Marcelo Leal writes: > I just want to ask you about the installation of kernel patches on > opensolaris/solaris... > opensolaris(solaris) is the more modular kernel that i know about, and i > think that is a really good thing (thinking about all the features that such > configuration has, like updates). But, seems like the procedure to apply a > update without shutdown the server, is not the "standard" way, because > install a solaris kernel patch is much like install a windows service pack > (you need to reboot the server and cross the fingers). > I think opensolaris have not kernel updates, because here is the project > site, and i don't know how the updates will be handled by OpenSolaris > distribution, but here we have the engineering for the product... so, i ask: > the modular kernel should not be for make more easy the modules' fix?
You've asked a somewhat complicated question. First, yes, the kernel is modular. And it certainly is possible to unload a kernel module and insert a replacement on a running system without rebooting. Not all modules can do this, though. In order to unload a kernel module, you have to be able to shut down all references to that module -- delete all internal state, close all open descriptors, disable all callbacks and timers, and so on. How you do that depends entirely on the module itself; there is no one mechanism. Some modules are written such that their _fini(9E) entry point aways returns an error; they can never be unloaded, because the designer of the module didn't figure out how to make it unloadable. The other part of your question has to do with patches. Patches are collections of sparse packages. They are crafted as part of the update creation process. The normal development process, though, does *NOT* create patches. There are no patches for Nevada or OpenSolaris. Instead, new full packages are built each time, and you must upgrade between builds. -- James Carlson, Solaris Networking <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sun Microsystems / 35 Network Drive 71.232W Vox +1 781 442 2084 MS UBUR02-212 / Burlington MA 01803-2757 42.496N Fax +1 781 442 1677 _______________________________________________ opensolaris-code mailing list [email protected] http://mail.opensolaris.org/mailman/listinfo/opensolaris-code
