tres@roke.rap.ucar.edu (Tres Hofmeister) (04/23/91)
Archive-name: sys/sun/brossard-sun-install/1991-04-22 Archive: ltisun.epfl.ch:/pub/install.4.1.1*Z [128.178.119.94] Original-posting-by: tres@roke.rap.ucar.edu (Tres Hofmeister) Original-subject: SUMMARY: rdist as an Upgrade Tool Reposted-by: emv@msen.com (Edward Vielmetti, MSEN) My original query concerned the possible use of rdist as an upgrade tool. I received over twenty responses. Thanks to all of those who replied. Various individuals suggested using dump/restore rather than rdist for this purpose. Others pointed out possible problems updating files in use and device special files. Also pointed out was the fact that OS upgrades often include more than simple file changes, such as filesystem format changes. Local configuration file issues of various kinds were mentioned. Various other utilities were also mentioned, particularly "depot" and "track". A rather interesting, if somewhat complex, system was offered by Alain Brossard (brossard@sasun1.epfl.ch) which allows setting up an "upgrade server" system and is available via anonymous FTP from ltisun.epfl.ch. It should be noted that Sun offers a half-baked plan for upgrading using a remote CD-ROM in the 4.1.1 Release & Install manual. In the end, I opted for booting each of the machines on the local network from tape, loading the miniroot, and using the CD-ROM on the server to upgrade each machine individually. This had more to do with local time constraints than with any determination that a more elegant solution could not be found. Oh well. Maybe next time. Or rather, certainly next time, as 4.1.1 is supposedly the last release which will be distributed on tape... -- Tres Hofmeister tres@ncar.ucar.edu -- comp.archives file verification ltisun.epfl.ch -rw-rw-rw- 1 ftp dilti 2291648 Mar 28 11:35 /pub/install.4.1.1-pl2.tar.Z found brossard-sun-install ok ltisun.epfl.ch:/pub/install.4.1.1*Z