SolarNet Architecture

Overview

The SolarNet based network is a standards-based high-end networking system that integrates PC networking and administrative services within the Solaris distributed computing environment. The SolarNet environment combines the power of an industry-leading, multitasking, multiprocessing operating system with advanced PC installation and management capabilities required for client-server computing.

SolarNet networking software is an evolutionary product. The initial release of SolarNet will run on a SPARC/Solaris server and will supports MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows clients. The client portion of SolarNet is based on PC-NFS 5.1 software --- giving customers all the benefits of SunSelect's leading PC-NFS software, plus more. SolarNet software provides a new installation, administration, and management framework for the PC-NFS environment. SolarNet software therefore offers a migration path for PC-NFS customers who have a SPARC/Solaris 2.3 (or higher) server.

Standards Based

SolarNet is based on open standards to protect customer investment and lower overall cost of ownership. The standards supported by SolarNet include:

Networking standards such as TCP/IP and the ONC+/NFS distributed computing environment. SolarNet software is a fully scalable networking solution, allowing tens of thousands of PCs to utilize local and wide area connectivity
Networking standards such as the dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) for server and client communication. Through DHCP, SolarNet software centralizes client network configuration parameter management on the server and dynamically allocates and manages IP addresses
Network management standards such as the simple network management protocol (SNMP). SolarNet software extends support for SNMP to the PC, allowing it to be managed together with other network resources
Network driver standards such as NDIS and ODI. In addition, SolarNet software supports interoperability with Novell NetWare through support for ODI. This allows SolarNet software to run TCP/IP and NetWare on the same Ethernet adapter
Application development standards such as Windows Sockets API, XTI, TIRPC, and NetBIOS. These increase user access to a wide variety of custom and off-the-shelf applications

SolarNet Technical Product Details

Overview

SolarNet software offers customers a framework for developing a client-server computing environ-ment that includes PCs based on standards and open systems. It provides a set of administrative tools that enables network managers to more effectively manage the distributed network with fewer staff and reduced costs. SolarNet clients are able to transparently share files and resources across the TCP/IP network while maintaining their familiar MS-DOS or Microsoft Windows interfaces, thereby reducing training requirements.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

SolarNet supports the DHCP client and server daemon. DHCP is an Internet standard consisting of two components

A protocol for delivering client configuration parameters
- DHCP moves the management of client-specific network configuration parameters from users at individual PCs to a centralized server database. Once the DHCP server is configured, clients can automatically receive their configuration parameters during the boot process. Through SolarNet's filesharing capabilities, many of the application files that used to be installed and configured on the PC are now available directly from the SolarNet server and do not need to be moved to the PC client
- DHCP is based on the Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP), and provides automatic allocation of reusable network addresses and additional configuration options. DHCP captures the behavior of BOOTP relay agents as well as enabling DHCP participants to interoperate with BOOTP participants, this preserving customers' existing investment in resources
A mechanism for allocating network addresses to clients
- The server automatically manages IP addresses through DHCP. The server automatically allocates, changes, and de-allocates IP addresses. It efficiently handles three types of addresses: permanent, dynamic, and manual. This frees network administrators from the time-consuming task of IP address management

Server-centric Administration

One of the primary advantages of SolarNet software is that it centralizes information and control while allowing distributed access from the administrator's desktop PC. SolarNet server software centralizes such important administrative tasks as

Allocating SolarNet and PC-NFS licenses
Authenticating users
Defining the client's network environment
Delivering client network environments through boot information
Monitoring the state of resources

SolarNet software enables network administrators to perform the more common administrative tasks at any Windows-based PC client with Microsoft Windows GUI tools. Administrators are able to set policies such as user and client system defaults. In addition, administrators can manage users and clients individually (creating accounts and home directories, changing client host names, and so on). SolarNet software also provides full access to the administration tools available on the UNIX; server so that an administrator who prefers to work in the UNIX environment can easily create scripts that incorporate SolarNet commands.

Administrative Tools

SolarNet software provides easy-to-use administrative tools that allow network managers to choose how to exercise the more common administrative functions. Network managers can exercise these functions from any Windows client PC using the Windows interface, or from the server using the command-line interface. The administrative utilities that are less frequently used are available only on the server.

The SolarNet administrative tools are

UserTool: Manages users and groups from the PC on the server NIS+ directory service. Allows the network manager to add, delete, and modify user and group information such as accounts, passwords, and home directories
ClientTool: Manages the aspects of the SolarNet network that refer to network PC clients such as names of client machines and IP addresses. Provides a simplified method of modifying new or existing client information, adding a new network client, or removing information about a client from the network. Administers the collection of information related to client-specific directory service information and client booting policies, including automatic client configuration (DHCP). ClientTool also directs PCs to application, printer, and name services

User Views

Network administrators can define and maintain users' individual and shared environments from the server. Through the DHCP protocol and centralized databases, the PC environment is communicated to the PC at boot time. There are four types of user views in the SolarNet network:

The fully shared view: All application executable and configuration files are shared on the servers, which enables end users to see the same view (e.g., specific applications and mounted drives). Any administrative changes to the shared view are seen by all users
The per user view: The shared environment can be customized for any user log-in. Since this view is imposed on the shared view, a user can log into any PC on the SolarNet network and see that person's customized environment
The local machine view: Enables application executables and files to be copied to a hard disk, therebycreating an environment specific to a certain machine. In this environment, centralized changes to the shared view are not automatically seen on the machine
The workgroup view: Upon log in users are identified as members of workgroups. Scripts can be executed upon log in according to workgroup specification, creating a common view for members of the group

Customizing User Views

SolarNet software allows administrators to completely customize any user view.

User views are implemented through a combination of fully modifiable DHCP boot time parameters and fully customizable administration script files on the SolarNet server
The user view mechanisms are policy-free and completely flexible in their ability to support site-specific customization of administration policies
User view scripts are centralized on the server and are under the administrator's control, providing complete security in delivering the site policies to the PC clients
Administrators can customize the steps involved in booting the PC client machines, in logging in and logging out users, and in setting up workgroup environments

Naming Services

To enable enterprise networking, naming services store information that users, workstations, and applications need to communicate across the network. Information about addresses, security, mail, interfaces, network services, and groups of users is stored in a database on the server, thereby eliminating the need for each workstation to keep and maintain copies of this information. As changes occur, administrators update only the information on the server that provides correct information to the clients. SolarNet software uses Sun's enterprise naming service, NIS+, and is compatible with NIS and DNS.

NIS+

The Network Information Service Plus (NIS+) is a distributed, hierarchical name service from SunSoft that is the follow-on product to the widely installed ONC Network Information Service (NIS). NIS+ was designed to address the enterprise needs of the networks of the 1990s. These networks are growing tremendously, contain multivendor clients, and require more security provisions. NIS+ reduces administration effort in a changing global network. NIS+ offers capabilities vital to a client-server environment such as its hierarchical naming domains, rapid update, update from application, and security.

NIS+ is a repository of user-friendly names and attributes of network resources such as hosts, applications, users, and mailboxes. NIS+ clients --- both applications and users --- can efficiently look up information on network resources and access these resources in a location-independent way. NIS+ also plays an important role in the efficient operation and administration of distributed systems by acting as a central point for addition, removal, or relocation of resources.

Support for NIS+ gives SolarNet software powerful capabilities, including

Secure access to network resources
Scalability
Easy network administration
Autonomous subnetwork administration
Consistent information
High availability through replicated servers
Rapid availability of administrative updates
Ability to update name service tables directly from administrative applications through its API

NIS

NIS is still used by many customers and may be used in conjunction with NIS+. NIS provides access to a set of databases containing such information as host names, Internet addresses, and Ethernet addresses. SolarNet clients can use NIS, but NIS is administered from the server rather than the PC.

DNS

Domain Name Services (DNS) is an Internet standard with which SolarNet is compatible. DNS is a distributed database of host information available across the entire network through a client-server scheme. SolarNet software supports using DNS as the PC client naming service for obtaining host information, usually in conjunction with another naming service (NIS+ or NIS) for other administrative data such as user and group information.

Network Management

SNMP support is a key SolarNet benefit in that it enables PC clients to be integrated into the enterprise-management system. Network administrators can obtain the same vital information about PCs on the network that was previously only available in UNIX systems, mainframes, or minicomputers. With SNMP, a system or network manager can monitor and control objects in the network such as PCs, servers, routers, and so on. Information about each object in a network (for instance, PCs) is collected in a management information base (MIB) so that the objects can be monitored and controlled.

Because SolarNet software supports the SNMP standard, it is compatible with any SNMP network management product such as Sun's SunNet Manager product, HP's OpenView and IBM's NetView. The PC clients, whether they are MS-DOS or Windows based, can now serve as agents of the SNMP management systems. This means that the PCs can now respond with requested information as well as forward error information back to the manager. SNMP-compliant network management products improve LAN availability and performance and reduce network management costs. SolarNet SNMP support extends these benefits to PC clients on the network.

SolarNet offers network administrators the ability to manage their networks more productively and cost-effectively through SunNet Manager and the additional information available in the Host Resources MIB. This information is vital to a network manager for asset management and capability planning. With the Host Resources MIB, an administrator can select a machine and request information about:

Hardware, such as storage devices and free space
Windows software running on the PC at any point in time
Windows applications, such as what is installed and when it was installed

In addition to support for SNMP and the Host Resources MIB, SolarNet software offers several administration tools that help minimize the workload of the network system administrator. These tools include several network statistics and information utilities (such as Ping and NIS information).

Security

SolarNet software extends network security to the PC client. PC users and administrators must log in to access network services. Restrictions on server files and directories apply to data accessed by PC clients. User views may be used to restrict user access to only the network resources needed.

SolarNet software uses Secure RPC (remote procedure call) for secure authentication of clients and servers in the SolarNet environment. This is required for running administrative applications. This authentication is done between the user and the SolarNet server at login time, or it can be done at the time an administrative application is started.

Another security aspect of SolarNet software is the use of a more sophisticated authorization mechanism based on access control lists (ACLs). This allows an administrator to delegate authority to execute subsets of administrative tasks to different users. A permission table is maintained in the naming service for this purpose. While the administrator may choose to designate certain users to perform the most common administrative tasks, such as adding users, higher clearance is required for more advanced administrative functions.

Windows Integration

SolarNet software features full integration with Microsoft Windows 3, which provides enhanced productivity and ease of use for PC users. This means that SolarNet software:

Uses the standard Windows network interface through file manager, print manager, and the control panel
Includes Windows and MS-DOS versions of network utilities including FTP, TELNET, Ping, console messaging, Network Information Query, and more
Includes full on-line Windows-based help
Supports Windows for Workgroups

Windows Sockets API

The Windows Sockets API is included with SolarNet software and provides additional flexibility in developing distributed Windows applications. The Windows Sockets API allows a TCP/IP application to run under Windows and use network-distributed data and resources.

Broad Application Support

One of SolarNet software's major strengths is its broad application support, which is critical to ensuring that a network solution will support all of the user's applications. SolarNet software includes support for MS-DOS, Windows, NetBIOS and Windows Sockets meaning that it runs with most applications that PC users run today. SolarNet software is also supported by more than 300 third-party application vendors.

Partner Program

SunSelect is actively working with strategic partners to complete the SolarNet vision by developing more administrative tools. The First Floor Valet file organizer is the result of one of these partnerships. As a result of the partner program, SolarNet administrators will find their jobs made easier by such valuable tools as backup programs, X server products, and multi-protocol integration products. When a customer purchases SolarNet software, demonstrations of these additional products will accompany the software on the SolarNet CD-ROM. The customer will have the necessary information to evaluate and order these products, if desired. In addition, SolarNet works with hundreds of end-user applications developed by ISV partners. These are listed in the PC-NFS third-party product catalog.

First Floor Valet

First Floor Valet software comes packaged with SolarNet software, enabling Windows users to understand and track information across the network as well as share that information with others on the network. The capabilities provided include:

Finding files
Organizing files into a single view (including templates, executables, documents, etc.)
Annotating files so that the contents of the file are immediately apparent
Sharing files with others on the network, including comments made by the user and responses by others with whom the files are shared
Monitoring any additions or changes to files and their comments

In addition, First Floor Valet software features a simple user interface to help Windows users work with PC-NFS networking and access or share network files, including:

Automatic access to network drives as needed so that users can transparently use files from any available authorized server without having to issue complex commands or remember to use the same drive letters every time
Assisting users with file permissions, so that they can effectively share files with other users without help from an administrator

Documentation

SolarNet software comes with on-line documentation, providing users with ready access to all product information. This includes the SolarNet client and server documentation sets in electronic format, accessible from both the Solaris server and Windows client platforms. These collections are included on the SolarNet CD --- from which they can be installed on the server or exported directly.

SolarNet on-line browsers are state-of-the-art. Books are selected in a collection window listing the available documentation sets and are navigated and viewed in a separate book window. Navigational techniques include:

TOC navigation: Items in an expandable table of contents link directly to the appropriate sections in the book
Hypertext links: Similarly, cross-references in the body of the book are electronically linked to the points of reference elsewhere in the book
Searching: The browsers include full text search capabilities, operable at both the book and collection levels, pinpointing the precise locations where search terms appear

An on-line documentation facility greatly enhances the SolarNet's overall ease of use and administration. Hard copy manuals on installation, configuration, and administration are also included in the SolarNet base package. Additional hardcopy manuals for MS-DOS clients without access to Windows can be obtained by ordering PC-NFS documentation.

Transparent Access

SolarNet software provides MS-DOS and Windows users with transparent access to the resources of the TCP/IP network including UNIX systems, minicomputers, mainframes, supercomputers, and other enterprise computing resources.

Client-Server Computing

SolarNet software offers customers the critical ability to implement client-server computing with PCs as the clients. Customers and networking vendors alike recognize the limitations of PC-LAN networkingin the client-server computing environment. They consider the UNIX operating system on RISC-based systems as the best server platform for mission-critical applications. There are many reasons forthis preference:

The UNIX multitasking, multipurpose operating system, means one server can support many applications. Customers can consolidate their applications onto fewer boxes, saving system costs and administrative expenses
UNIX servers offer more power than PC servers and relieve the server overloads that are common with PC servers
UNIX-based platforms enable the rapid development of client-server applications with easy application modification
UNIX servers offer excellent price/performance

Coexistence

SolarNet software fits easily into the customer's existing environment. It can coexist with other protocols on the same PC hardware and it can access multivendor hosts using TCP/IP, NFS, and VT emulation. This enables SolarNet customers to leverage their investment in current systems and still move toward a TCP/IP wide area network.

SolarNet software can coexist with NetWare networks (v3.11 and v4.0) over Ethernet or token ring links. Through ODI, both protocols can run over one network interface card on a single PC. Integrating SolarNet software with NetWare gives PC users access to a wide range of information on both networks.