ULTRIX Guide to Sharing Software on a Local Area Network

This document is the "ULTRIX Guide to Sharing Software on a Local Area Network," published by Digital Equipment Corporation in December 1991 for ULTRIX Version 4.2A.

The guide serves as a comprehensive manual for system administrators on setting up and maintaining software sharing environments using two primary utilities:

1. Diskless Management Services (DMS): Allows multiple client computers on a LAN to share a single copy of the ULTRIX operating system software (e.g., the usr area) from a central server's disk. This enables "diskless" clients or clients with minimal local storage, significantly reducing disk space requirements across the network.
2. Remote Installation Services (RIS): Facilitates the network-based installation of software kits onto client machines from a central server, eliminating the need for local distribution media for each client.

Key aspects covered in the guide include:

• Introduction: Explains the core concepts of software sharing, the roles of servers and clients, and the architectural differences and similarities between DMS and RIS. Both services support heterogeneous hardware (RISC and VAX processors) and offer centralized management.
• Server Setup Preparation: Details essential prerequisites like installing the ULTRIX operating system on the server, configuring the Ethernet LAN, setting up the Network File System (NFS), planning disk space for DMS, and registering clients with network naming services (host names, TCP/IP addresses, Ethernet addresses).
• Server Setup (DMS and RIS): Provides step-by-step procedures for allocating disk partitions, creating dedicated server areas (DMS and RIS areas), and installing software products into these environments.
• Management and Maintenance: Guides administrators through adding, booting, modifying, and removing DMS and RIS clients, listing registered clients, showing available products, rebuilding client kernels, and maintaining the server environment.
• Troubleshooting: Offers information on diagnosing and resolving common issues, particularly those related to client booting problems and system crashes.
• Customization: Describes how to customize DMS clients for enhanced services, such as enabling rwho/ruptime commands, setting up mail access, and reconfiguring client kernels.
• Worksheets: Includes practical worksheets to aid in disk space calculations and client registration.

The document is designed for system administrators and assumes familiarity with hardware, ULTRIX software, and network concepts.