
   # ntpdate 10.131.45.1 <-- 10.131.45.1 is the NTP server within the network
   29 Jan 15:28:38 ntpdate[21143]: step time server 10.131.45.1 offset 92435.318367 sec
   
   # date
   Fri Jan 29 15:28:42 PST 2016
   

2. rdate

   Steps:

   • On server, ensure that time:stream service is online. If not, bring it online. server is the host that provides date/time.

     # ( svcs -H svc:/network/time:stream | grep online ) || \
      ( svcadm -v enable time:stream && svcadm -v enable time:dgram )
     svc:/network/time:stream enabled.
     svc:/network/time:dgram enabled.
     

   • On client, run: rdate <server>

     eg.,

     # date
     Thu Jan 28 13:54:37 PST 2016
     
     # rdate 10.131.45.104 <-- 10.131.45.104 is just another host with the time service enabled.
     Fri Jan 29 15:41:47 2016
     
     # date
     Fri Jan 29 15:41:49 PST 2016
     

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Listing Removable Media

.. such as CD-ROM, DVD-ROM and PCMCIA cards.

Related command: rmformat

eg.,

# rmformat
Looking for devices...
     1. Logical Node: /dev/rdsk/c1t0d0s2
        Physical Node: /pci@304/pci@1/pci@0/pci@2/usb@0/storage@2/disk@0,0
        Connected Device: SUN      Remote ISO CDROM 1.01
        Device Type: CD Reader
        Bus: USB
        Size: 103.3 MB
        Label: 
        Access permissions: Medium is not write protected.
     2. Logical Node: /dev/rdsk/c2t0d0s2
        Physical Node: /pci@304/pci@2/usb@0/storage@1/disk@0,0
        Connected Device: VT       eUSB DISK        5206
        Device Type: Removable
        Bus: USB
        Size: 2.0 GB
        Label: 
        Access permissions: Medium is not write protected.
..

In addition to listing, the same command can also be used to format, label, partition removable & rewritable media.

rmmount and rmumount utilities can be used to mount and unmount removable or hot-pluggable volumes.

eg.,

List the mountable device along with path(s)

# rmmount -l
/dev/dsk/c1t0d0s2    cdrom,cdrom0,cd,cd0,sr,sr0,CDROM,/media/CDROM

SEE ALSO:
Man pages of rmformat(1) and rmmount(1).

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Solaris Username Length

useradd command accepts usernames up to 32 characters. OS may warn beyond 8 characters - simply ignore if more than 8 characters is a requirement.

eg.,

# useradd guyfawkes
UX: useradd: guyfawkes name too long.

# su guyfawkes

# id guyfawkes
uid=110(guyfawkes) gid=10(staff)

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Directory Listing as a Tree

Check and install file/tree package if doesn't exist.

# ( pkg list -q file/tree ) || ( pkg install pkg:/file/tree )

List the directory using tree(1) command.

# tree -d /opt/SUNWldm
/opt/SUNWldm
|-- bin
|   `-- schemas
|-- lib
|   |-- contrib
|   |-- ds
|   `-- templates
|-- man
|   |-- ja_JP.UTF-8
|   |   `-- man1m
|   `-- man1m
`-- platform
    `-- ORCL,SPARC64-X
        `-- lib
            `-- ds

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