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Conference decwet::networker

Title:NetWorker
Notice:kits - 12-14, problem reporting - 41.*, basics 1-100
Moderator:DECWET::RANDALL.com::lenox
Created:Thu Oct 10 1996
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:750
Total number of notes:3361

464.0. "I need more information about patches" by UNXA::MOK (Mitch Kulberg) Wed Mar 05 1997 11:35

Hello again,

I just got done writing note 463.

While I was searching through the conference looking for answers to that
problem, I looked through the patches topic and saw that there have already
been SIX patches to 4.2B.  I think it's great that you are responding to
problems so quickly, BUT, I have to say I was a bit confused by the patches and
notes associated with them.  I can't help but think you left out basic
information that everyone would be interested in... as follows:

1) Does this patch include any previous patches?

2) If I want to install all the patches, is there a special order to install
   them in or do I have to decide which patches I care about since none of
   them contain previously patched files.

3) If I haven't experienced this bug should I install the patch?

4) I assume that it is good to install all patches but again, it's not
   clear if that's a good idea or not.

And as far as installing patches goes....

1) Why do you have us link the client software instead of copying
   directly to the program area?


It just seemed a bit confusing to me and I thought you would like to know.

Thanks again,
Mitch
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
464.1DECWET::RANDALLWed Mar 05 1997 12:1834
>1) Does this patch include any previous patches?

New patches include older patches only when the the newer patch contains
binaries that were also included in the older patch.  If there is no overlap
in the files that are changed then the new patch does not contain any 
older patches.

>2) If I want to install all the patches, is there a special order to install
>   them in or do I have to decide which patches I care about since none of
>   them contain previously patched files.

If you want to install all of the patches then you should install them 
in numerical order.

>3) If I haven't experienced this bug should I install the patch?

This seems like a personal philosophy question to me.  The standard patch
caveats apply here as well as anywhere else.

>4) I assume that it is good to install all patches but again, it's not
>   clear if that's a good idea or not.
>
>And as far as installing patches goes....
>
>1) Why do you have us link the client software instead of copying
>   directly to the program area?

I'm sure some of the other engineers could answer this better, but the one
reason that comes immediately to mind is that it makes it easier to tell 
what came with the operating system, and what was installed later.  This
has various administration benifits.

-- Rich Randall
464.2DECWET::ONOSoftware doesn't break-it comes brokenMon Mar 10 1997 13:095
We're talking about generating a "jumbo" patch that includes all 
of the fixes.  We haven't decided whether to do it or not, but we 
are considering it.

Wes
464.3SANITY::LEMONSAnd we thank you for your support.Mon Mar 10 1997 19:2411
    Please do consider it.  By my rough count, there have been three server
    patches released in the last week.  We're religious about applying
    pathces within a day or so of their posting in the notes file.  But if
    I were a new user, and was faced with the installation AND 11 pathces,
    I would be miffed at the complexity of the task.
    
    So, (alas for you folks) the best may be to continue to release the
    point patches PLUS the El Jugundo patch containng a compilation.
    
    My 2 cents.
    tl
464.4me tooREGENT::HUMMERSTue Mar 11 1997 11:5111
    Here is another reason to consider the periodic large, catch-all patch...
    
    Disk partition space.   My /usr partition was close to the edge, 
    by the time I got all 9 (am I already 2 behind?) patches on
    V4.2B I had several sets of ./decaxp/.. images plus several sets of
    ./decpt/... images; - /usr was 104% filled.     Fortunatly I
    did not ring the bell and was able to clean up my moving 
    unused parts of /usr/opt/BRX422... off to a scratch partition.
    
    thanks
    \s\Rick
464.5Done. See note 53.27SANITY::LEMONSAnd we thank you for your support.Wed Apr 30 1997 09:441