Package Management in Solaris

[Linux-Us]

Hi
For a few years now I have been using slackware, so decide to move on to Solaris. I have recently purchased a new computer and installed solaris 10 on it. Now I am working with solaris, but I have some issues in that.
1) Package Management in Solaris - Solaris uses pkgadd to install the packages. I just downloaded the packages from the repository, unzipped and installed. Are there any better way to do this task? How to view all the packages that I have installed on my system? How can i remove and upgrade a package.
2) How can I sort my PATH properly? I think it is currently showing to /usr/sbin. I know there more than this to add. wget works when I am adding some a path. But I think there is some thing more and how can I make this permanent?
3) I always like bash but the default shell is /bin/sh. Is there a way to make the bash shell default? Where to set the bashrc file?

[Glenny]

Hi,

How to view all the packages that I have installed on my system?

You can use the command pkginfo and prodreg to do this.

How can i remove and upgrade a package.

for doing the same you can use pkgrm then pkgadd to add a software. You can also use pkg-get which handles the version check, dependencies and updates.

I always like bash but the default shell is /bin/sh. Is there a way to make the bash shell default? Where to set the bashrc file?

Firstly switch to the root account and then change the user shell by using the command "passwd -e". My advice to you is set the root shell as bash and create an alias account instead. You said you are scared by the /etc/profile, what scares you in the file. Also if you do not know about this file do not make changes in the file you may mess your system.

[Linux-Us]

Hi
Thanks for the useful information provided.

You can use the command pkginfo and prodreg to do this.

That works really very well, I have not tried the pkg-get but I will soon try it.

You said you are scared by the /etc/profile, what scares you in the file.

I think this is the problem of the shell. When I press the back space to delete ^H is displayed. Event the delete button displays ^[[3~. To complete any command name I can not use the tab button. The current directory is not displayed. These are some of the problems. Lot of the programs that I was looking for were in /usr/swf/bin. But when I install any packages it is installed to the /usr/local/ by default. Any advice or suggestion on that.

[Glenny]

Hi

But when I install any packages it is installed to the /usr/local/ by default

The /usr directory is only for all the software's with the solaris operating system. If you want to store the file at your desired location then create a directory /pot/local and make /usr/local a symbolic link. Additionally the /opt directory is for storing add-on software to the system.

To complete any command name I can not use the tab button.

I am sorry for that but it is the feature of a bash shell.

The current directory is not displayed.

I think this can be done with ksh shell also.