Patch Management

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Patch Management

• In Solaris and Red Hat

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What is a Patch

• A collection of fixes to a problem
• Three main categories
• Security
• Bugs in the system that provide unauthorized
  access (rlogin)
• Functionality
• Data integrity, reliability (cron)
• Performance
• Excessive use of system resources

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Patch Management

• The process of determining if a system has the
  most appropriate software installed.
• Where do patches come from?
• Operating System vendors
• Application distributors
• Third party software

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Patch Management

• A three step process
• Discovery
• Determination
• Installation

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Discovery

• Online resources Vendor tools
• Solaris
• SunSolve Newsletters
• Solaris Patch Manager Tool
• Sun Patch Check
• Red Hat
• Red Hat Network Alert Notification Tool
• RPM
• Red Hat Update Agent

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SunSolve
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Red Hat Network
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Determination

• Comparing what is on your machine to what is
  available
• Level of importance
• Solaris
• Solaris Patch Manager Tool
• Patch Check
• PatchDiag
• Sun Management Center

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Determination (contd)

• Solaris (contd)
• Solaris Live Upgrade
• Solaris Flash Technology
• Red Hat
• Red Hat Update Agent
• Red Hat Network
• Red Hat Network Alert Notification Tool

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Installation

• Automated
• Solaris Solaris Patch Manager, Sun Management
  Center, Solaris Live Update
• Red Hat Red Hat Update Agent, Red Hat Network,
  Red Hat Network Alert Notification Tool
• Manual
• Solaris patchadd
• Red Hat rpm

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PM Strategies

• Patch Management Process
• Determine which patches to install
• Find any patch dependencies
• Remove old version of patch
• Install patch and dependencies

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PM - Solaris

• Solaris
• Monitor newsletters and website regularly
• Four Types of patches
• Solaris Updates
• Maintenance Updates
• Alert Patches
• Advisory Patches

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PM - Solaris

• Three tiered approach
• Install Solaris and Maintenance Updates
• Install Alert Patches
• Install patches on a per-issue basis
• Patch Installation Process
• Test -gt Development -gt Production
• Automation
• Solaris Patch Manager Tool

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PM Red Hat

• Red Hat
• Monitor system status on Red Hat Network
• Add channels as needed
• Utilize Red Hat Network Alert Notification Tool
• Automation
• Red Hat Update Agent