Updating a vSnap server

vSnap servers, both virtually deployed or physically installed, must occasionally be updated.

Before you begin

You can update the IBM Spectrum® Protect Plus and vSnap servers directly from two previous versions (n-2) to the current version (n). If you are using an older version, you must update at least to (n-2) version and then update to the current version.

Test restore jobs need to complete prior to initiating an update to vSnap. During a vSnap upgrade, a reboot will occur and any clients will experience a temporary disconnection. This disconnection may result in errors for any virtual machines or applications with active test mode restore. Additionally, jobs that are not completed or canceled when an update is initiated will not be visible once the update has completed. If jobs are not visible once the update has completed, re-run test restore jobs.

Before you begin the update process, complete the following steps:
  1. Ensure that you have backed up your IBM Spectrum Protect Plus environment as described in Backing up the IBM Spectrum Protect Plus catalog.
  2. Download the vSnap update file. The image name that contains vsnap-dist-el8-<version-build> is for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.x and must be used for upgrades. The image name has an associated Passport Advantage Part Number. Download the corresponding run file, <part_number>.run, for the image name from Passport Advantage Online. For information about downloading files, see technote 6579841.
  3. Copy the upgrade file to a temporary location on the vSnap server.

Procedure

To update a vSnap server, complete the following steps:

  1. Log on to the vSnap server as the serveradmin user.
  2. From the directory where the <part_number>.run file is located, make the file executable by issuing the following command: 
    $ chmod +x <part_number>.run
  3. Run the installer by issuing the following command: 
    $ sudo ./<part_number>.run
    Alternatively, non-interactive installations or updates of vSnap may be initiated using the noprompt option. When this option is used, the vSnap installer will skip prompting for responses and assume an answer of "yes" to the following prompts:
    • License agreement
    • Kernel installation or update
    • Reboot at the end of the installation or update if necessary
    To use the noprompt option, issue the following command. Observe the deliberate space both before and after the double dashes:
    $ sudo ./<part_number>.run -- noprompt

    The vSnap packages are installed.

  4. After the vSnap packages are installed, start the updated version of the vSnap server.
  5. In the navigation panel, click Jobs and Operations, and then click the Schedule tab.
    Find the jobs that you paused.
  6. From the Actions menu for the paused jobs, select Release Schedule.