Sun customers can access patches from the SunSolve Online web site whether or not they are in the SunSpectrumSM program. These patches are updated nightly.
If you are in the SunSpectrum program – You have access to the entire SunSolveSM database of patches and all patch information.
If you are not in the SunSpectrum program – You have access to the entire SunSolve database of patches and all patch information except for patches that have third-party contract restrictions.
You can obtain Solaris patches in the following ways:
From the http://sunsolve.sun.com web site
To access patches from the Patch Portal of the SunSolve Online site, your system must be connected to the Internet and be capable of running a web browser, such as the NetscapeTM software.
By using anonymous ftp to download the patches to your system
To obtain patches by using the anonymous ftp command, your system must be connected to the Internet and be capable of running the ftp command.
By using the Sun Patch Manager tools that are described in this book.
You can access individual patches or a set of patches from a patch cluster, or refer to patch reports. You can also use Sun Patch Manager to analyze your system to determine the appropriate patches. Patch Manager also can download and apply the patches to your system.
Each patch is associated with a README file that has information about the patch.
Patches are identified by unique patch IDs. A patch ID is an alphanumeric string that is a patch base code and a number that represents the patch revision number joined with a hyphen. For example, patch 108528-10 is the patch ID for the SunOSTM 5.8 kernel update patch.