The zoneadm command is a powerful utility for managing zones in Solaris operating systems. It allows administrators to control the lifecycle of zones, from installation and booting to halting and deletion. Understanding these commands is crucial for efficient system administration and resource management.

Zoneadm Command Usage Examples

Halting a Zone

To gracefully stop a running zone, use the halt subcommand. This ensures that all processes within the zone are terminated properly before the zone is shut down.

zoneadm -z <zone> halt

Deleting a Zone

To remove a zone from the system, you must first halt it and then uninstall it. This process removes the zone's configuration and associated resources.

zoneadm -z <zone> halt
zoneadm -z <zone> uninstall

Verifying a Zone Configuration

Before installing or making significant changes, it's good practice to verify the zone's configuration for any potential issues.

zoneadm -z <zone> verify

Installing a Zone

The install subcommand is used to set up and configure a new zone on the system. This typically involves providing a zone configuration file.

zoneadm -z <zone> install

Booting a Zone

To start a zone that has been installed but is not running, use the boot subcommand.

zoneadm -z <zone> boot

Rebooting a Zone

To restart a zone that is currently running, the reboot subcommand can be used. This is similar to a system reboot within the zone.

zoneadm -z <zone> reboot

Listing All Zones

To get a comprehensive overview of all zones on the system, including their status and configuration details, use the list subcommand with the verbose option.

zoneadm list -cv

Further Resources

• Oracle Solaris Zones Documentation
• Wikipedia: Solaris Containers
• AIX Concepts: Zones and LPAR Virtualization