Unix Patch Management
The Systems Support group has implemented a patch schedule for the Unix servers managed by the Systems Administration group.
Patches are applied every six months on a regular schedule.
Patching and the CIT Change Advisory Board (CCAB)
CCAB announcements about patches are the responsibility of the service owner. If you determine that this OS patching maintenance should be included for the CCAB process, please submit the CIT Request for Change form. The usual lead time for CCAB submissions is one week before the maintenance is scheduled.
Steps for Patch Management
The patch process follows this general outline:
- System Administrators break the mirror between the two boot drives on the server before applying a patch. Patches are applied to one of the drives. The mirror (with old OS) is left untouched for 24 hours after the patching for customer application testing against the updated copy. Once testing is complete, the mirror is resynchronized.
- You can request to revert to the old mirror, or if testing is taking longer than expected, ask for the mirror to remain detached. Send e-mail within 24 hours to systems-support@cornell.edu with the subject line: ServerName Do Not Re-synchronize. The staff member who handled the patching will contact you to confirm the next steps.
- After the maintenance is completed, email is sent to you. If you prefer to be notified by phone (possibly between the hours of 5-7AM) please send e-mail to bmb45@cornell.edu with the contact phone number.
If you have any questions, send e-mail to systems-support@cornell.edu.