Change Manager Features

Change Manager enables system administrators to quickly and easily install, configure, update, and audit software running on large groups of replicated systems.

Key to accomplishing these tasks is the software stack, a set of one or more software elements installed as a Solaris Flash archive on a managed host. The stack is a well-defined set of files, which must include, at a minimum, the Solaris operating environment. For example, a software stack might include the Solaris 9 operating environment, with the Apache web server, and the Oracle® database.

Following are the main features of Change Manager:

• Quick and easy deployment of integrated software stacks, which are in the form of Solaris Flash archives, to managed hosts

• Rapid reprovisioning of systems to adapt to changes in the computing needs of your business

• Installation of software on a cloned set of managed hosts while they continue to run, by using the Solaris Live Upgrade feature

• Easy creation of reference software configurations for the managed hosts

• Easy maintenance of reference software configurations for the managed hosts

• Scheduling and automation of software installations or reprovisioning of services

• Audit of software stacks that are running on any managed host or groups of managed hosts

• Easy-to-use browser-based interface (see Appendix A, Navigating Through the Change Manager Browser Interface (Reference)) as well as a command-line interface for scripting and for use by expert users (see changemgr(1MCM))