To use Update Manager, you must register the system on which you installed the software. You can select from three levels of registration and entitlement, which are described in the following sections:
Registered with no subscription
Registered with a subscription
Registered with a subscription and managed with Sun Update Connection System
An unregistered system only has access to security updates. You can manage the updates on your unregistered system by using the smpatch add command and the smpatch remove command.
You have sent basic information about your system to Sun, but have not purchased an update management subscription. At this service level, you can use the Update Manager application to locally manage updates, which includes doing the following:
Viewing lists of installed updates
Managing security updates on your system
Analyzing your system for appropriate updates
Installing and uninstalling appropriate updates
Resolving update dependencies
Monitoring update download and installation status
Being notified when new updates for your system become available
If your update management environment includes a Sun Update Connection Proxy and your system is a client of that proxy, your client system does not need to be registered to use the Update Manager software. However, the system that acts as the proxy must be registered.
You have sent system information to Sun and have purchased an update management subscription. This service level expands the functionality available at the previous (basic) service level. You can use the Update Manager application for these tasks:
Managing all Solaris updates on your system
Selecting updates for automated download and installation
Receiving notification about all update dependencies
Deciding to remotely manage your system with the Sun Update Connection Hosted web application
If your update management environment includes a Sun Update Connection Proxy and your system is a client of that proxy, your client system does not need to be registered to use the Update Manager software. The system that acts as the proxy must be registered. If, however, you decide to use the Sun Update Connection Hosted web application to remotely manage your client system, that system must be registered.
You have sent system information, purchased a subscription, and want to use the Sun Update Connection Hosted web application to remotely manage updates. This service level expands the functionality available at the previous (middle) service level. You can use the Sun Update Connection Hosted web application for these tasks:
Viewing information about all your managed systems
Viewing reports that show all update management activity
Using a web application that is hosted at Sun to remotely manage updates on your systems
Controlling system check-in times to automate update management