Specifying the Source of Updates

When you use Update Manager, your client systems and any Sun Update Connection proxies must have access to Solaris updates and update data. Both client systems and proxies can obtain updates from these sources:

• Update server. A server that provides access to Solaris updates and update data. An update server can be a Sun Update Connection Proxy on your intranet or the Sun update server, which is accessed over the Internet.

• Local collection of updates. A collection of updates and update data that is stored in a directory available to the local system. Such a directory might be a local directory, a shared network directory, or a CD mounted on your local system.

The default source of updates for client systems and Sun Update Connection System Proxies is the Sun update server. As a result, any client system or Sun Update Connection Proxy that obtains updates from the Sun update server must be connected, either directly or through a network proxy, to the Internet.

You can use a combination of Sun Update Connection System Proxies and different update sources to configure these update management environments.

Clients access updates and update data from the following sources:

• Sun update server. This configuration requires that the client systems are connected, directly or through a network proxy, to the Internet. Such a client system must be registered with Update Manager.

• Sun Update Connection Proxy on your intranet (by way of the Sun update server). This configuration requires that only the Sun Update Connection Proxy be connected, directly or through a network proxy, to the Internet. The system that acts as the proxy must be registered with Update Manager, but the proxy’s client systems need not be registered.

• Collection of updates on your local system. This configuration does not require that the client systems be connected to the Internet. These client systems also need not be registered with Update Manager.

• Sun Update Connection Proxy (by way of a collection of updates on your local system). This configuration does not require that the client systems and Sun Update Connection Proxy be connected to the Internet. Neither the system that acts as the proxy nor the client systems must be registered with Update Manager.

For instructions on specifying the source of updates for your client system, see How to Specify a Source of Updates (GUI).

For instructions on specifying the source of updates for your proxy, see How to Change Configuration Settings for Your Sun Update Connection Proxy (Command Line).