Solaris 10 8/07 Installation Guide: Network-Based Installations

Upgrading, General Problems


The upgrade option is not presented even though there is a version of Solaris software that's upgradable on the system.

Cause:

Reason 1: The /var/sadm directory is a symlink or it is mounted from another file system.

Solution:

Reason 1: Move the /var/sadm directory into the root (/) or /var file system.

Cause:

Reason 2: The /var/sadm/softinfo/INST_RELEASE file is missing.

Solution:

Reason 2: Create a new INST_RELEASE file by using the following template:

OS=Solaris
VERSION=x 
REV=0
x

Is the version of Solaris software on the system

Cause:

Reason 3: SUNWusr is missing from /var/sadm/softinfo.

Solution:

Solution 3: You need to do an initial installation. The Solaris software is not upgradable.


Couldn't shut down or initialize the md driver

Solution:

Follow these instructions:


The upgrade fails because the Solaris installation program cannot mount a file system.

Cause:

During an upgrade, the script attempts to mount all the file systems that are listed in the system's /etc/vfstab file on the root (/) file system that is being upgraded. If the installation script cannot mount a file system, it fails and exits.

Solution:

Ensure that all file systems in the system's /etc/vfstab file can be mounted. Comment out any file systems in the /etc/vfstab file that cannot be mounted or that might cause the problem so that the Solaris installation program does not try to mount them during the upgrade. Any system-based file systems that contain software to be upgraded (for example, /usr) cannot be commented out.


The upgrade fails

Description:

The system does not have enough space for the upgrade.

Cause:

Check Upgrading With Disk Space Reallocation in Solaris 10 8/07 Installation Guide: Planning for Installation and Upgrade for the space problem and see if you can fix it without using auto-layout to reallocate space.


Problems upgrading RAID–1 volume root (/) file systems

Solution:

If you have problems upgrading when using Solaris Volume Manager RAID-1 volumes that are the root (/) file system, see Chapter 25, Troubleshooting Solaris Volume Manager (Tasks), in Solaris Volume Manager Administration Guide.