The new IPS package tools are a drastic change for anyone used to the long-time standard of SVR4 style packages in Solaris. Where to get them has changed. How to get them has changed. How to install and uninstall them has changed. How to list and query them has changed. Even the style of naming packages has changed.

There are some similarities to popular Linux package management tools but there are differences as well. IPS is truly a system unto itself and requires some unique learning.

While it is possible to continue using the old tried-and-true SVR4 packaging for in-house software, being a Solaris 11 system administrator requires learning at least the basics covered in the first half of this chapter. While it may not be required to know how to set up and create your own packages, it is critical that the System Administrator understands the basics of IPS package administration.

For a quick reference of IPS commands, see the Appendix A, IPS Package Reference, part of this book.