SUSE Linux Documentation Part I. Deployment / Chapter 10. Updating SUSE Linux Enterprise
	9.3. For More Information		10.2. Installing Service Packs

Updating SUSE Linux Enterprise

Contents

10.1. Updating SUSE Linux Enterprise
10.2. Installing Service Packs
10.3. Software Changes from Version 9 to Version 10

Abstract

SUSE® Linux Enterprise provides the option of updating an existing system to the new version without completely reinstalling it. No new installation is needed. Old data, such as home directories and system configuration, is kept intact. During the life cycle of the product, you can apply Service Packs to increase system security and correct software defects. Install from a local CD or DVD drive or from a central network installation source.

Updating SUSE Linux Enterprise

Follow the steps outlined in this section, if you want to update from SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 to SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10, for example. You can also follow these steps if you want to update from SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 SP1 to SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 SP2.

Software tends to “grow” from version to version. Therefore, take a look at the available partition space with df before updating. If you suspect you are running short of disk space, secure your data before updating and repartition your system. There is no general rule of thumb regarding how much space each partition should have. Space requirements depend on your particular partitioning profile and the software selected.

Preparations

Before updating, copy the old configuration files to a separate medium, such as tape device, removable hard disk, USB stick, or ZIP drive, to secure the data. This primarily applies to files stored in /etc as well as some of the directories and files in /var and /opt. You may also want to write the user data in /home (the HOME directories) to a backup medium. Back up this data as root. Only root has read permission for all local files.

Before starting your update, make note of the root partition. The command df / lists the device name of the root partition. In Example 10.1, “List with df -h”, the root partition to write down is /dev/hda3 (mounted as /).

Example 10.1. List with df -h

Filesystem     Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/dev/hda3       74G   22G   53G  29% /
tmpfs          506M     0  506M   0% /dev/shm
/dev/hda5      116G  5.8G  111G   5% /home
/dev/hda1       44G    4G   40G   9% /data

Possible Problems

If you update a default system from the previous version to this version, YaST works out necessary changes and performs them. Depending on your customizations, some steps or the entire update procedure may fail and you must resort to copying back your backup data. Check the following issues before starting the system update.

Checking passwd and group in /etc

Before updating the system, make sure that /etc/passwd and /etc/group do not contain any syntax errors. For this purpose, start the verification utilities pwck and grpck as root and eliminate any reported errors.

PostgreSQL

Before updating PostgreSQL (postgres), dump the databases. See the manual page of pg_dump. This is only necessary if you actually used PostgreSQL prior to your update.

Updating with YaST

Following the preparation procedure outlined in Section 10.1.1, “Preparations”, you can now update your system:

Optionally, prepare an installation server. For background information, see Section 4.2.1, “Setting Up an Installation Server Using YaST”.
Boot the system as for the installation, described in Section 3.3, “System Start-Up for Installation”. In YaST, choose a language and select Update in the Installation Mode dialog. Do not select New Installation.
YaST determines whether there are multiple root partitions. If there is only one, continue with the next step. If there are several, select the right partition and confirm with Next (/dev/hda3 was selected in the example in Section 10.1.1, “Preparations”). YaST reads the old fstab on this partition to analyze and mount the file systems listed there.
In the Installation Settings dialog, adjust the settings according to your requirements. Normally, you can leave the default settings untouched, but if you intend to enhance your system, check the packages offered in the Software Selection submenus or add support for additional languages.
1. Click Update Options to update only software that is already installed (Only Update Installed Packages) or to add new software and features to the system according to selected patterns. It is advisable to accept the suggestion. You can adjustment it later with YaST.
2. You also have the possibility to make backups (Backup) of various system components. Selecting backups slows down the update process. Use this option if you do not have a recent system backup.
Click Accept and confirm Start Update to start the software installation process.

At the end of the installation read the release notes and then click Finish to restart the computer and log in.