What are pros to use OmniOS than SmartOS or OpenIndiana?
OmniOS looks like normal system, SmartOS is more livecd-like system
I've considered using OmniOS to let me do more things in the global zone (configuring CIFS was quite annoying!) but that's too much work and downtime for me right now. If I had to start over I might start there.
unhappy_mage, 2013-04-24
in: SmartOS "all-in-one"? - [H]ard|Forum
Source: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1039840231
SmartOS is an extremely lean version of illumos, and it is not intended to occupy space on the filesystem. Rather it boots from a <2Gb image,either USB key, PXE network boot, or CDR image, and occupies space in RAM. The OS is kept off the filesystem to simplify upgrades - attach a new image and reboot. [...] One does not use the root system to work on the machine, only to configure and install Zones from which work is done. [...] If you prefer an illumOS distribution presents itself more like a CentOS server, you can try OmniOS.
Christopher Hogue, 2013-03-24
in: Why SmartOS in my lab? - SmartOS
Source: http://smartos.blueprint.org/home/why-smartos-in-my-lab
One should mention that OmniOS is not a general purpose OS and provides only a minimal set of packages, while OpenIndiana Hipster is more suitable for use in a graphical environment.
OmniOS takes a "layer cake" approach to packaging. The core OS contains the packages needed to build the OS, plus a few small frills (more shells, tmux/screen, etc.) Users are encouraged to either create their own package repos for additional software they want to run (and where they like it to be installed) or use repos published by other users.
See: http://omnios.omniti.com/wiki.php/Packaging
OpenIndiana provides about 3200 packages including desktop environment along with usual server applications.
See: http://www.openindiana.org/overview/the-hipster-branch/