SUSE Linux Documentation
Chapter 10. Updating SUSE Linux Enterprise / 10.2. Installing Service Packs
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Installing Service Packs

Use Service Packs to update a SUSE Linux Enterprise installation. There are several different ways in which you can apply a Service Pack. You can either update the existing installation or start a whole new installation using the Service Pack media. Possible scenarios for updating the system and setting up a central network installation source are described here.

[Tip]Installation Changes

Read the installation instructions on the Service Pack media for further changes.

Setting Up a Network Installation Source for Service Pack Media

As with the initial installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise, it is much more efficient having a central installation source on your network to serve all clients rather than installing all of them separately using a set of physical media.

Configuring a Network Installation Source on SUSE Linux Enterprise Using YaST

Basically, follow the procedure outlined in Section 4.2, “Setting Up the Server Holding the Installation Sources”. Just add another installation source called SLE-10-SP-x-arch, SLES-10-SP-x-arch, or SLED-10-SP-x-arch (where x is the number of the Service Pack and arch is the name of your hardware architecture) and make it available via NFS, HTTP, or FTP.

Installing a Service Pack

[Note]Note

To update an existing SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 system to a SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 Service Pack (SP), see Section 10.2.3, “Updating to a Service Pack”.

Installing a SUSE Linux Enterprise Service Pack is very similar to installing the original SUSE Linux Enterprise media. As with the original installation, you can choose to install from a local CD or DVD drive or from a central network installation source.

Installing from a Local CD or DVD Drive

Before starting a new installation of a SUSE Linux Enterprise SP, ensure that all of the Service Pack installation media (CDs or DVD) are available.

Procedure 10.1. Booting from the Service Pack Medium

  1. Insert the first SUSE Linux Enterprise SP medium (CD 1 or DVD 1) and boot your machine. A boot screen similar to the original installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 is displayed.

  2. Select Installation and continue as outlined in the YaST installation instructions in Chapter 3, Installation with YaST.

Network Installation

Before starting a network installation of an SUSE Linux Enterprise SP, make sure that the following requirements are met:

Network Installation—Boot from CD or DVD

To perform a network installation using the SP CD or DVD as the boot medium, proceed as follows:

  1. Insert the SUSE Linux Enterprise SP CD 1 or DVD 1 and boot your machine. A boot screen similar to the original installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 is displayed.

  2. Select Installation to boot the SP kernel then use F3 to select a type of network installation source (FTP, HTTP, NFS, or SMB).

  3. Provide the appropriate path information or select SLP as the installation source.

  4. Select the appropriate installation server from those offered or use the boot options prompt to provide the type of installation source and its actual location as in Section 3.3.4, “Installing from a Network Source without SLP”. YaST starts.

    Finish the installation as outlined in Chapter 3, Installation with YaST.

Network Installation—PXE Boot

To perform a network installation of a SUSE Linux Enterprise Service Pack via network, proceed as follows:

  1. Adjust the setup of your DHCP server to provide the address information needed for PXE boot according to Section 4.3.5, “Preparing the Target System for PXE Boot”.

  2. Set up a TFTP server to hold the boot image needed for PXE boot.

    Use the first CD or DVD of your SUSE Linux Enterprise Service Pack for this and otherwise follow the instructions in Section 4.3.2, “Setting Up a TFTP Server”.

  3. Prepare PXE boot and Wake-on-LAN on the target machine.

  4. Initiate the boot of the target system and use VNC to remotely connect to the installation routine running on this machine. See Section 4.5.1, “VNC Installation” for more information.

  5. Accept the license agreement then select a language, default desktop, and other installation settings.

  6. Click Yes, Install to start the installation.

  7. Continue as usual with the installation (entering a password for root, completing the network configuration, testing your Internet connection, activating the Online Update service, selecting the user authentication method, and entering a username and password).

    For detailed instructions for installing SUSE Linux Enterprise, see Chapter 3, Installation with YaST.

Updating to a Service Pack

There are two preferred ways to update the system to the Service Pack (SP) feature level. One way is to boot from the SP medium. The alternative is to run YaST Online Update or zen-updater and select the Update to Service Pack X patch. By updating to the new feature level, additional features like new drivers or software enhancements are available to your system.

[Warning]Do not miss the Update to Service Pack patch

If you do not select the Update to Service Pack patch, your system will stay at the previous feature level and you will get bug fixes and security updates for a limited time only (for SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 SP2 this period is now extended to six months). Thus for ongoing system integrity it is recommended to switch to the new feature level as early as possible.

Other update ways are running rug commands manually, using the Patch CD (see Section 8.3.7, “Updating from a Patch CD”), or making use of a locally installed SMT system.

[Note]Note

On s390 systems, the Patch CD update option is not available.

Booting from the SP Medium for the Update

Boot from the SP medium and choose Update as the installation mode in YaST. For more detailed information and finishing the update, see Section 10.1.3, “Updating with YaST”.

Starting with YaST Online Update

Before initiating the YaST Online Update to update to the SP feature level, make sure that the following requirements are met:

  • The system must be online throughout the entire update process, because this process requires access to the Novell Customer Center.

  • If your setup involves third party software or add-on software, test this procedure on another machine to make sure that the dependencies are not broken by the update.

  • Make sure that the entire process is completed successfully. Otherwise the system becomes inconsistent.

You can only update to Service Pack 2, if Service Pack 1 is fully installed beforehand. If this is not already the case, update to Service Pack 1 first as outlined in Section 10.2.3.5, “SUSE Linux Enterprise GA to SP1 and SP2”.

Figure 10.1. Service Pack 1 Package Management Update

Service Pack 1 Package Management Update

Figure 10.2. Update to Service Pack 2

Update to Service Pack 2

[Note]Note

During update migration using YaST Online Update, the ZMD stack is updated and the ZMD daemon is restarted, too. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid using any other software management tools such as rug, zen-updater, zen-installer and zen-remover. It is recommended to quit the zen-updater during the migration.

  1. In a running SUSE Linux Enterprise system, select Computer+YaST+Software+Online Update.

    If you are not logged in as root, enter the root password when prompted.

  2. The Online Update dialog appears. Several patches are preselected. Scroll down the patch list and verify that the package management related patches and the SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 SP2 maintenance stack update (slesp1u-libzypp) are actually preselected. Then press Accept to apply the selected updates.

  3. The Patch Download and Installation dialog tracks the progress log. When Total Progress reaches 100%, click Close. The Online Update will then restart automatically.

  4. Once restarted, press Accept to apply all available updates together with a new kernel. When installed, you must reboot the system.

  5. In the restarted Online Update you now should scroll down the patch list and select Update to Service Pack 2 (move-to-sles10-sp2) as shown in Figure 10.2, “Update to Service Pack 2”. In the pop-up window, click Accept to confirm the start of the update procedure to the service pack feature level.

    The move-to-sles10-sp2 patch is marked optional. If you do not select it, your system will stay at the SP1 feature level and you will get bug fixes and security updates only for a limited time (six month after the availibility of SP2).

  6. The Patch Download and Installation dialog tracks the progress log of the migration patch installation. When Total Progress reaches 100%, click Finish.

  7. Start YaST Online Updates again. Apply the product-sles10-sp2 and slesp2o-sp2_online patch to bring the system to the SP2 level. Both these patches are preselected because they are mandatory, if you installed move-to-sles10-sp2 during the steps before.

  8. Click Close to finish the update to SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 SP2 and reboot.

Starting with zen-updater

For background information about ZENworks, see Chapter 9, Managing Software with ZENworks.

Before initiating the online update using zen-updater to progress to the SP feature level, make sure that the requirements are met as listed in Section 10.2.3.2, “Starting with YaST Online Update”.

Figure 10.3. Apply SLE10 SP2 Maintenance Stack Update

Apply SLE10 SP2 Maintenance Stack Update

  1. In a running SUSE Linux Enterprise system, start the zen-updater by clicking the updater icon at the bottom.

    [Tip]Waking up ZMD

    If you see the ZMD not running message, check in a terminal as root with rczmd status whether ZMD is alive. In case of trouble enter rug restart --clean to force a restart and cleanup of ZMD and its database.

    If you are not logged in as root, enter the root password when prompted.

  2. Apply all maintenance updates available for your system.

  3. Apply the SLE10 SP2 maintenance stack update (slesp1u-libzypp). These items should be preselected and clicking Update should initiate this step. After resolving all dependencies click Apply. Confirm the message pop-up by clicking Close when finished.

  4. In the restarted Software Updater, page down and select the optional move-to-sles10-sp2 patch and apply it. If you do not select it, your system will stay at the SP1 feature level and you will get bug fixes and security updates only for a limited time (six month after the availibility of SP2).

  5. In the Software Updater apply the product-sles10-sp2 and slesp2o-sp2_online patch to bring the system to the SP2 level. Both these patches are mandatory, if you installed move-to-sles10-sp2 during the steps before, and therefore are preselected.

  6. Click Close to finish the update to SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 SP2 and reboot.

Using rug

For background information about rug command line tool, see Section 9.1, “Update from the Command Line with rug”. Use rug, if you need a scriptable solution for the update.

Before initiating the online update using rug to progress to the SP feature level, make sure that the requirements are met as listed in Section 10.2.3.2, “Starting with YaST Online Update”.

This it the minimal command sequence needed to migrate the system to the SP2 patch level:

rug in -t patch slesp1u-libzypp && rug ping -a
rug in -t patch move-to-sles10-sp2 && rug ping -a
rug refresh && rug ping -a
rug up -t patch -g recommended && rug ping -a
reboot
[Note]Note

rug ping -a ensures, that the ZMD initialization is complete after the previous rug command.

SUSE Linux Enterprise GA to SP1 and SP2

[Note]Note

The following steps are only relevant, if your system is still running at the GA patch level.

Figure 10.4. Update to Service Pack 1

Update to Service Pack 1

  1. In a running SUSE Linux Enterprise system (GA), select Computer+YaST+Software+Online Update.

    If you are not logged in as root, enter the root password when prompted.

  2. The Online Update dialog appears. Scroll down the patch list and select Update to Service Pack 1 as shown in Figure 10.4, “Update to Service Pack 1”. In the pop-up window, click Accept to confirm the start of the update procedure to the service pack feature level.

  3. The Patch Download and Installation dialog tracks the progress log of the migration patch installation. When Total Progress reaches 100%, click Finish.

  4. Run the online update a second time. Once done, in the Patch Download and Installation click Close. During this second run YaST installs the kernel and all the other software.

  5. Click Finish when you see Installation Finished reported near the end of the progress log.

  6. To finish the update, manually reboot the system to activate the new kernel.

Now SUSE Linux Enterprise runs at the SP1 patch level. Continue with Section 10.2.3.2, “Starting with YaST Online Update” to promote the system to the SP2 patch level.

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