Restrictions on Using patchadd -R to Create an Alternate root Path

On systems that are running a Solaris release that is not zones aware, using the patchadd command, or any command that accepts the -R option to specify an alternate root path for a global zone that has non-global zones installed, does not work.

You can use of the -R option to add and remove software packages and patches, if the alternate boot environment has configured non-global zones, but no installed non-global zones.

To avoid a potential problem, restrict the use of the -R option for the creation of an alternate root path.

If you are running this Solaris release, you can alternately choose one of the following methods:

• Upgrade any systems that are not running the current Solaris release.

• Boot an alternate root as the active OS.

If you are running the Solaris 10 OS, you can alternately choose one of the following methods:

• Upgrade any systems that are not running at least the Solaris 10 1/06 OS to the Solaris 10 1/06 release.

• If you are running the Solaris 10 initial 3/05 release, you can install the following patch to enable the use of commands that accept the -R option for creation of an alternate root path.

  • For SPARC based systems – Install at least revision 19 of patch 119254.

  • For x86 based systems – Install at least revision 19 patch 119255.

• Boot an alternate root, for example the Solaris 10 release, as the active OS. You can then install and uninstall packages and patches without using the -R option.

For more information, see the patchadd(1M), patchrm(1M), pkgadd(1M), and pkgrm(1M) man pages.