Support Packs -- huuh! What are they good for?

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2 total messages Started by wallewek Wed, 19 Mar 1997 00:00

#32

Author: wallewek
Date: Wed, 19 Mar 1997 00:00

25 lines
1423 bytes

I see there are two support packs out now for NW4.11.  I've looked 
at the attached documentation and searched Novell's web site, 
but... am I missing something obvious, or what?

There should be documentation _somewhere_ describing:
a) what the support packs fix or upgrade
b) what the differences between the packs are
c) replacement policy, e.g.: whether the second, or both, packs 
should be used on a system where neither has yet been installed
d) why my clients might want to install them (if it's not broke, 
why fix it?)

The documentation in SP2, for example, has notes and tips on 
installing the pack, but I saw nothing on what it was supposed to 
accomplish.

The above are the questions I really want answered, but if anybody 
wants to comment on why I'm the only person who seems to think this 
info is needed, I'm game for that, too.

/kenw
Ken Wallewein
Calgary, Alberta
wallewek@cadvision.com

Re: Support Packs -- huuh! What are they good for?

#31

Author: John J. Jobst
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 00:00

51 lines
2888 bytes

wallewek@cadvision.com wrote:
> 
> I see there are two support packs out now for NW4.11.  I've looked
> at the attached documentation and searched Novell's web site,
> but... am I missing something obvious, or what?
> 
> There should be documentation _somewhere_ describing:
> a) what the support packs fix or upgrade
> b) what the differences between the packs are
> c) replacement policy, e.g.: whether the second, or both, packs
> should be used on a system where neither has yet been installed
> d) why my clients might want to install them (if it's not broke,
> why fix it?)
> 
> The documentation in SP2, for example, has notes and tips on
> installing the pack, but I saw nothing on what it was supposed to
> accomplish.
> 
> The above are the questions I really want answered, but if anybody
> wants to comment on why I'm the only person who seems to think this
> info is needed, I'm game for that, too.
> 
> /kenw
> Ken Wallewein
> Calgary, Alberta
> wallewek@cadvision.com

Ken, I called Novell and they didn't know either.  They had to read all
the docs in all the different patches, and compare file dates and sizes.
They came to the conclusion that from a new IntraNetWare 4.11 server
installation you should load Service Pack 2 and TCPN03, and the
WebServer patch (WS251B) if you are running WebServer 2.51.  And then
you should check LANDRV and DSKDRV to see if there are any more recent
drivers to install.

If someone at Novell is listening, I applaud the new format that the
patches have taken: being able to install them from INSTALL.NLM.  That
is
fantastic.  BUT, and this is a BIG BUT, we really need to have a lot
better system for knowing what patches to install.  It would seem that
a Service Pack should include all previous patches, and not require
guessing as to which patches it does include.  Then we could just get
the latest Service Pack and any patches issued after that.
-- 
 John J. Jobst                     US Army Corps of Engineers
 jobst@smtp.lms.usace.army.mil     1222 Spruce Street
 314-331-8662    fax-8677          St. Louis,  MO  63103-2833

 It ain't that there's too many fools in the world, it's just
 that the lightnin' ain't distributed right!      -Mark Twain

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