Patch Management User Guide for HP-UX 11.x Systems

PHSS_27875.X11-RUN-CL PHSS_28681.X11-RUN-CL,fa=HP-UX_B.11.11_32/64
PHSS_27875.X11-TCH-B-MSG PHSS_28681.X11-TCH-B-MSG,fa=HP-UX_B.11.11_32/64
You can also show the filesets that a given patch has superseded. These superseded filesets will
be listed whether or not they are installed on a system. This is done by using the swlist command
to list the supersedes attribute of the patch. Note that the first patch of any particular patch
supersession chain does not have a supersedes attribute. In the following example, patch
PHSS_28681 is shown to supersede patches PHSS_27875, PHSS_26498, and PHSS_25201.
(The output has been reformatted to improve readability.)
swlist -l level -a attributepatch_id
For example:
$ swlist -l fileset -a supersedes PHSS_28681
# Initializing...
# Contacting target "some_system"...
#
# Target: some_system:/
#
# PHSS_28681
PHSS_28681.X11-JPN-S-MSG
PHSS_27875.X11-JPN-S-MSG,fr=*
PHSS_26498.X11-JPN-S-MSG,fr=*
PHSS_28681.X11-RUN-CL
PHSS_27875.X11-RUN-CL,fr=*
PHSS_26498.X11-RUN-CL,fr=*
PHSS_25201.X11-RUN-CL,fr=*
PHSS_28681.X11-TCH-B-MSG
PHSS_27875.X11-TCH-B-MSG,fr=*
PHSS_26498.X11-TCH-B-MSG,fr=*
Advanced topic: supersession and the patch_state attribute
When a superseding patch is applied to a system, the superseded patch (if there was one) remains
on the system but is not active. Only the top patch of the chain is in the active (applied) state.
For more information about patch state, see “Patch state” (page 19).
You can use the following swlist command to show the patch_state attribute for patch
patch_id:
swlist -a patch_state -x show_superseded_patches=true patch_id
It is important to note that the availability of a newer, superseding patch does not preclude the
use of the older patch. Depending on the circumstances, a superseded patch might be a better
choice than the patch superseding it. Older patches have had more exposure to varied, real-world
use. When they have been shown to induce no ill effects, they are generally safer than newer
patches that supersede them. Thus, if two patches in a supersession chain solve the problem you
are facing, you might find that the older patch is the better choice.
Because HP-UX patches are cumulative, a superseding patch negates the need for the previous
patch. As an example, patch PHSS_29377 delivers all the features and fixes of all other patches
shown in Figure 3-2: “HP-UX Patch Supersession Chain” (page 29). This patch will also satisfy
any dependencies on all patches in the supersession chain.
SD-UX does not allow you to install a patch that has been superseded by another patch already
installed on a system. Using Figure 3-2: “HP-UX Patch Supersession Chain” (page 29) as an
example, if you have patch PHSS_29377 installed on a system SD-UX will not allow you to
install patch PHSS_29323.
Patch supersession chains can be more complex than the one shown in Figure 3-2: “HP-UX Patch
Supersession Chain” (page 29).
28 HP-UX patch overview