automated patching tools from SUN

[Nick W]

Fellow UNIX sysadmins,

I have recently heard a rumour that SUN have introduced a new patching tool (for Solaris)

Apparently it will work with AIX soon and HPUX by the end of the year

I have searched the ITRC forums and googled but can find no mention of this - can anyone shed any light on this?


Nick

[Pete Randall]

Nick,

I've got no light to shed, but I do have some doubt to cast. Unless this miracle tool interfaces with SD (Software Distributor - HP's tool), there would end up being two different methodologies, two different tracking systems and rampant confusion.

I'll stick with SD, thanks.


Pete

[Nick W]

Pete,

Good point.

I also wondered if 'the new SUN patching tool' could actually be a service (paid-for?) with a SUN person making use of ITRC patch tools...?
- points available for all responses.

Nick 'dubya'

[Florian Heigl (new acc)]

I think it's some networked administration toolkit for maintaining automated patching etc, but I don't remember it's name either. I definitely read some announcement some months ago, but I hadn't figured they're really working on it. if You don't have patch policies and rollout mechanisms and run multiple unix flavors, it might be nice, but I wouldn't want to be an early adapter for that. surely too much bloat to try it out at home either :=

if You just run hp-ux, stick with SD, at least if You have networked licenses.

I hope someone remembers what the Sun thing is called, might be worth a second look.

[Florian Heigl (new acc)]

The closest thing I found is the N1 system manager component, but my memory says I didn't trust the new thing because it was no part of N1, and the N1 thing doesn't mention anything besides Linux either, so it seems there is a separate product, and it doesn't even show up at www.sun.com -> products -> software.

I don't know :)

[Robert-Jan Goossens_1 · Accepted solution]

Hi Nick,

I can find a tool for linux and solaris, not for HPUX.

--
Sun Connection is a Solaris and Linux life cycle management tool that allows customers to provision new systems, manage their updates and configuration changes, and eventually re-deploy systems for new purpose. Customers subscribe to update and provisioning knowledge channels to manage Solaris, Red Hat, and SuSE systems.
--
http://www.sun.com/service/sunconnection/index.jsp

Regards,
Robert-Jan

[Nick W]

SUN connection sounds like a likely candidate - but I see no mention of it being able to control the patching process for either AIX or HP-UX.

Hopefully there are some SUN admins out there who may be able to comment further before I consider closing off this thread.

Nick

[Peter Nikitka]

Hi,

The SUN-UpdateManager handles Solaris10-Updates of Sparc- and X86-systems. I'm not shure it even works for sun-OS-versions <5.10 and for shure nothing is provided for AIX or HP-UX systems.

You can do a live-check+update of installed/available patches, get dependencies resolved, a download of the selected patches and their installation either directly or in single user mode at shutdown/reboot:
Nice for testsystems or sandboxes, but my first attempt resulted in a x86-system unable to boot regulary - so handle with care...

mfG Peter

[Nick W]

Thanks to all those who have posted replies.

As far as I can tell, SUN do not yet have a tool that can automatically patch AIX or HP-UX systems.

The general consensus seems to be - use the tools provided by the OS vendors, so I shall be sticking with swinstall for now (one IPD to maintain is more than enough!) - along with Ignite to deploy systems and looking at SIM (Systems Insight Manager) to manage/monitor the estate.


Once again many thanks - closing off this thread.

Nick 'dubya'