1. Updating Systems and Adding Software in Oracle Solaris 11.4
  2. Getting Information About Software Packages
  3. Showing Package Install State Information
  4. Renamed, Legacy, and Obsolete Packages

Renamed, Legacy, and Obsolete Packages

Packages that are designated as legacy deliver software that is in the end-of-feature (EOF) process. This software is listed in End of Features (EOF) Planned for Future Updates of Oracle Solaris. Packages that are designated as obsolete deliver software that is EOF. This software is listed in that same EOF document, under the release in which the software was removed.

In the following example, l in the O column indicates that the package is in the legacy state, and o indicates that the package is obsolete. 

NAME (PUBLISHER)      VERSION                    IFO
runtime/python-27          2.7.18-11.4.27.0.1.82.0    i-l
runtime/python-26          2.6.8-11.4.0.0.1.9.0       --o

Obsolete packages cannot be installed. If you try to install an obsolete package, the installation fails with the message that no updates are necessary for this image.

$ pkg install runtime/python-26
No updates necessary for this image.

The following command lists all installed legacy packages:

$ pkg search -l -o pkg.fmri :pkg.legacy:true

See End of Features (EOF) Planned for Future Updates of Oracle Solaris and the SRU Readme files for suggestions for alternatives for some legacy software.

An r in the O column indicates that the package has been renamed. If you try to install a renamed package, the system attempts to install the package to which the renamed package has been renamed.

The following example shows a package that was renamed:

NAME (PUBLISHER)         VERSION                    IFO
print/filter/ghostscript      9.27-11.4.21.0.1.69.0      --r

Use the pkg info command to determine the new name of a renamed package. Use the -r option to query the configured package repositories because the package is not installed. See the Renamed To line, as shown in the following example: 

$ pkg info -r print/filter/ghostscript
          Name: print/filter/ghostscript
         State: Not installed (Renamed)
    Renamed to: desktop/pdf-viewer/gsx
     Publisher: solaris
       Version: 9.27
        Branch: 11.4.21.0.1.69.0
Packaging Date: April 24, 2020 at  8:20:39 AM
          Size: 2.52 kB
          FMRI: pkg://solaris/print/filter/ghostscript@9.27-11.4.21.0.1.69.0:20200424T082039Z

If you try to install the print/filter/ghostscript package, the desktop/pdf-viewer/gsx package will be installed instead if it is not already installed and if it can be installed in this image.

If you try to install the print/filter/ghostscript package and the Renamed To package is already installed, the packaging system reports that no updates are necessary. 

$ pkg info desktop/pdf-viewer/gsx
             Name: desktop/pdf-viewer/gsx
          Summary: GPL Ghostscript desktop utilities
         Category: System/Printing
            State: Installed
        Publisher: solaris
          Version: 9.52
           Branch: 11.4.27.0.1.82.0
   Packaging Date: October  9, 2020 at  7:42:10 PM
Last Install Time: July  8, 2020 at  7:55:47 PM
 Last Update Time: October 15, 2020 at  2:43:28 AM
             Size: 104.45 kB
             FMRI: pkg://solaris/desktop/pdf-viewer/gsx@9.52-11.4.27.0.1.82.0:20201009T194210Z
      Project URL: http://ghostscript.com/
       Source URL: https://github.com/ArtifexSoftware/ghostpdl-downloads/releases/download/
gs952/ghostscript-9.52.tar.gz

The pkgrepo list command also shows the r flag for renamed packages, the l flag for legacy packages, and the o flag for obsolete packages. The output of the following example is reduced for brevity: 

$ pkgrepo -s repository-uri list
PUBLISHER NAME                       O VERSION
solaris   print/filter/ghostscript   r 9.27-11.4.21.0.1.69.0:20200424T082039Z
solaris   runtime/python-27          l 2.7.18-11.4.27.0.1.82.0:20201009T225207Z
solaris   runtime/python-26          o 2.6.8-11.4.0.0.1.9.0:20200305T223006Z