Solaris versions and releases

[kHz]

AIX uses the nomenclature of VRMF (Version, Release, Maintenance, Fix) which would correspond to a number such as 4.3.2.0 or 4.3.3.0. There are also maintenance levels that are installed that could give you a VRMF of 4.3.3.0-11 where the 11 is the maintenance level.

Solaris uses a different release numbering like Solaris 9 4/04 or Solaris 9 9/04. Solaris also releases patch clusters that I guess would be equivalent to an AIX maintenance level.

If I upgrade AIX, I can go from 4.3.2 to 4.3.3 or 4.3.3 to 5.2.0, and install any maintenance levels that are needed.

My questions:

1) How would you upgrade Solaris 9 4/04 to Solaris 9 9/04? Is there an upgrade method like AIX? Is this equivalent of an AIX migration from 4.3.2 to 4.3.3?

2) Are patch clusters indeed like AIX maintenance levels?

3) Is upgrading from say Solaris 8 2/02 to Solaris 9 9/04 a fairly straight forward and relatively lightweight task like and AIX upgrade from 4.3.3 to 5.1?

4) I have had Solaris people say before they backup everything and do a complete installation for upgrading rather than using an upgrade method. Why? Is this method obsolete (hopefully!)?

Thanks for any insight.

 

[SamBones]

I'll just put my two cents on number 4 here.

The only time I do the "complete reinstall" instead of an upgrade is when going from one major version to the next. Such as Solaris 8 to Solaris 9. There are usually some very big functional differences between major versions that a fresh install just avoids those little artifacts left from the old version causing problems with the new.

Between those, I use the patches and patch clusters. These usually address bugs and minor incompatibilities quite well.

Hope this helps.

 

[KenCunningham]

As far as I know. The patch clusters are designed to take the release from it's original state to the latest, applying all fixes etc along the way.

 

[kHz]

IBM just takes things to a higher level with AIX!

So...

Say I have a Solaris 8 server and:
#cat /etc/release
Solaris 8 2/02 s28s_u7wos_08a SPARC

#showrev
Kernel version: SunOS 5.8 Generic 117350-13 Oct 2004

1) If I install the latest patch cluster for Solaris 8, would a showrev show a different number after Generic (currently 117350-13)?

2) If I upgraded to Solaris 9 9/04 then /etc/release should show Solaris 9 9/04?

3) Without a complete reinstall, what is the upgrade method for Solaris? In AIX if you are on a standalone machine you are prompted for a new install, preservation, or migration. In PSSP you designate the type of installation in your spbootins command line.

4) How do you know what version/release/maintenance level your are at on Solaris? In AIX I can run an 'oslevel' and 'instfix' command to get my VRMF and I can find the latest maintenance level on the AIX website. How do you know if you are at the latest level on Solaris, because the showrev command shows a (patch cluster?) number and how do you know if that is the latest?

5) Is a Solaris 9 4/04 to Solaris 9 9/04 the same as AIX 4.3.2.0 to 4.3.3.0?

6) And a Solaris 8 2/02 to Solaris 9/04 is the same as AIX 4.3.3.0 to 5.2.0?

 

[Annihilannic]

1) Yes.

2) If you installed Solaris 9/04 over the top, yes, the /etc/release file would be replaced.

3) I have never done an upgrade (is it even an option?), only a fresh install.

4) showrev -p and look at the patches you have installed. The kernel patch shown in showrev is usually a good indicator as to how up-to-date the server is, because usually all of the patches in the "Recommended" bundle are installed with that, depending on your site's policy. See also 5).

5) I know very little about AIX, sorry.

6) See also 5).

Annihilannic.

 

[kHz]

Thanks.