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HP Stage/iX Concepts

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Your operating system normally resides in what HP Stage/iX calls the Base. The Base is the set of files laid down by the last UPDATE or INSTALL, and RESTORE from tape. The "base location" or "natural location" is where a file officially resides (for example, NL.PUB.SYS).

HP Stage/iX creates, fills, and validates staging areas. A staging area is an HFS directory: /SYS/hpstage/stage_name. It is located on disk and contains only the files of the OS that change as a result of applying a set of patches. As needed, using the HP Stage/iX SET command, you activate your system software to boot from either the Base or a designated staging area.

Creating and Activating a Staging Area

When you boot your system from a staging area, HP Stage/iX:

  1. Creates a Base file archive.

  2. Moves the affected Base files to the archive: 

    
  /SYS/hpstage/base_archive.

  3. Moves the staging area files to their Base location.

  4. Boots the system using the staging area files.

Much of the disk space used by the staging area and the archive is on LDEV 1. When the system is booting from the Base files, the archive area is empty. When the system is booting from the staging area files, the staging area is empty. The amount of disk space used depends on the set of patched files. Refer to Figure G-1 Creating and Activating a Staging Area for more information.

Figure G-1 Creating and Activating a Staging Area

[Creating and Activating a Staging Area]

Backing Out a Staging Area

To backout the changes from a staging area, use the HP Stage/iX SET command to designate the Base instead of the staging area. When you use the SET command to backout a staging area, HP Stage/iX:

  1. Moves the staging area files back to the staging area.

  2. Moves the Base archive files back to their Base location.

  3. Boots the system using the staging area files.

Refer to Figure G-2 Backing Out Patch Changes for more information.

Figure G-2 Backing Out Patch Changes

[Backing Out Patch Changes]

Applying the Changes

After you have tested and are satisfied with the changes from an active staging area, use the HP Stage/iX COMMIT command to permanently apply the changes to your system. This accomplishes the following:

  1. Creates a new Base .

  2. Frees up disk space by removing the archived Base files and the committed staging area.

Refer to Figure G-3 Permanently Applying Patch Changes for more information.

Figure G-3 Permanently Applying Patch Changes

[Permanently Applying Patch Changes]

Using Multiple Staging Areas

You can have more than one staging area at a time. Each staging area contains the difference, or delta, between the Base OS and a patched OS. Staging area stage_1 contains the changes to the Base from patch_set_1. Staging area stage_2 contains the changes to the Base from only patch_set_2. You can use the SET command and boot from either staging area stage_1 or stage_2. Refer to Figure G-4 Creating Another Staging Area, from the Base Location for more information.

Figure G-4 Creating Another Staging Area, from the Base Location

[Creating Another Staging Area, from the Base Location]
If you create an additional staging area, stage_name2, while operating from another staging area, stage_name1, the additional staging area, stage_name2, will contain all the changes to the Base from patch_set_1 plus the new patches in patch_set_2. Refer to Figure G-5 Creating Another Staging Area from an Existing Staging Area for more information.

Figure G-5 Creating Another Staging Area from an Existing Staging Area

[Creating Another Staging Area from an Existing Staging Area]



Appendix G HP Stage/iX Reference

Using HP Stage/iX