Use > Server patching > Patch management for Unix > Patch management for specific Unix operating systems

Patch management for specific Unix operating systems

The types of patches and their underlying technologies can vary according to the vendor of the operating system. This section discusses the vendor-specific details for Unix patch management in Server Automation.

Supported Unix versions and patch types

SA supports all of the operating system versions that Server Automation supports, except for Linux.

Linux does not support patches in the ordinary sense. The packages are not patchable. Instead, new versions of the RPM are delivered. Linux systems that Server Automation manages are therefore not viewable through the patch interfaces. New Linux packages and updates should be managed and applied though the software policy. See the SA 10.51 Use section for information about importing and installing RPMs using a software policy.

To see the Unix versions and patch types that SA supports.

  1. In the SA Client, select the Library tab.
  2. Select the By Type tab.
  3. Locate and open the Patches node. This displays all the operating systems on which SA supports patches.
  4. Select an operating system and open the node for that operating system. This displays all the versions of that operating system that SA supports.

Underlying technologies for patch management on Unix

Although the utilities vary, Server Automation enables you to perform patching tasks by using a single interface. Server Automation models the way it treats patches by the way the underlying utility treats patches. For example, if the Solaris patchadd utility is not able to install one patch contained in a patch cluster, the Solaris utility continues to install the remaining patches in the patch cluster. Server Automation respects this behavior and allows that patch installation operation to continue. Any patches that are not installed are reported at the end of the installation operation.

The following table shows the patch management and installation tools that are used for each of the supported Unix systems.

Supporting Technologies for Patch Management on Unix

Solaris

AIX

HP-UX

Patchadd

installs Solaris patches

Installp

installs and uninstalls filesets

Swlist

lists patch products, files, products, and filesets

Patchrm

uninstalls Solaris patches

Lslpp

lists installed LPPs

Swinstall

installs a depot

Showrev

lists installed Solaris patches

Instfix

lists installed APARs

Swremove

removes a depot

Pkgadd

installs Solaris packages

 

 

Pkginfo

lists installed Solaris packages