Hi

I am new to the site and linux. I have a Sun Sparc T3-1 that is currently running Solaris 9. Effectively the server is redundant.

Is it possible to run Linux on this machine (native, not virtual) to give it a new lease of life?

If so, any recommendations to which linux?

Many Thanks in anticipation.

The sparc architecture hardware is generally used for Sun Solaris. Although it also supports other Unix variants such as NeXTSTEP, RTEMS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, and Linux (see here).

In order to choose a Linux distro, check here. And you can also appear for this test, it will help you to choose a Linux distro suitable for you.

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Many thanks for the prompt response, i will check it out.

Sweet machine still.

"Product Overview
The SPARC T3-1 server, powered by the industry’s first 16-core SPARC T3 processor and running the industry leading Oracle Solaris operating system, is the first 128-thread, general-purpose server offered in a 2 RU enclosure. It packs up to 16 cores and up to 128 simultaneous threads onto a single piece of silicon, together with the key functions of an entire system on a single chip—computing, networking, security, and I/O.
Moreover, SPARC T3-1 delivers highly expandable internal storage and network connectivity: the server can be configured with up to 16 disk drives and six PCI Express cards including the optional Oracle Sun Flash Accelerator F20 PCIe card and many other I/O options.
The SPARC T3-1 server offers Oracle VM for SPARC 2.0 and Oracle Solaris Containers enabling ultimate server virtualization and consolidation at a fraction of the cost of other vendors.
Finally, with integrated on-chip 10 Gigabit Ethernet and cryptographic acceleration, as well as smart integrated design using fewer parts, the SPARC T3-1 server offers a very safe and reliable platform to help you deploy applications."

You must be mistaken. Solaris 9 can't run on that server. Solaris 10 9/10 is the minimal version required.
There are some ports of Linux distributions for the UltraSPARC-T ( eg: http://www.debian.org/ports/sparc/ http://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:SPARC ) but I suspect very few if any have been tested with your hardware.

You can install Linux by creating domain as T3 supports hypervisor.

Thanks all for your responses. The Server came as a package and included master install disks, Solaris (9/05).

I want to avoid the virtual environment, just another level of Admin.

Got a change of news from my software vendor today. They now tell me their software will run on Solaris. Guess problem solved.

Again I really appreciate your support, thanks.

You might be confusing the server model then.

The T3-1 was released in February 2011. I more than doubt it can boot an OS released six years earlier.

hi all,
i have a sparc t3-1, i am actually trying to install solaris 11. I, originally, wanted to install linux debian on it, but it didnt work and i am still having problems with this server. The message that it cant be installed always appear. Do you have some ideia what should i do to do it work, please?

Have you problems while trying to install debian or Solaris 11 ?
What method are you following ?

I am trying to install by .iso on my SPARC, but i couldnt. I think that is missing something inside the archieve that i made download. But i am actually trying to install the solaris 11 and im having problems. I am just stuck on this and i dont know what to do anymore, could you help me please?

What iso ?
What procedure ?
What error message ?

@jefro: this page is related to the UltraSPARC T1 and T2 chips. OpenSolaris has been terminated and none of the other links seem to apply to the UltraSPARC T3.

I forgot to do somethings on my sparc, it is working now. i forgot to make partitions to install it. thanks anyway =)