Chapter 4 Managing Solaris Updates by Using the Update Manager GUI
This chapter describes how to use the Update Manager GUI to manage updates.
Note –
You can also perform these tasks by using the smpatch command. See the smpatch(1M) man page.
This chapter covers the following topics:
-
Managing Solaris Updates by Using the Update Manager GUI (Task Map)
-
Configuring Your Update Management Environment by Using the GUI (Task Map)
-
Tuning Your Update Management Environment by Using the GUI (Task Map)
Managing Solaris Updates by Using the Update Manager GUI (Task Map)
The following table identifies the tasks that you might perform when you use the Update Manager GUI.
|
Task |
Description |
For Instructions |
|---|---|---|
|
Access the GUI. |
If you want the convenience of a GUI to manage updates, use the Update Manager GUI. | |
|
Configure the update management environment for your system. |
By default, your system is assumed to be connected directly to the Internet and configured to obtain updates from the Sun update server. If this is not true for your system, change the configuration settings to match your environment. |
Configuring Your Update Management Environment by Using the GUI (Task Map) |
|
Manage updates on your system. |
You can use the GUI to perform an analysis of your system, apply one or more updates, find update dependencies, and remove updates. | |
|
(Optional) Tune the update management environment for your system. |
Change some optional configuration settings, such as the update directory locations. |
Tuning Your Update Management Environment by Using the GUI (Task Map) |
Accessing the Update Manager GUI
Caution – The Update Manager application does not permit you to run simultaneous GUI and command-line update operations on your system because the system might become unstable.
Only cancel an operation from the Update Manager progress dialog. Do not interrupt an smpatch update operation once it has started. You must wait for that operation to complete before starting another operation.
How to Access the Update Manager Application
(GUI)
You can start the Update Manager GUI from the GNOME desktop, the Sun Java Desktop System, the CDE Application Manager, or the command line.
The first time you start the application, the Update Manager Registration Wizard appears. Use this wizard to register your Solaris 10 system to use Update Manager to manage updates.
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Start the Update Manager application.
-
For GNOME users, start the Update Manager application in one of these ways:
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From the Notification area of the GNOME panel, click the Update Manager notification icon.
This icon is blue with a question mark. This icon indicates that the system has not been registered.
This method does not work immediately after you install the software. You must log out of the GNOME desktop and log back in.
-
From the Sun Java Desktop System Launch menu, choose Applications.
From the Applications menu, choose Utilities. Then, from the Utilities menu, choose Update Manager.
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Run the /usr/bin/updatemanager command from your shell prompt.
-
-
For CDE users, start the Update Manager application in one of these ways:
-
From the Application Manager window, double-click the Update Manager icon.
-
Run the /usr/bin/updatemanager command from your shell prompt.
The Authentication Required dialog box appears.
-
-
-
Specify the user name of a privileged user, and click OK.
By default, the user is root.
If you want to exit the Update Manager application, click Cancel.
The Authentication Required dialog box appears.
-
Specify the password for the privileged user you specified, and click OK.
Click Cancel to exit the Update Manager application.
-
If you are accessing the Update Manager GUI for the first time, the registration wizard appears so you can complete the registration process.
-
If you have already completed the system registration process, you can configure, manage, or tune the update management environment by using the Update Manager GUI.
See Managing Solaris Updates by Using the Update Manager GUI (Task Map).
Note –Following a successful registration with the Sun Update Connection System, the Sun Update Connection System Update Manager Application (GUI) automatically launches when the user logs in to the GNOME desktop as root. The Update Manager does not automatically launch on login for a non-root user, if basic registration services are disabled, or if the user has not registered with Sun Update Connection System. Once launched, the Update Manager automatically begins analyzing the system for updates.
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Configuring Your Update Management Environment by Using the GUI (Task Map)
By default, the update management environment is configured to obtain updates directly from the Sun update server. Therefore, you must customize your environment if your system does one or more of the following:
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Connects to the Internet by means of a network proxy
-
Requires a user name and password to provide authentication for the network proxy
-
Obtains updates from an update source other than the Sun update server
The following table identifies the tasks that you might perform when you configure the update management environment for your system.
If you want to use the smpatch command to configure your update management environment, see the smpatch(1M) man page.
|
Task |
Description |
For Instructions |
|---|---|---|
|
(Optional) Specify the network proxy to use. |
If your system is connected to the Internet through a network proxy, you must specify the network proxy that is used to access the Sun update server. By default, no network proxy is specified. | |
|
(Optional) Specify the user and password needed to provide authentication for the network proxy. |
If your network proxy requires authentication, you must specify the network proxy user that is needed for authentication. By default, no network proxy user is specified. | |
|
(Optional) Specify the source of updates for your system. |
Your system can obtain updates from one of the following sources:
| |
|
(Optional) Specify your Sun subscription key. |
When you add a subscription key to your system registration information, your system will gain access to all Solaris updates. Without a subscription, your system only has access to security updates. | |
|
(Optional) Enable your system to be managed by the Sun Update Connection Hosted web application. |
If you want to remotely manage updates on your system, you can use the Sun Update Connection Hosted web application. |
How to Manage Your System by Using the Sun Update Connection Hosted Web Application (GUI) |
How to Specify a Network Proxy (GUI)
This procedure describes how to update the network proxy from the Update Manager application. Use this procedure if your system requires a network proxy to connect to the Internet. If your system is already connected directly to the Internet, you do not need to specify a network proxy.
To specify this network proxy information from the registration wizard, see Step 5 of How to Register Your System.
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Access the Update Manager GUI.
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Choose Preferences from the File menu.
The Preferences dialog box appears.
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In the Network Proxy section, select Manual Proxy Configuration for Internet Connection.
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Type the host name of the network proxy in the Proxy Host Name field.
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Type the port number of the network proxy in the Proxy Port Number field.
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(Optional) If a user name and password are needed for proxy authentication, click Use Proxy Authentication, and do the following:
-
Click OK to set these values, and to dismiss the dialog box.
Click Cancel to discard the values you set, and to dismiss the dialog box.
How to Specify a Source of Updates
(GUI)
This procedure describes how to specify an alternate source of updates from the Update Manager application. By default, your system obtains updates from Sun.
To specify a local source of updates from the registration wizard, see Step 4 of How to Register Your System.
Note –
If you change the source of updates for your system from a Sun Update Connection Proxy to the Sun update server, your system must be registered with Update Manager. If your system is not registered and you make this change, the registration wizard appears so you can complete the system registration process.
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Access the Update Manager GUI.
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Choose Preferences from the File menu.
The Configuration screen of the Preferences dialog box appears.
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In the Update Source section, specify your source of updates.
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Click From the Sun Update Connection to obtain updates from Sun.
By default, you obtain updates from Sun.
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Click From a Local Source (Sun Update Connection Proxy or CD) to obtain updates from your specified update source.
You must type the URL to the update source in the text field.
-
For a Sun Update Connection Proxy on your intranet, type a URL of this form:
http://server-name:3816/solaris/
-
For a directory, type a URL of this form:
file:/directory-name
-
-
-
Click OK to set this value, and to dismiss the dialog box.
Click Cancel to discard the value you set, and to dismiss the dialog box.
How to Specify Your Subscription
Key (GUI)
Perform this procedure after you have registered your system.
If you want access to all Solaris updates, not just security updates, add your Sun subscription key to your Update Manager registration information. If you do not have a Sun subscription key, see How to Obtain a Sun Subscription Key.
You can also specify your Sun subscription key during the registration process. See How to Register Your System.
All available updates should be visible in Update Manager within 24 to 48 hours. Allow all processes to run for approximately 24 to 48 hours before you use Update Manager to manage updates. Or, use the Sun Update Connection Hosted web application to manage updates on your system.
-
Access the Update Manager GUI.
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Choose Manage Subscription from the File menu.
The Add Subscription dialog box appears.
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Supply your Sun Online Account information.
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Type your subscription key in the Key field.
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Click Finish to store the changes, and to dismiss the dialog box.
Click Cancel to discard the changes, and to dismiss the registration wizard.
How to Manage Your System by Using
the Sun Update Connection Hosted Web Application (GUI)
This procedure describes how to enable your system to be managed from the Sun Update Connection System web site.
-
Access the Update Manager GUI.
-
Click Manage at Sun Update Connection.
The Enable Portal Management screen appears.
Note –When you click Manage at Sun Update Connection, the Launching Web Browser window appears. Update Manager launches a new web browser window even if an existing window is open.
-
(Optional) Click What Gets Sent to see what information about your system is sent to Sun.
The System Data dialog box appears.
Click OK to dismiss the dialog box.
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Supply the user name and password for your Sun Online Account.
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Specify your Sun subscription key in the Key field.
If you do not have a Sun subscription key and you want to use the Sun Update Connection Hosted web application, see How to Obtain a Sun Subscription Key.
-
(Optional) Click What Keys Qualify to see which subscription keys you can use as your Sun subscription key.
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Click Finish.
Click Cancel to discard the values you set, and to dismiss the dialog box.
Managing Updates by Using the GUI (Task Map)
You can use the Update Manager GUI to perform the following tasks:
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Analyze your system to determine the list of appropriate updates
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Update your system with updates automatically
-
Remove an update from your system
Perform these tasks and more by using the command-line interface. See the smpatch(1M) man page.
The following table identifies the common update management tasks.
|
Task |
Description |
For Instructions |
|---|---|---|
|
Analyze your system to determine the list of updates. |
You want to analyze your system to obtain the list of appropriate updates. Based on the analysis, you can update your system with one or more updates in the list. Note that the GUI lists the appropriate updates. If you request another analysis, the list of updates is changed to reflect any new updates that are needed. |
How to Analyze Your System for Updates and View the List of Available Updates (GUI) |
|
Apply one or more updates in a single procedure. |
You want to download and apply the updates that are appropriate for your system. The list of updates is determined by having Update Manager analyze your system. | |
|
Remove updates from your system. |
You want to remove, or back out, updates that you applied to your system. |
How to View Installed Updates and Remove Updates From Your System (GUI) |
How to Analyze Your System for
Updates and View the List of Available Updates (GUI)
Use this procedure to manually initiate a system analysis to determine which updates are appropriate for your system.
By default, your system is analyzed once a day. If the automatic analysis feature is disabled, you can enable it. See How to Enable a Daily Analysis of Updates (GUI).
-
Access the Update Manager GUI.
-
In the Available Updates screen, click Check for Updates.
The Analyze System dialog box shows the progress of the analysis. The list of appropriate updates then appears in the Available Updates window and is sorted according to Update type. The Sun Update Connection System Updates are listed at the top of the list of Available Updates.
How to Apply Updates to Your System (GUI)
Use this procedure to apply one or more updates to your system.
If an update you install requires a system restart to activate it (Restart Required), the update is staged for installation during the next system shutdown. To apply an update that requires a restart, you must use one of the following commands to initiate the system shutdown:
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Power down the system – init 0 or shutdown -i 0
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Go to the firmware prompt – init 5 or shutdown -i 5
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Restart the system – init 6 or shutdown -i 6
Note –Do not use the reboot command, the halt command, the uadmin command, or press the Reset or Power button to initiate the shutdown. Taking any of these actions bypasses the required shutdown processing, and prevents the updates from being staged for later installation. Even if you bypass the required shutdown processing, the updates are still staged for installation during a system restart.
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Access the Update Manager GUI.
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Go to the Available Updates screen.
This screen shows the list of updates that are appropriate for your system.
-
(Optional) Click Check for Updates to perform an update analysis of your system.
You might perform this analysis if the daily update analysis is disabled.
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Select one or more updates to install.
Only those updates that have a check box can be installed. Updates that have a dash next to the update ID are set to be installed during the next scheduled system shutdown.
The name of the Install button changes based on the number of updates you select. For example, if you select one update, the button name is Install 1 Update. If you select two updates, the button name is Install 2 Updates.
-
Click Install 1 Update Now.
The Installing dialog box shows the progress of the system analysis. This analysis is performed to determine whether the updates you selected depend on other updates being installed on the system. This dialog box also shows the progress of the update download and installation operations. You can cancel these operations by clicking Cancel.
The Installation Summary dialog box shows the installation status for the selected updates. A symbol with a green check mark shows that the installation was successful. If the installation fails, a yellow caution symbol is displayed to the left of the Update ID, and a "Failed" symbol (a red circle with an exclamation point in it) is displayed to the right of the Update ID. An error message describes the possible cause for the installation failure.
-
Click OK to exit the Installation summary box.
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(Optional) If you selected an update that depends on one or more other updates being installed, agree to install the update dependencies.
The Additional Updates Required dialog box shows the other updates that you must install.
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Click Continue to install the updates.
The updates are installed.
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Click Cancel to cancel the installation.
If you cancel the operation, the update is not installed.
-
-
(Optional) If you selected an update that requires a system restart, decide whether to restart the system now or later.
The Installation Complete dialog box shows which updates were installed and whether the installation succeeded or failed. If updates that require a system restart (Restart Required) must be installed, the tool asks you whether you want to restart the system to install the updates.
-
To perform the system restart now, click Restart System Now, then click OK.
Updates that do not require a system restart are installed immediately.
The Restart System dialog box asks you to confirm whether to restart the system now.
-
Click Yes to restart the system.
Update Manager restarts the system, and the updates that require a restart are installed.
-
Click No to dismiss the Restart System dialog box.
-
-
To perform the system restart later, click OK.
Note –Use only the init command or the shutdown command to restart your system, or the updates waiting for the restart will not be installed.
Updates that do not require a system restart are installed immediately, while updates that require a restart are queued for installation at the next system restart.
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How to View Installed Updates
and Remove Updates From Your System (GUI)
Use this procedure to view the list of updates that are installed on your system and to remove one or more updates.
-
Access the Update Manager GUI.
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In the Available Updates screen, click Installed Updates.
The Installed Updates screen shows the list of updates that are installed on your system.
-
Select one or more updates to remove.
Only those updates that have a check box can be removed. Updates that have a dash next to the update ID cannot be removed.
The name of the Uninstall button changes based on the number of updates that you select. For example, if you select one update, the button name is Uninstall 1 Update. If you select two updates, the button name is Uninstall 2 Updates.
-
Click Uninstall 1 Update.
The Confirm Uninstallation dialog box shows the updates you want to remove. It also shows any update dependencies that must also be removed.
-
Click Continue to uninstall the selected updates.
The Uninstalling dialog box shows the progress of the operation. You can cancel the uninstallation operation by clicking Cancel.
When the updates are uninstalled, the Uninstallation Complete dialog box shows which updates were uninstalled and whether the uninstallation operation succeeded or failed. Click OK to dismiss the dialog box.
Tuning Your Update Management Environment by Using the GUI (Task Map)
The following table identifies the optional tasks that you might perform when you use the GUI to tune the update management environment for your system.
If you want to use the smpatch command to tune your update management environment, see the smpatch(1M) man page.
|
Task |
Description |
For Instructions |
|---|---|---|
|
(Optional) Set different directory locations. |
Specify a different location for the download directory or the backout directory if the default locations are not large enough. | |
|
(Optional) Schedule a regular update analysis to determine the list of appropriate updates. |
Analyze your system on a regular basis to determine the list of appropriate updates. By default, an analysis is performed daily. | |
|
(Optional) Reassign your system to another Sun Online Account. |
Change the owner of your registered system to a different Sun Online Account. |
How to Reassign Your System to a Different Sun Online Account (GUI) |
|
(Optional) Display the Update Manager notification icons and menu on your GNOME desktop. |
Use these icons to access the Update Manager GUI and the Sun Update Connection Hosted web application. You can also use these icons to obtain information about the updates, and their types, that are available for this system. |
How to Display the Notification Icons and Menu on Your GNOME Desktop (GUI) |
How to Change Update Directory Locations
(GUI)
This procedure describes how to specify alternative locations for the download directory, the backout data directory, or both. By default, the download directory is /var/sadm/spool.
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Access the Update Manager GUI.
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Choose Preferences from the File menu.
The Configuration screen of the Preferences dialog box appears.
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In the Directories section, specify alternative directory locations, as applicable.
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Type the alternative location for the download directory in the Download Directory field.
-
Type the alternative location for the backout data directory in the Backout Data Directory field.
-
-
Click OK to set one or both of these values, and to dismiss the dialog box.
Click Cancel to discard the values you set, and to dismiss the dialog box.
How to Enable a Daily Analysis of
Updates (GUI)
By default, an automatic update analysis is performed one time each day. The analysis uses the source of updates you specified. Only the updates that you are permitted to access, based on the system registration and subscription key, are listed on the Available Updates screen after an analysis operation.
-
Access the Update Manager GUI.
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Choose Preferences from the File menu.
The Configuration screen of the Preferences dialog box appears.
-
Click Notification.
The Notification screen of the Preferences dialog box appears.
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In the Updates Analysis section, specify whether to perform an automatic update analysis on your system.
-
To enable the automatic analysis operation, select Run Updates Analysis Daily (Recommended).
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To disable the automatic analysis operation, select Do Not Run Updates Analysis.
-
-
Click OK to set this value, and to dismiss the dialog box.
Click Cancel to discard the value you set, and to dismiss the dialog box.
How to Reassign
Your System to a Different Sun Online Account (GUI)
Perform this procedure after you have registered your system.
-
Access the Update Manager GUI.
-
Choose Manage Subscription from the File menu.
The Add Subscription dialog box appears.
-
Supply the information for the other Sun Online Account.
-
(Optional) Type your subscription key in the Key field.
-
Click Finish to store the changes, and to dismiss the dialog box.
Click Cancel to discard the changes, and to dismiss the registration wizard.
How to Display the Notification Icons
and Menu on Your GNOME Desktop (GUI)
The Icon Legend Window lists the icons used by Update Manager and lists a brief description of each.
The five icons towards the bottom of the Icon Legends Window appear only on the GNOME desktop and enable you to access the Update Manager GUI and the Sun Update Connection Hosted web application. You can also use these icons to obtain additional information about the updates that are available for the system. Right-click the icon to view the menu choices that are linked to each notification icon. Left-click the icon to start the Update Manager application.
The following list contains a description of each of the GNOME desktop icons:
-
Red symbol with a lock. Indicates that new security updates are available for this system. This icon only appears if your system is registered and you have an Update Manager subscription. You must also have the daily system analysis enabled to get this notification. From the icon menu, you can start the Update Manager application and go to the Sun Update Connection System web site.
-
Yellow symbol with a plus mark. Indicates that new updates are available, but none are security updates. You must have the daily system analysis enabled to get this notification. From the icon menu, you can start the Update Manager application and go to the Sun Update Connection System web site.
-
Green symbol with a star. Indicates that updates are available but no new updates have been detected for the system. Note that you might see this state indicator if you disabled the daily update analysis. From the icon menu, you can start the Update Manager application and go to the Sun Update Connection System web site.
-
Grey symbol with a dash. Indicates that no updates are available. All updates have been viewed and installed on the system. From the icon menu, you can start the Update Manager application and go to the Sun Update Connection System web site.
-
Blue symbol with a question mark. Indicates that the system is not registered. From the icon menu, you can open the registration wizard and learn more about the Update Manager and Sun Update Connection System tools.
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Access the Update Manager GUI.
-
Choose Preferences from the File menu.
The Configuration screen of the Preferences dialog box appears.
-
Click Notification.
The Notification screen of the Preferences dialog box appears.
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In the Notification Icon and Menu section, specify whether to display the notification icon and menu.
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To view the Notification Icon and Menu, select Display Notification Icon and Menu. To enable this feature, select Run Updates Analysis Daily from the Updates Analysis section of the Notification dialog box.
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If you do not want Updates Analysis to run in the background, select Do not run Updates Analysis. Selecting this option prevents you from displaying the notification icon and menu.
-
To disable this feature, deselect Display Notification Icon and Menu.
-
-
Click Apply to set the value, and save your selection.
Note –The Notification icon is enabled only if the GNOME panel is running. The Notification icon will not display if the Update Manager application is running remotely.
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Click OK to dismiss the dialog box or click Cancel to discard the value you set, and to dismiss the dialog box.
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