If you are a system administrator who needs to upgrade different versions of multiple OES servers, it can be time-consuming and inconvenient to repeat the process of swapping installation discs and providing necessary upgrade information. You can now use AutoYaST to upgrade an existing OES server to the latest OES version with no user intervention.
IMPORTANT:Information provided in this section is critical. Failing to meet the prerequisites and follow the procedures as outlined might result in loss of data or the OES server becoming unrecoverable. Before performing these procedures in a live environment, we strongly recommend that you try them in a test environment to become familiar with the unattended upgrade process.
Identify the server that you want to upgrade, and ensure that the latest patches are applied before starting the upgrade. Ensure that you meet all the OES 23.4 upgrade requirements specified in Section 5.3, Meeting the Upgrade Requirements.
Ensure that you have the eDirectory replica server IP address and eDirectory credentials.
Ensure that the replica server is reachable over the network.
Ensure that the correct eDirectory replica server's IP address is present in the eDirectory install configuration file (for OES 2018 SP3, it is edir_oes2018_sp3) at /etc/sysconfig/novell/ as shown below:
CONFIG_EDIR_REPLICA_SERVER=" <specify the eDirectory Replica IP> "
Create an answer file that provides the eDirectory password. For more information, see Section 5.5.2, Creating an Answer File to Provide the eDirectory and DSfW Passwords.
During an AutoYaST upgrade, the system requires user input only to provide the eDirectory and DSfW passwords. This intervention can be eliminated with the help of an answer file.
WARNING:During the answer file creation, no validation is performed on the passwords you enter. If the wrong password is entered, the upgrade will fail and the server that you are upgrading will become unrecoverable.
To create an answer file, use any one of the following methods:
Log in to your machine as a root user and execute the following command:
OES 2018 or later:
yast2 /usr/share/YaST2/clients/create-answer-file.rb <eDirectory password> [<DSfW Administrator Password for a DSfW server upgrade>]
NOTE:This method is not recommended because the passwords are stored in the y2log file in clear text.
In the terminal window, type the following commands:
export OES_EDIR_DATA=<specify eDirectory Administrator Password>
export OES_DSFW_DATA=<specify the DsfW Administrator Password for a DsfW server upgrade>
OES 2018 or later: yast2 /usr/share/YaST2/clients/create-answer-file.rb
In the terminal window, type the following command:
OES 2018 or later: yast2 /usr/share/YaST2/clients/create-answer-file.rb
In the YaST2 dialog, provide the eDirectory and DSfW passwords, then click OK.
NOTE:DSfW password should be specified only if you are upgrading a DSfW server.
Once you have successfully generated the answer key file using any of the above stated methods, copy it from the current working directory to /opt/novell/oes-install/. For example, cp answer /opt/novell/oes-install/.
HINT:To invoke help for creating the answer key file, in the terminal window, type yast2 /usr/share/YaST2/clients/create-answer-file.rb --help.
Ensure that you have met all the requirements listed in Section 5.5.1, Prerequisites.
Use the integrated ISO (OES23.4-x86_64-DVD1.iso) to boot the supported machine that you want to upgrade.
In the installation screen, select Install, and specify the following information in the Boot Options:
autoupgrade=1 autoyast=file:///autoupgrade.xml
If your server is using a different keyboard or is installed in a different language or supports multiple languages, then you will need to adjust the keyboard and language sections of the control file. For more information, see Server Upgrade Using AutoYaST.
Press Enter.
The upgrade proceeds without any user intervention.
NOTE:No tags are available for Product Improvement (telemetry) through AutoYaST.
Ensure that you have met all the requirements listed in Section 5.5.1, Prerequisites.
Shut down the guest machine.
Open the guest machine's XML file at /etc/xen/vm, delete the boot loader entry, then save the file.
Use the following command to delete the guest machine:
xm delete <guest machine>
Use the following command to start the virtual manager GUI:
vm-install --vm-settings /etc/xen/vm/<guest>.xml --os-type sles15 --os-settings http://<the web server IP>/download/autoupgrade.xmlIn the Operating System Installation screen, select the appropriate SLES 15 options as shown in the following image.
By default, the autoupgrade.xml path is populated for the AutoYaST file.
NOTE:If you choose to upgrade using an ISO, in the Virtual Disk, select the path where the integrated ISO exists. If you choose to upgrade using a URL, specify the HTTP path where the integrated installation source exists in Network URL.
In the Additional Arguments text box, specify the parameter information for the host IP, gateway IP, and netmask.
For example:
autoupgrade=1 netsetup=hostip hostip=192.168.1.1 netmask=255.255.254.0 gateway=192.168.1.254
Click Apply.
The upgrade proceeds without any user intervention.
There is no validation for the passwords that you enter while creating the answer file. If you do not specify the correct passwords, the upgrade will not be successful and the server that you are upgrading will become unrecoverable.
For a Domain Services for Windows (DSfW) server upgrade, specify the DSfW Administrator password after the eDirectory password. For more information, see Section 5.5.2, Creating an Answer File to Provide the eDirectory and DSfW Passwords
If you have not created the answer file, you will be prompted for the eDirectory and DSfW administrator passwords.
If the eDirectory replica server's IP address is not present in the eDirectory install configuration file (for OES 2018 SP2, it is edir_oes2018_sp2) at /etc/sysconfig/novell/, you will be prompted for the same. For more information, see Section 5.5.1, Prerequisites.