On 1/31/07, Sarah Jelinek <Sarah.Jelinek at sun.com> wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I have posted details for the Dwarf Caiman project, including planned
> feature set, and preliminary schedule,
> http://opensolaris.org/os/project/caiman/

OK, some comments based on the feature set:

> Graphical installation interface for initial installation based on Caiman 
> mockups
> which replaces Solaris Express, Developer Release path introduced in build 55.

Must have a look at that sometime...

> Runs within current miniroot + any required libraries for look & feel

How close is it to a LiveCD/DVD?

> Network configured for DHCP always

With no choice? What if that's the wrong choice? How does
a user who can't use that change it?

> Install to pre-configured UFS layout within Solaris2 FDISK partition

What is the layout? (See later.)

> Installs SUNWCxall metacluster, no customization, plus developer tools

Ugh. Now, who is the target audience here? I can't think of anybody
for whom SUNWCxall is a suitable starting point.

> User prompted for:
> date/time/timezone
> language/locale
> root password
> initial user account
> x86 and sparc platform support

In an FDISK partition?

> Will provide for preservation of existing data

How? Is this an upgrade, leaving the data in place, or
is there some other means?

> Will not provide customization of filesystem layout

OK, so what is the default filesystem layout going to look like?

> Upgrade from Solaris Express, Developer Release, build 55

If you upgrade a system with a customized software installation,
will those customizations be preserved?

I think the one thing I don't understand is what the target
audience is. The simplicity seems aimed at home users,
but then the developer tools might add considerable weight
and SUNWCxall isn't appropriate. Certain aspects of this
wouldn't work in a business context - where networks and
systems are tightly controlled (in my case, the dhcp
requirement might be a problem, as the way to make most
of my Solaris machines work is to keep them out of dhcp
entirely, and I wouldn't be happy with an unhardened
SUNWCxall machine on my network). And a standalone
developer might want more control.

-- 
-Peter Tribble
http://www.petertribble.co.uk/ - http://ptribble.blogspot.com/

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