3    Update Installation Procedure

The information in this chapter assumes that you are updating the system from a CD-ROM. To invoke an Update Installation from a RIS server, refer to the Installation Guide -- Advanced Topics for instructions on using a remote server; then come back to this manual for the remainder of the procedure.

Summary of the Update Installation Procedure:

  1. Complete prerequisite tasks to prepare the system for an Update Installation.

  2. Shut down the system to single-user mode to begin the Update Installation.

  3. Start the Update Installation from CD-ROM.

  4. Choose Update Installation options.

  5. Monitor the analysis phase of the Update Installation.

  6. Confirm the start of the Update Installation process.

  7. Log in as the user root when the Update Installation is complete.

  8. Review installation log files after the Update Installation is complete.

  9. Manually merge file customizations if necessary.

  10. Optionally run the Update Installation Cleanup utility to remove files left on the system as a result of the Update Installation.

3.1    Step 1: Prepare for the Update Installation

Perform the following tasks before you begin an Update Installation:

  1. Back up the user data on the current operating system.

    It is recommended that you back up user data before beginning an Update Installation. If there are any interruptions when the Update Installation process is loading software subsets, it is unlikely that the Update Installation will complete successfully, which will leave your system in an indeterminate state. Should this happen, you must restore the original version of the operating system before you can attempt another Update Installation. Refer to System Administration for information about backing up your current operating system.

  2. Read the current version of the Release Notes, particularly any information about Update Installations.

    It is recommended that you read the Release Notes because it may contain changes to software, firmware, or hardware that are not documented in this manual. The Release Notes also contain a summary of the enhancements made in the new version of the operating system.

  3. If you do not already know it, use one of the following methods to determine the CD-ROM device name while the system is still in multiuser mode.

  4. If you have AdvFS file systems on your system, perform the following procedure to protect the data on AdvFS file domains. Otherwise, proceed to Step 5.

    1. Log in as root or use the su command to gain superuser privileges.

    2. Use the shutdown command to put your system into single-user mode.

    3. Use the umount -A command to unmount all local file systems.

    4. Run the verify utility on each domain (remember to use the -r flag if you are checking the root domain). If you find any problems, correct them before continuing. Refer to the verify(8) reference page for more information.

    5. Use the mount command to mount all of the verified local file systems.

    6. Use the quotacheck command to fix the quotas on the mounted local file systems. If you have problems running the quotacheck command, you may have to edit your /etc/fstab file and try again. Refer to the quotacheck(8) reference page for more information.

    For more information about administering AdvFS file systems, refer to AdvFS Administration.

  5. Update the system firmware.

    Firmware updates are located on the Alpha Systems Firmware CD-ROM that is included in the Software Distribution Kit you received. Follow this basic procedure to begin a firmware update:

    1. Shut the system down to console mode:

      
      # shutdown -h now
      

    2. Insert the firmware CD-ROM into the drive and boot from it:

      >>> boot cdrom_device_name
      

      The firmware update utility automatically identifies your system type and model and determines the correct firmware revision required for your system.

    3. Follow the instructions on the screen. There is an automatic display of the READ-ME-FIRST file, which describes the firmware changes included in the update.

    4. Power off the processor for at least 10 seconds when the firmware update is complete to initialize the new firmware.

    The contents of the firmware CD-ROM are also available at the corporate Internet site through anonymous file transfer protocol (FTP):

    http://ftp.digital.com/pub/Digital/Alpha/firmware/readme.html
    

    Firmware updates are also available through anonymous file FTP from the ftp.europe.digital.com worldwide web server.

    Note

    The EB64+ single-board computer uses a socketed firmware ROM chip. The EB66+, AlphaPC64, AlphaPC164, and EB164 single-board computers use an EPROM that can be updated with new firmware. Refer to your hardware owner's documentation for details on how to update the console firmware on these systems.

3.2    Step 2: Shut Down the System to Single-User Mode

An Update Installation is performed from single-user mode. You can either log in as root or use the su command to gain superuser privileges. The following example shows how to become superuser and then shut down the system to single-user mode:

# su - 
password: 
# shutdown +10 Please log out--ready to update system

In the previous example, +10 shuts down the system in ten minutes and sends the message Please log out--ready to update system to all logged in users.

Caution

If your system is at the console mode prompt ( >>> ), you must boot to multiuser mode and then shut down to single-user mode. It is important that you do not boot the system to single-user mode.

You will see the following messages when the system is in single-user mode:


.
.
.
Halting processes ...   INIT: SINGLE-USER MODE #

3.3    Step 3: Start the Update Installation

Before beginning the Update Installation, be aware that the process takes from 45 to 120 minutes to complete. Actual time depends on your processor type, the speed of your CD-ROM drive, and the number of software subsets to be updated. If you want the Update Installation to run without any further user intervention, invoke the Update Installation with the -u flag.

Caution

Do not use the setld -l command to update from Version 4.0F or Version 5.0 to Version 5.0A. The only method to update your system to Version 5.0A is to use the /sbin/installupdate program that is described in the following procedure.

  1. Mount the local file systems:

    # /sbin/bcheckrc
    

    The bcheckrc command invokes the mount -a command and mounts all file systems listed in the /etc/fstab file, not just the standard UNIX file systems (/, usr, and var). The bcheckrc command also runs fsck on UNIX file systems (UFS) and starts the Logical Storage Manager (LSM) if necessary. If fsck finds a problem with the / (root) partition, the system shuts down and reboots to correct the problem.

  2. Insert the Operating System Volume 1 CD-ROM into the drive.

  3. Use the /sbin/installupdate command with the following syntax to start the Update Installation:

    /sbin/installupdate [-u] [-nogui] {location}

    The following describes each option:

    The following sample commands can be used to start an Update Installation. Use the command that best suits your situation. Device names from Version 4.0F are used in all examples.

The Update Installation process continues as described in Section 3.4.

3.4    Step 4: Choose Update Installation Options

What you see after you start the Update Installation depends upon whether or not your system is capable of graphical displays:

Table 3-1 describes the decisions you have to make when you first invoke the Update Installation. You can choose one option, both options, or neither option.

Table 3-1:  Update Installation Options on Initial Screen

Option Description
Select Optional Kernel Components

Select this option if your current system is running a customized kernel that has been built with optional kernel components or if you want to customize the new kernel. If you select this option, you will have the opportunity to select which optional kernel components you want to build into the kernel (if any).

If you do not select this option, the new kernel will be built with only the mandatory kernel components required to run the installed software.

Archive Obsolete Files

Choose this option to archive obsolete files before they are removed automatically by the Update Installation. Obsolete files are files that were shipped in Version 4.0F or Version 5.0 but are no longer required by Version 5.0A. If you select this option, later in the analysis phase of the Update Installation the list of obsolete files is presented, and you can select one or more files to archive and the file name you want to use for the archive. You can delete the archive at a later date.

If you do not select this option, you will not have the opportunity to archive obsolete files before they are removed from the system.

Note

The remainder of this chapter applies to the graphical and text-based user interfaces. Rather than showing examples from both interfaces, only the screens from the graphical interface were used to show the update process and user actions. The same steps in the same order occur for the text-based interface.

3.5    Step 5: Monitor the Analysis Phase

After you have selected the Update Installation options, the Update Installation process begins to analyze the current system.

Note

The Update Installation process checks for installed hardware product kits before the Analysis Phase begins. If the Update Installation process detects an installed hardware product kit, the product kit is checked for compatibility with the new version of the operating system. Hardware product kits and how they are updated is discussed in the Installation Guide -- Advanced Topics.

If your system has graphics capabilities, the analysis phase begins with the dialog box shown in Figure 3-2.

Figure 3-2:  Update Installation Preload Analysis Dialog Box

A check mark indicates when an analysis step is complete. The progress indicator at the bottom of the dialog box applies to the currently highlighted analysis step.

The following sections describe each analysis step in detail and the required user interaction if one or more conditions require your attention:

3.5.1    Check for Conflicting Software

There are two types of layered software products that affect the Update Installation: layered software products that allow the Update Installation to proceed but may have to be reinstalled later, and layered software products that must be deleted before the Update Installation can continue.

3.5.1.1    Software Reinstallation Warning

The dialog box shown in Figure 3-3 is displayed if the Update Installation detects a layered software product that may require reinstallation after updating to the new version of the operating system. You can choose to exit the Update Installation and manually remove this software or you can continue the Update Installation.

If you decide to continue without removing the layered software product or products, test the software when the Update Installation is finished. It is recommended that you reinstall any layered software products that are critical to the use of the operating system with a version that is compatible with and is supported on the new version of the operating system.

Figure 3-3:  Software Reinstallation Warning Dialog Box

3.5.1.2    Conflicting Software Found: Update Installation Cannot Proceed

The dialog box shown in Figure 3-4 is displayed if the Update Installation detects a conflicting layered software product that halts the Update Installation. You can instruct the Update Installation to delete the product and continue, or you can exit the Update Installation. You cannot update your system to the new version of the operating system until you remove this conflicting software. If you choose to exit the Update Installation at this point, no changes are made to your system. If the conflicting software is not supported under the new version of the operating system, and the software is critical to your system, it is recommended that you do not continue with the Update Installation.

Note

Delete operations take effect immediately. Any software you remove cannot be recovered even if the Update Installation is canceled later.

Figure 3-4:  Conflicting Software Found Dialog Box

3.5.2    Determine Installed Software

During this part of the analysis, the Update Installation process determines the software that is installed so that it knows what has to be updated.

If you have installed Worldwide Language Support (WLS) software, an additional analysis step, Determining Installed Worldwide Language Support Software, is displayed as part of the Preload Analysis dialog box shown in Figure 3-2.

When you are performing the Update Installation from a CD-ROM, and the system has WLS software installed, the dialog box shown in Figure 3-5 is displayed, and you need to identify the source of the Version 5.0A WLS software subsets. As noted, you might need to change media after the system reboots.

For example, when you are installing the operating system from CD-ROM and the WLS software is also on CD-ROM (Associated Products Volume 1), enter the location of the CD-ROM drive as shown. The Update Installation knows when to prompt you to insert the WLS media after the system reboots.

Figure 3-5:  Locate Product Dialog Box

3.5.3    Select Kernel Components

If you chose the option to include optional kernel components in the kernel (as described in Table 3-1, use the Kernel Configuration dialog box shown in Figure 3-6 to select the optional kernel components to build into the kernel. If you had previously built optional kernel components into the kernel, you have to select them again here. The Update Installation process has no knowledge of the contents of the current kernel. To select kernel components, click on the components you want and click on Select. After you have made all selections, click on OK.

If you cancel kernel component selection at this time, the Update Installation builds a kernel with only the mandatory kernel components that are associated with the installed software subsets.

Figure 3-6:  Kernel Configuration Dialog Box

3.5.4    Manually Adding Special Configuration Options to the Kernel

The Update Installation provides a basic kernel configuration file that includes support for all mandatory components plus any optional components you have just selected. The Update Installation does not propagate any special or custom configuration options that you may have added into the kernel configuration file.

If your kernel configuration file has been edited manually or edited as a result of layered product installations to include nonstandard kernel options, psuedodevices, controllers, or other changes, you will need to include those options, psuedodevices, controllers, or other changes into your new kernel configuration file (/sys/conf/host_name).

If you are using the text-based interface, you will be given the option to edit the kernel configuration file during the Update Installation. Otherwise, you can edit the file after the Update Installation is complete, and then rebuild the kernel using the doconfig(8) command.

3.5.5    Check for File Type Conflicts

An Update Installation checks for file types that will be incompatible with the updated version of the operating system. Files that are shipped with the operating system, also known as system files, are classified into one of several different file types. A file can be classified as a file, a directory, a hard link, a symbolic link, a block device, or a pipe. The Update Installation procedure expects to find system file types the same as when they were shipped with the previous version of the base operating system. When a file type has changed, it is known as a file type conflict.

There are two types of file type conflicts:

This feature is intended to preserve the integrity of the software product about to be installed. In both cases, the Update Installation identifies the conflict and informs you of the action required to resolve the conflict.

3.5.5.1    File Type Conflicts That Halt the Update

A serious file type conflict may require the Update Installation to exit without updating the system. If the Update Installation were to continue, it would result in a corrupt system. When a conflict of this severity is encountered, you must resolve it manually before restarting the Update Installation. The following types of file type conflicts prevent the Update Installation from continuing:

For example, if a file is shipped as a directory in Version 4.0F or Version 5.0 and you later change it to be a symbolic link, when the same file ships as a directory in Version 5.0A, the Update Installation detects the difference and the dialog box shown in Figure 3-7 is displayed.

Figure 3-7:  File Type Conflict Dialog Box

3.5.5.2    Less Serious File Type Conflicts

A less serious file type conflict is any file type conflict other than the ones shown in Section 3.5.5.1. The Update Installation automatically resolves these conflicts by saving a copy of the modified file type to a file with a .PreUPD extension, for example /etc/hosts.PreUPD. When the new version of the operating system is loaded, the original file (for example, /etc/hosts) is replaced by the new version that is shipped with the operating system. This means that the file will change type to the file type that is shipped with the new version of the operating system. Any customizations that were in the modified file type must be manually merged from the .PreUPD version into the new version of the file after the Update Installation is complete. Figure 3-8 shows the dialog box that is displayed when a less serious file type conflict is detected.

Figure 3-8:  File Type Conflict Warning Dialog Box

3.5.6    Check for Obsolete Files

Obsolete files are files that were shipped in Version 4.0F or Version 5.0 of the operating system but are no longer part of Version 5.0A. The Update Installation automatically searches for and removes obsolete files. If you chose the option to archive obsolete files as described in Table 3-1, you can save obsolete files to a .tar file and have the option to compress the tar file with the gzip utility. The default file name is /var/adm/update/backup.tar.

Note

Whether or not you archive the files, the Update Installation deletes obsolete files after the analysis phase is complete. The dialog box that you use to select and archive obsolete files is shown in Figure 3-9

.

Figure 3-9:  Archive Obsolete Files Dialog Box

3.5.7    Check System File Space

Version 5.0A of the operating system requires more disk space than Version 4.0F or Version 5.0. The Update Installation performs file system size checks to make sure there is enough space for the new version of the software and that there is enough temporary space for processing.

If the Update Installation determines that there is not enough disk space, disk space status and options for recovering disk space are presented. The dialog box that you use to recover disk space is shown in Figure 3-10.

Figure 3-10:  Recover Disk Space Dialog Box

It is recommended that you pursue disk space recovery in this order:

  1. Perform system cleanup by removing core files and extra kernel files.

    Whenever an application or the system crashes, a core file is created. These files tend to be large, and if not removed after each crash, they can occupy a considerable amount of disk space. If you are not in the habit of cleaning up after system or application crashes, you may be able to recover the disk space from this operation.

    The Update Installation procedure looks for extra kernel files (files named vmunix.*) in the /sys/HOST_NAME and /var/adm/crash directories and looks for core files in the /, /usr, and /var file systems.

  2. Remove .PreUPD files

    The Update Installation looks for customized system files and protects them by copying them into files with the suffix .PreUPD. If removing core and extra vmunix files do not recover enough disk space, remove the .PreUPD files as necessary. Clicking on Remove .PreUPD Files displays a dialog box where you can select the files to remove.

    Note

    If you remove .PreUPD files here, they will be unavailable for reference when you manually merge changes. These .PreUPD files are the only backup copies of unprotected system files that have been modified.

  3. Remove software subsets

    If there are software subsets that are not being used, remove them. Software subsets removed at this point will not be updated. Clicking on Remove Software Subsets displays the dialog box shown in Figure 3-11.

    Note

    Deleting individual files that are part of the installed base operating system or WLS software by using a command other than the setld command will not produce the additional free space needed because the Update Installation has already taken into account that these old files will be replaced by new versions.

Figure 3-11:  Remove Subsets Dialog Box

Use the various options until the disk space available in each file system is greater than the disk space needed. If these options do not produce the necessary free space, you may need to change the file system layout or use disk partitions large enough to accommodate the installed software by performing a Full Installation using the disk partition sizes recommended by the Full Installation procedure.

3.6    Step 6: Confirm the Start of the Update Installation Process

When the Analysis Phase is complete, use the dialog box shown in Figure 3-12 to confirm the start of the Update Installation.

Figure 3-12:  Ready to Begin Update Dialog Box

You have the following options:

An Update Installation typically completes in 45 to 120 minutes. Actual time depends on your processor type, the number of software subsets to be updated, the type of media used to perform the Update Installation (CD-ROM or remote server), the speed of your CD-ROM drive if you are using CD-ROM, and the volume of network traffic if you are using a remote server.

3.7    Step 7: Log in to the System

After the Update Installation is complete, log in to the system as the user root to perform the postinstallation tasks shown in Section 3.8 and Section 3.9, which can be done only by the user root.

What happens when you log in for the first time depends upon whether you have a graphics workstation or a terminal without graphics capabilities:

Note

Starting with Version 5.0 of the operating system, naming conventions for device special file names for disks and tapes are different from previous versions of the operating system. The unit numbers may be reordered as a result of the Update Installation process. If you want to review a mapping of old-to-new device names for your system, review the /etc/dfsl.dat file.

For a description of device naming conventions and how the Update Installation process operates with them, see Section A.5.

3.8    Step 8: Review Update Installation Log Files

Information about the Update Installation is stored in log files for your reference. Installation and configuration data is appended to any log files left over from previous Update Installations. It is recommended that you examine the log files when the update is complete to ensure that there were no errors during the update and that all files merged successfully. Log files are located in the following locations:

Appendix F describes the contents of all logs files that are created as part of an Update Installation. If no customized or failed merge files are detected during the Update Installation, the relevant log files do not contain any data.

3.9    Step 9: Manually Merge Customizations if Necessary

An Update Installation may not be able to merge certain customizations automatically and may require that file customizations be added to the new files manually. Manual merging involves editing the new versions of system files with a text editor to include your own customizations. The following information is saved so that you can merge your customizations into the new versions:

When all manual merges are complete, your system is ready to use. At this time you can install additional optional software subsets provided on the Version 5.0A distribution media. Refer to Chapter 9 for information about installing optional software subsets.

3.10    Optional Step 10: Run the Update Installation Cleanup Utility

Use the Update Installation Cleanup utility to remove or archive the .PreMRG and .PreUPD backup files created by an Update Installation. If there were failed file merges during the Update process, you use these files as a reference to merge your customizations into the new versions of the files. When all manual merges are complete, the .PreMRG and .PreUPD files are no longer needed.

Running the Update Installation Cleanup utility is an optional step after performing an Update Installation, but it is recommended to use this utility if you want to recover disk space being consumed by these backup files. If you decide to archive the files, the archive destination can be any archive destination supported by the tar command (that is file, tape device, or disk).

The Update Installation Cleanup utility is invoked from the SysMan Menu ( /usr/sbin/sysman) by selecting the following items:

  1. Software branch

  2. Installation branch

  3. Cleanup after an OS update (updadmin) task

The utility is also available from the CDE front panel by selecting Software Management from the SysMan Applications icon. Use the online help provided with the graphical user interface if you need more information.

From the command line, the Update Installation Cleanup utility is invoked by entering /usr/sbin/updadmin. Refer to the updadmin(8) reference page for more information.

3.11    Error Recovery

There are certain types of error conditions that cause the Update Installation process to stop and require user intervention. These errors may occur at the following points in the Update:

3.11.1    Analysis Phase Failure

You can recover if the Update Installation fails any time during the preload analysis phase. You can bring your system back to multiuser mode by issuing the following command:

# init 3

Fix the errors reported by the error messages and restart the Update Installation process.

3.11.2    Software Subset Load Failure

Individual software subsets can fail to load if a network interrupt, hardware problem, or file verification error occurs during the load process:

3.11.3    Kernel Build Failure

The tailored kernel build can fail at the end of the Update Installation because of an incompatibility of a kernel layered product with the new version of the operating system.

In this case, the system will rebuild a kernel without layered product support. ollow this procedure to rebuild a kernel with layered product support: