Thesolaris packaging repository is used inadministering the zones environment.
The zones automatically update when you use thepkgcommand to upgrade the system to a new version of Oracle Solaris.
The Image Packaging System (IPS), described inpkg(5), is a framework that provides for software lifecycle managementsuch as installation, upgrade, and removal of packages. IPS can be used tocreate software packages, create and manage packaging repositories, and mirrorexisting packaging repositories.
After an initial installation of the Oracle Solaris operating system, youcan install additional software applications from a packaging repository throughthe Image Packaging System CLI and GUI (Package Manager) clients.
After you have installed the packages on your system, the IPS clients canbe used to search, upgrade, and manage them. The IPS clients can be also used toupgrade an entire system to a new release of Oracle Solaris, create and managerepositories, and mirror an existing repository.
If the system on which IPS is installed can access the Internet, then theclients can access and install software from the Oracle Solaris 11.3 Package Repository(defaultsolaris publisher),http://pkg.oracle.com/solaris/release/.
The zone administrator can use the packaging tools to administer anysoftware installed in a non-global zone, within the limits described in thisdocument.
The following general principles apply when zones are installed:
If a package is installed in the global zone, then the non-global zone caninstall the package from the system-repository service in the global zone anddoes not have to use the network to install that package. If that package hasnot been installed in the global zone, then the zone will need to use thezones-proxy service to access the publishers to install the package over thenetwork, using the global zone.
The global administrator or a zone administrator with the appropriaterights can administer the software on every zone on the system.
The root file system for a non-global zone can be administered from theglobal zone by using the Oracle Solaris packaging tools. The Oracle Solaris packaging tools aresupported within the non-global zone for administering co-packaged (bundled),standalone (unbundled), or third-party products.
The packaging tools work in a zones-enabled environment. The tools allow apackage to also be installed in a non-global zone.