Patch Monitoring Module Overview

The Patch Management module in System Reliability Manager 3.5 is named Patch Monitoring in version 3.5. A System Reliability Manager 3.6 server can still monitor an agent that is running the System Reliability Manager 3.5 Patch Management module.

The System Reliability Manager 3.6 Patch Monitoring module uses the PatchPro software, a patch-management solution from Sun. This patch software is also known as Patch Manager. This patch software collects the data regarding available patches that is used by the module. You must download and install the patch software separately. For more information, see Obtaining the Patch Software. The module first checks to see whether the patch software is installed. If the patch software is not installed, then the module is unavailable.

(On Solaris 10) Patch Monitoring module automatically uses Patch Manager 2.0, which is shipped with Solaris 10. Patch Manager 2.0 includes the PatchPro software. Hence, you need not download and install the patch software separately.

The Patch Monitoring module displays the following Patch Monitoring tables:

• Patch Status Table: Displays general information about suggested patches

• Patch List Table: Lists missing patches and information about them

The Patch Monitoring module generates alarms on uninstalled patches. The Patch Monitoring module detects the number of patches that are available but not installed and generates alarms against this count. The module also lists the suggested patches in a table. Missing patches are also saved to the patches.list file, enabling you to write scripts that use this list. The location of this file is /var/opt/SUNWsymon/SysMgmtPack/patchmonitoring/patches.list.

The module automatically refreshes after 24 hours. If you want to change the default setting, use the Attribute Editor. To display the Attribute Editor dialog box, press mouse button 3 on a row in the Patch List table.

This module performs the following functions:

• Checks installed patches and detects uninstalled patches

• Displays the list of missing patches in a table

• Enables you to run a command to get the list of packages and patches installed on the system

• Generates alarms when the number of uninstalled patches reaches a certain threshold

The Patch Monitoring module generates the following alarms in the Patch Status table:

• A warning alarm if the state result is ERROR.

• A warning alarm if the Number of Suggested Patches is greater than 0.

Obtaining the Patch Software

The Patch Monitoring module requires that you install the PatchPro software, formerly known as Patch Manager. This software is available for download from SunSolve at https://sunsolve.sun.com/patchpro. You must download and install the software for your version of the Solaris operating environment. Software version information and installation documentation is available from the same web site.