SUNW_PKG_THISZONE Package Parameter

The SUNW_PKG_THISZONE package parameter defines whether a package must be installed in the current zone, global or non-global, only. The SUNW_PKG_THISZONE package parameter has two permissible values. These values are true and false. The default value is false.

The SUNW_PKG_THISZONE package parameter values are described in the following table.

Table 24-4 SUNW_PKG_THISZONE Package Parameter Values

Value	Description
false	If pkgadd is run in a non-global zone, the package is installed in the current zone only. If pkgadd is run in the global zone, the package is installed in the global zone and also installed in all currently installed non-global zones. In addition, the package will be propagated to all future, newly installed non-global zones.
true	The package is installed in the current zone only. If installed in the global zone, the package is not added to any currently existing or yet-to-be-created non-global zones. This is the same behavior that occurs when the -G option is specified to pkgadd.

Package Information Query

The pkginfo utility described in the pkginfo(1) man page supports querying the software package database on a Solaris system with zones installed. For information about the database, see Product Database.

The pkginfo utility can be used in the global zone to query the software package database in the global zone only. The pkginfo utility can be used in a non-global zone to query the software package database in the non-global global zone only.

About Adding Patches in Zones

In general, a patch consists of the following components:

• Patch information:

  • Identification, which is the patch version and patch ID

  • Applicability, which is the operating system type, operating system version, and architecture

  • Dependencies, such as requires and obsoletes

  • Properties, such as requires a reboot afterwards

• One or more packages to patch, where each package contains:

  • The version of the package to which the patches can be applied

  • Patch information, such as ID, obsoletes, and requires

  • One or more components of the package to be patched

When the patchadd command is used to apply a patch, the patch information is used to determine whether the patch is applicable to the currently running system. If determined to be not applicable, the patch is not applied. Patch dependencies are also checked against all of the zones on the system. If any required dependencies are not met, the patch is not applied. This could include the case in which a later version of the patch is already installed.

Each package contained in the patch is checked. If the package is not installed on any zone, then the package is bypassed and not patched.

If all dependencies are satisfied, all packages in the patch that are installed on any zone are used to patch the system. The package and patch databases are also updated.

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Note - If a package is installed with pkgadd -G or has the pkginfo setting SUNW_PKG_THISZONE=true, the package can only be patched with patchadd -G.

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Applying Patches on a Solaris System With Zones Installed

All patches applied at the global zone level are applied across all zones. When a non-global zone is installed, it is at the same patch level as the global zone. When the global zone is patched, all non-global zones are similarly patched. This action maintains the same patch level across all zones.

The patchadd system utility described in the patchadd(1M) man page is used to add patches on a system with zones installed.

Using patchadd in the Global Zone

To add a patch to the global zone and to all non-global zones, run patchadd as the global administrator in the global zone.

When patchadd is used in the global zone, the following conditions apply:

• The patchadd utility is able to add the patch(es) to the global zone and to all non-global zones only. This is the default action.

• The patchadd utility cannot add the patch(es) to the global zone only or to a subset of the non-global zones.

When you add a patch to the global zone and to all non-global zones, you do not have to consider whether the patch affects areas that are shared from the global zone.

The following steps are performed by the patchadd utility:

• The patch is added to the global zone.

• The patch database on the global zone is updated.

• The patch is added to each non-global zone.

• The patch database on each non-global zone is updated.

Using patchadd in a Non-Global Zone

When used in a non-global zone by the zone administrator, patchadd can only be used to add patches to that zone. A patch can be added to a non-global zone in the following cases:

• The patch does not affect any area of the zone that is shared from the global zone.

• All packages in the patch are set SUNW_PKG_ALLZONES=false.

The following steps are performed by the patchadd utility:

• The patch is added to the zone.

• The patch database on the zone is updated.