swinstall question

[Chris2005]

What does the following exactly mean regarding swinstall?

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patch_match_target=false


If set to true, this option selects the latest patches (software identified by the is_patch=true attribute) that correspond to software on the target root or depot.

The patch_filter= option can be used in conjunction with patch_match_target.
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Is anybody able to be a bit clearer?

[Tommy_6]

This will not check to see whether the patch is already installed or if it is for a different verions of HP-UX. Hope this helps!

[Tommy_6]

Let me clarify myself a little.

If it is set to true, it will then check to see if it is already installed. It will also check to see if it is meant for your version of HP-UX. It will not do this if it is set to false.

[Ra Jose]

The patch_match_target option to swinstall tells to select those patches from the source depot that match the product installed on your system. For e.g. if you are running SG11.13, then this will select only those patches required for SG11.13.

[Bob E Campbell · Accepted solution]

There are two methods to automatically select patches. The autoselect_patches option defaults to "true" and causes available patches for a product to be installed when that product is already installed.

The patch_match_target option (which defaults to "false") will select available patches for the products already installed on the system. This is the recommended method to install patches on a system.

The patch_filter functionality is one of those good ideas that does not have a safe and useful reason to exist. It would allow a subset of patches to be installed via autoselect_patches or patch_match_target by specifying a filter (category tags most likely).

While the patch_filter functionality is not something I would ever support using, the ability can be useful with swlist:

# swlist -l product *,c=patch,c=panic

Will list all of the patches on the system that contain a fix for a system panic.

[Chris2005]

What is the exact difference between the auto_select and patch_match_target option?

[Bob E Campbell]

Imagine you are cold-installing a system. The autoselect_patches option will make sure that all of the patches that can be installed will be installed automatically as the products themselves install.

Go forward to a future OE update. You already have the core products installed so autoselect_patches cannot help you, but a new set of patch bundles are on that OE media. By using patch_match_target you tell swinstall to select all of the patches for the software your system already has.

Bob

[Chris2005]

So when you wrote:

"There are two methods to automatically select patches. The autoselect_patches option defaults to "true" and causes available patches for a product to be installed when that product is already installed."

You meant "when that product is not already installed"?

Correct?

Regards,
Chris

[Bob E Campbell]

My bad. Instead of "already" installed autoselection is for when the product is "being" installed. Matching operations work with products that are already installed.

Been a distracted week for me, sorry bout that typo.

[Chris2005]

No wories. Thanx for the update.