Upgrading the Oracle Solaris OS

The following section describes how to upgrade the Oracle Solaris OS when running the Sun QFS software.

How to Upgrade the Oracle Solaris OS in a Sun QFS Environment

Many of the steps involved in upgrading your Oracle Solaris OS level are identical to the steps involved in upgrading your Sun QFS environment. Some of the steps in this procedure reference procedures in the previous sections.

1. Obtain the Sun QFS and Oracle Solaris OS software upgrades.

   Sun QFS software supports various levels of the Oracle Solaris OS. Do not reinstall your old Sun QFS software on your newly upgraded Oracle Solaris OS unless you are sure they are compatible.

   Contact your application service provider or an Oracle sales representative to obtain new copies of the software.

2. Back up all site-customized system files and configuration files.

   These files include mcf, defaults.conf, samfs.cmd, the shared hosts files, and so on. Back up these files for all file systems in your Sun QFS environment. Also make sure that you have backup copies of files in the /etc/opt/SUNWsamfs directory.

3. Ensure that each affected file system is backed up.

   The file systems should be backed up regularly according to your site's policies and as described in Chapter 9, Backing Up SAM-QFS Data and Files. If you are comfortable with the backup files that already exist for your file systems, you do not need to back them up again now.

4. Unmount the file systems.

   For instructions, see Unmounting File Systems.

5. Remove the existing Sun QFS software.

   You must remove the existing Sun QFS package before installing either the new package or the new operating system level. For instructions, see Removing Existing Software.

6. Upgrade the Oracle Solaris OS.

   Install the new Oracle Solaris OS revision using the corresponding Oracle Solaris upgrade procedures.

7. Add the upgrade packages that you obtained in Step 1.

   The Sun QFS software package uses the Oracle Solaris OS packaging utilities for adding and deleting software. You must be logged in as superuser to make changes to software packages. The pkgadd command prompts you to confirm various actions necessary to upgrade the Sun QFS package. For instructions, see Adding the Upgrade Packages.

8. (Optional) Update the mcf file.

   If device names have changed, you might need to update the mcf file to match the new device names. Verify the new device names, and then follow the procedure in Restoring the File System.

9. If your /etc/vfstab file does not have yes in the Mount at Boot field, mount the file systems.

   Use the procedure described in Mounting the File System.