Kernel Zone Cloning

Sometimes we want to create a zone, install and configure applications in it and use it as a template: whether it's for scaling out the application (e.g. load balancing), or for distributing it to other locations, or for using it for testing and training purposes. There are several different ways to do that. You can use different technologies for that:

  • zone cloning feature (zoneadm clone command)
  • Automated Installer mechanisms (manifests and profiles)
  • Unified Archives (available since 11.2)

In this lab we will explore the third method as it's the most flexible one.

So, we have a kernel zone already and we want to create a clone of it. First, we create a Unified Archive:

root@solarislab:~# archiveadm create /share1/uar/kzone2.uar -z kzone2

Then we create a new kernel zone with zonecfg, but we use the UAR as a template:

root@solarislab:~# zonecfg -z kzone3 create -a /share1/uar/kzone2.uar -z kzone2

And then install the zone from that UAR:

root@solarislab:~# zoneadm -z kzone3 install -a /share1/uar/kzone2.uar -z kzone2

That's it! Now you are going to boot the zone, login to its console and go through the initial configuration process. Remember, when installing from a UAR, we remove all individual parameters like hostname, IP address and root password. Sometimes it's more convenient to create this profile beforehand with sysconfig create-profile and then use it during installation. In that case, your new zone will be ready to use after the first boot.