This chapter explains how to update the software on a diskless implementation that is already running an earlier software release. It explains how to install the updated share tree and client trees, and how to create a new client tree that contains updated software. It also explains how to add software options to a share tree and client tree.
This chapter contains these sections:
When you use these procedures, keep software compatibility considerations in mind: the revision level of the server software supporting the diskless implementation must be equal to or greater than the software on the share tree. In addition, you must update the share tree before updating any of its client trees.
All clients should be shut down while you update their share tree. An individual client should be shut down while you update its client tree.
 | Note: If you do not shut down clients to perform an update, they might not operate properly after the installation. |
The update procedure replaces the software on a share tree with a later software release. The update procedure also adds new subsystems to the share tree and removes subsystems that are no longer needed.
Since software was previously installed in the tree you are updating, inst has a record of the installation; it uses the record to identify currently installed software during the update process. In any software listings that it displays, inst marks currently installed subsystems with the letter I in the leftmost column. In cases where the new software contains an updated version of these subsystems, inst replaces the subsystem with the newer version.
The following procedure explains how to update software on a share tree:
Shut down all client workstations in this class.
Change to the /var/boot directory:
# cd /var/boot
Enter the share_inst command, substituting the name of your share tree for the one shown in this example:
# ./share_inst -r IRIX_51
Note: If you have not shut down the clients using this share tree, share_inst displays this message: WARNING: release IRIX_51 is still serving clients. continue to update IRIX_51(Y/N)?If you answer Y (yes), share_inst posts a final warning:
Checking clients status: client client_1 ... UP WARNING: clients will be out of sync. Clients which are UP may crash.If clients have been shut down (or if you proceed with the installation in spite of the warnings), share_inst displays a confirmation prompt:
About to install shared tree at /diskless/share/IRIX_51......
Enter confirmation (y/Y):
Enter y or Y (yes) to confirm the installation.
After your entry, the Inst Main Menu is displayed:
Default location of new software is <previous installation location> If you are a first-time inst user, give the command "help beginner". Inst Main Menu from [source] Specify location of new softwareto be installed list [keywords] [names] Display information about software subsystems go Perform software installation and removal now install [keywords] [names] Select subsystems to be installed remove [keywords] [names] Select subsystems to be removed keep [keywords] [names] Do not install or remove these subsystems step [keywords] [names] Enter interactive mode for install/remove/keep versions Get information about installed software help [topic] Get help in general or on a specific word admin Go to the Administrative Commands Menu quit Terminate software installation Inst>
Enter from to specify the software location.
The inst utility assumes that the location of your update software is the same as it was for the previous installation. (Notice the “default location” message above the Main menu.)
If you plan to install the updates from the same location, insert the CD (if needed) and press <Enter>; then go to Step 6.
If you plan to install the updates from a location other than the default, specify the location with the from option. Insert the CD (if needed) and press <Enter>; then go to Step 6.
Enter list to determine what is currently installed (optional).
Use the list option if you want to check the current installation in this share tree before installing the updates. Installed subsystems are marked with the letter I, unless the update medium contains a newer version. If there is an update for a subsystem, it is marked with the letter K.
Enter step to select the subsystems that you want to install.
Use the step option to select the subsystems that you want installed to update this share tree. (See Step 5 of “The Share Tree Installation Procedure” in Chapter 3 or on-line help if you need instructions for using step.)
Tip: You can also use two alternatives to the step option to make your selections. Use the install option to specify individual subsystems that you want to update or add to the share tree (your selections must be contained on the update medium); or, use the remove option to specify individual subsystems that you want to omit from the updated share tree. Enter go to launch the installation.
As your share tree software is updated, you will see messages such as the examples shown below.
Removing old versions of selected maint1.eoe1_sw subsystems Installing new versions of selected maint1.eoe1_sw subsystems Removing old versions of selected maint1.eoe1_man subsystems Installing new versions of selected maint1.eoe1_man subsystems Removing old versions of selected maint2.eoe2_sw subsystems Installing new versions of selected maint2.eoe2_sw subsystems Removing new versions of selected maint2.eoe2_man subsystems Installing new versions of selected maint2.eoe2_man subsystems
At the end of the installation, you will see this message:
Installation and/or removal succeeded. You can add another tape or CD-ROM now.
Enter quit to complete the update procedure.
Allow the exit commands several minutes to process.
Caution: Do not make any entries that will interrupt exit command processing (such as <Ctrl> C, for example). Doing so can result in damage to your system.
When processing is complete, the share tree for the class you specified is updated, and you are ready to update client trees for the class.
The update procedure for client trees automatically installs updated software from the share tree into a client tree. You must complete this procedure for all client trees that you wish to update.
| Note: If you are creating a new client tree and you want it to contain updated software, you must complete Step 2 of this procedure twice. (See “Updating New Client Trees” for an explanation.) |
Updating clients involves three general steps:
Shut down the workstation whose client tree you are updating.
If you do not shut down the client, client_inst warns you that it might crash during the update.
Use client_inst to install an updated client tree.
Complete all instructions in “The Client and Swap Tree Installation Procedure” in Chapter 4 to install an updated client tree. If this is a new client tree, complete the instructions in that procedure twice.
Reboot the client workstation.
See “Booting the Client Workstation” in Chapter 4 for instructions.
Once the boot procedure is completed, the client is operating with updated software.
If you want to create a new tree containing updated software (that is, put a new client workstation into service running the updated software), you must run client_inst twice. The first time that client_inst invokes the inst program, inst searches the client tree for a record describing previously installed software. Since no record exists on a new client tree, inst installs a baseline version of Silicon Graphics software, without adding updates. The second time that client_inst invokes inst, inst uses the baseline software to add the updates to the new tree.
Whenever you add a software option, you must add the software to the share tree first. Then you add it to the client tree of each diskless workstation that is to use the option. Options you add to a share or client tree need not be installed on the server.
The procedures for adding an option to a share tree and client tree are given in the sections that follow.
To add a software option to the share tree, follow these steps:
Log in to the server workstation as the superuser.
Enter the share_inst command to install software on a share tree.
Your entry will look like the example that follows. In this example, IRIX_51 is the share tree to which the option is being added.
# /var/boot/share_inst -r IRIX_51
After your entry, share_inst asks you for a confirmation, then the inst Main menu is displayed:
Default location of new software is <previous installation location> If you are a first-time inst user, give the command "help beginner". Inst Main Menu from [source] Specify location of new softwareto be installed list [keywords] [names] Display information about software subsystems go Perform software installation and removal now install [keywords] [names] Select subsystems to be installed remove [keywords] [names] Select subsystems to be removed keep [keywords] [names] Do not install or remove these subsystems step [keywords] [names] Enter interactive mode for install/remove/keep versions Get information about installed software help [topic] Get help in general or on a specific word admin Go to the Administrative Commands Menu quit Terminate software installation Inst>
Enter from to specify the software location.
The inst utility assumes you are installing the software option from the same location as the previous installation (the “default location” message above the Main Menu specifies CD, since no options have previously been installed on this tree). If you plan to use the default location, go to Step 4.
If you plan to install the software from a location other than the default, use the from option to specify the new location. See the inst on-line help if you need instructions.
Enter keep * to clear unwanted selections.
Software at the installation location is likely to have many subsystems selected for installation in addition to the option you want to install. The keep * entry tells inst to clear all subsystems selected for installation.
After your entry, inst identifies the software at the installation location and posts a list such as the partial listing shown in this example:
Reading product description from guest@bigsgi:/d2/irix51
Enter install option_name to select the software option.
For example, if you want to install the EFast™ product option, your entry would look like this:
inst> install efast
Enter list to verify the software that you selected.
Inst> list
Enter go to launch the installation.
Inst> go
Enter quit to finish the installation.
Inst> quit
When processing is complete, the option is added to the share tree. The option can now be added to client trees that will be using it.
This section describes the procedure for adding a software option to a client tree. The following steps must be completed for each client using the new option. The option must already be installed on the share tree when you do this procedure.
Enter the client_inst command to add software to a client tree.
/var/boot/client_inst -r IRIX_51 -c Indigo_XS -h starlite
In this example, starlite, the client using the IRIX_51 share tree, is receiving the software option. After your entry, client_inst asks you for a confirmation, then the Inst Main menu is displayed.
Enter keep * to clear unwanted subsystem selections.
Since many subsystems in the share tree are selected for installation, you need to clear these selections before going on with the installation. The keep * entry clears all selections from the share tree.
Enter install to select the software that you want to add.
Inst> install efast
Enter list to verify the software that you selected.
Inst> list
Enter go to launch the installation.
inst> go
After your entry, inst computes disk space changes, then installs the software option.
Enter quit to finish the installation.
Inst> quit
When processing is complete, the option is added to the client tree and is available to users of this diskless workstation.