Detect benign error codes

Installing Solaris patches sometimes results in benign error codes. A benign error code is an error code that does not reflect a true error situation. For example, a patch installation may fail because the patch is already installed or because a superseding patch is already installed, resulting in a benign error code. The exit code from the Solaris patchadd command would indicate an error, when in reality the patch was not installed for a valid reason.

When a patch does not install because of a true error situation such as the server being out of disk space, SA reports the error and the valid error code.

SA detects benign error codes and reports success in most cases. In the following two cases, however, Solaris cannot detect benign error codes:

• Solaris Deferred-Activation Patches
• Any patches installed on Solaris Global Zones, where Local Zones are defined

To configure SA so that it will detect benign error codes:

1. Install the following patches on all your servers that are running Solaris 10:

   • 119254-36 (sparc)
   • 119255-36 (i386)

2. Select the Administration tab in the SA Client.

3. In the navigation pane select System Configuration > Configuration Parameters. This displays the SA components, facilities and realms that have system configuration parameters.

4. In the list of SA components, select Command Engine. This displays the system configuration parameters for this component.

5. Locate the parameter way.remediate.sol_parse_patchadd_output and set it to 1.

6. Click Revert to discard your changes or Save to save your changes.