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Installing Maintenance Updates and Service Packs

# Downloading and Installing Service Packs

This section includes the following topics:

- Overview
- Viewing Available Service Packs
- Applying the Selected Service Pack
- Upgrading Web Server Plug-Ins

# Overview

You can install service packs using Smart Update, which allows you to retrieve code and media archives from BEA Customer Support. Media archives can be retrieved only for components currently installed in the target BEA Home directory.

When installing a service pack, Smart Update creates a backup file containing the state of the current installation and information about files that were added during the upgrade. This backup file is used to restore system state if any errors occur during installation, and when you uninstall or roll back a service pack installation.

For a typical upgrade installation of WebLogic Server and AquaLogic Service Bus, a minimum of 430MB of available disk space is required.

When installing a service pack, note the following important information:

- Using the Node Manager in a Clustered Environment
- Removing Pointers to Custom Patch Profiles

## Using the Node Manager in a Clustered Environment

If you are using Node Manager to manage your servers in a clustered environment, you should back up the following directory and files on all machines that are running the Node Manager before upgrading your installations:

Windows:
`WL_HOME``\common\nodemanager
``WL_HOME``\server\bin\startNodeManager.cmd`

UNIX:
`WL_HOME``/common/nodemanager
``WL_HOME``/server/bin/startNodeManager.sh`

In these path names, `WL_HOME` is the root directory of your BEA installation, for example,`c:\bea\weblogic91`.

Once the upgrade installation is complete, you should restore these files.

For more information about Node Manager, see Using Node Manager to Control Servers in Managing Server Startup and Shutdown.

## Removing Pointers to Custom Patch Profiles

All patch profiles are specific to a service pack maintenance level of a BEA product installation. When you upgrade the service pack level of a BEA product installation in which you have been using custom patch profiles, you need to modify the appropriate domain or server start scripts so that they no longer point to those custom profiles.

# Viewing Available Service Packs

You can display the Service Pack Update window periodically to check for available service pack updates. When you log in to Smart Update, it checks the version numbers of the products associated with the current target installation, and then connects to BEA Customer Support to check for available service packs. The Service Pack Update window includes three panes:

- Installed Products—The left pane of the Service Pack Update window which contains a tree displaying product and release information for products installed in the target installation directory.
- Upgrade Options—The top-right pane, which lists the service packs, if any, that are available for the installed products.
- Downgrade Options—The bottom-right pane, which lists the versions of the product to which you can revert your installation, if applicable. For details about uninstalling service pack upgrades with Smart Update, see Uninstalling Service Packs and Patches.

Note: Smart Update checks for only those products that are associated with the current target installation. If you have multiple BEA Home directories on your system, you must run Smart Update once for each directory to make sure that available service packs are installed for each one. For more information about BEA Home directories, see Choosing a Target Installation.

# Applying the Selected Service Pack

To install service packs using the Service Pack Update window, perform the following steps:

1. Make backup copies of any files or applications that you have created in the product home directory; for example, in `WL_HOME`. (As part of the upgrade procedure, the installation program automatically overwrites any files, including applications, that you have created in this directory. Files that are outside of the product home directory—for example, in `user_projects`—are not affected.)
2. Shut down any servers that are running. Hot installation of a service pack is not supported.
3. Start Smart Update, as described in Starting Smart Update.
4. In the Smart Update main window, choose Service Packs—> Update... This displays the Service Pack Update window.
5. In the Installed Products pane of the Service Pack Update window, select the release for the product you want to update.

If any service packs are available, they are displayed in the Upgrade Options section of the window.

6. In the Upgrade Options pane, select the service pack to be installed and click OK.

The Login dialog box is displayed, in which you enter your BEA Support ID and password to access BEA Customer Support. For information about obtaining your BEA Support ID, see Obtaining a BEA Account and Accessing Your Contract Entitlement.

Note: You must have a valid support contract to install a service pack.

7. The BEA Installation Program Welcome window is displayed, from which you can proceed with the installation. You may cancel the installation at any time by clicking Exit.

After the installation is complete, the Service Pack Update window is displayed, indicating the upgraded release level in the Installed Products pane. Choose Exit to close the Service Pack Update window. The Smart Update main window reappears after quitting the Service Pack Update window.

# Upgrading Web Server Plug-Ins

If you are using a Web server with your BEA product installation, it is important that you keep your Web server up to date to ensure you have all the latest security patches and support. Updated Web server plug-ins are included when you upgrade your WebLogic Server installation. Although it is not required, you may want to replace the Web server plug-ins installed with your Web server with the updated versions.

For details about installing the Web server plug-ins, see Using Web Server Plug-Ins with WebLogic Server.