Update to Oracle Solaris 10 Focuses on ZFS File System

Oracle has released Solaris 10 8/11, an update to the Solaris 10 operating system, designed to improve Oracle Solaris ZFS and Live Upgrade technologies, support the latest SPARC and x86 systems, and improve the performance of Oracle Database 11g.

Many of the new features included in this update focus on support for the Oracle Solaris file system, ZFS, with the goal of easing the transition from UFS-based system disks to Oracle Solaris ZFS, which Oracle touts as providing better management, data integrity, and built-in data services. Oracle Solaris Live Upgrade has also been improved to support system maintenance on ZFS-based file systems.

Features new to this version of Solaris include:

  • Support for installation from a ZFS flash archive (flars);
  • Support for system upgrades from a ZFS root flash archive using Oracle Solaris Live Upgrade;
  • Support for migration from a UFS or ZFS boot environment to a ZFS boot environment with a separate /var file system, also through Oracle Solaris Live Upgrade;
  • ZFS "diff" command to list the differences between two ZFS snapshots;
  • Ability to import a pool with a missing log or import a pool in read-only mode, which enables greater flexibility in recovering from errors;
  • Option to bypass the power-on self test (POST) to speed up reboot on SPARC systems;
  • Support for diskset import through the metaimport command when running an Oracle Solaris Cluster configuration;
  • Faster startup and shutdown of Oracle Database when using Oracle Solaris Intimate Shared Memory (ISM); and
  • ZFS performance improvements, including improved sequential read/write I/O improvements.

Oracle Solaris 10 8/11 is available now. Further information can be found at oracle.com.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • three main icons—a cloud, a user profile, and a padlock—connected by circuit lines on a blue abstract background

    Report: Identity Has Become a Critical Security Perimeter for Cloud Services

    A new threat landscape report points to new cloud vulnerabilities. According to the 2025 Global Threat Landscape Report from Fortinet, while misconfigured cloud storage buckets were once a prime vector for cybersecurity exploits, other cloud missteps are gaining focus.

  • two large brackets facing each other with various arrows, circles, and rectangles flowing between them

    1EdTech Partners with DXtera to Support Ed Tech Interoperability

    1EdTech Consortium and DXtera Institute have announced a partnership aimed at improving access to learning data in postsecondary and higher education.

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • illustration of a football stadium with helmet on the left and laptop with ed tech icons on the right

    The 2025 NFL Draft and Ed Tech Selection: A Strategic Parallel

    In the fast-evolving landscape of collegiate football, the NFL, and higher education, one might not immediately draw connections between the 2025 NFL Draft and the selection of proper educational technology for a college campus. However, upon closer examination, both processes share striking similarities: a rigorous assessment of needs, long-term strategic impact, talent or tool evaluation, financial considerations, and adaptability to a dynamic future.