Installing optional software and service updates using SMIT

Use SMIT to install optional software and service updates.

The following installation paths are available in SMIT:

Install Software
Install or update software from the latest levels of software available on the media. To shorten the list of software displayed, message and locale software are omitted from the list. To use this option, type smit install_latest on the command line.
Update Installed Software to Latest Level
Update all currently installed software to the latest level available on the installation media. To use this option, type smit update_all on the command line.

Beginning in AIX 5L Version 5.2 with the 5200-01 Recommended Maintenance package, if you select the option to install all devices and kernels during a BOS installation, then during subsequent update_all processing, any new devices.* filesets are installed from the installation media. This option can be turned off by setting the ALL_DEVICES_KERNELS variable in the /var/adm/ras/bosinst.data file to no.

Install Software Bundle
Install complete bundles of software simply by specifying the input device and which bundle you are installing. You can also preview a bundle installation to see what software will be installed and how much space is required in the file system to install the bundle. To use this option, type smit install_bundle on the command line.
Update Software by Fix
Install a specific fix for a problem. This menu allows you to list all service fixes on the media and select a fix to install. You can also preview the installation to see what software will be updated and how much space is required in the file system to apply the fix. To use this option, type smit update_by_fix on the command line.
Install and Update from ALL Available Software
Install or update software from all software available on the media. To use this option, type smit install_all on the command line.

Note: If a problem occurs during the installation of optional software that causes the installation process to halt abnormally, you might have to complete a cleanup procedure to remove the partially installed software from the system before attempting to reinstall it. If the system instructs you to do a cleanup, go to Cleaning up optional software products and service updates.

Some installed software must ship new installation images instead of service updates in new technology levels or service packs of the AIX® operating system. For instance, a new installation image is required if the requisites of the installation image changes. When filesets are updated by using the smitty update_all or install_all_updates command, the most current version of the fileset is installed irrespective of whether filesets are updated by using the installation image or service update in the software source.

When a new installation image is installed, the history of the fileset in the system, which is the output of the lslpp -ah <fileset> command, is reset. The output of the lslpp -ah <fileset> command lists the new level of the fileset instead of original installation that was installed and all changes after that installation. . The following examples show the history of the bos.ecc_client.rte file before and after the installation image is installed.
  • Before a new installation image for the bos.ecc_client.rte file is shipped, the following output is displayed:
    # lslpp -ah bos.ecc_client.rte 
           Fileset         Level       Action       Status       Date       Time  
           ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Path: /usr/lib/objrepos  bos.ecc_client.rte                  
                           6.1.9.0     COMMIT       COMPLETE     04/26/17     16:49:31  
                           6.1.9.0     APPLY        COMPLETE     04/26/17     16:49:31   
                           6.1.9.15    APPLY        COMPLETE     04/26/17     21:02:55
                           6.1.9.45    APPLY        COMPLETE     04/27/17     08:11:05
           Path: /etc/objrepos  bos.ecc_client.rte                 
                           6.1.9.0     COMMIT       COMPLETE     04/26/17     16:49:42
                           6.1.9.0     APPLY        COMPLETE     04/26/17     16:49:42   
                           6.1.9.15    APPLY        COMPLETE     04/26/17     21:03:07  
                           6.1.9.45    APPLY        COMPLETE     04/27/17     08:11:19
  • After a new installation image for the bos.ecc_client.rte file is shipped and installed on the system, the following output is displayed:
    # lslpp -ah bos.ecc_client.rte
           Fileset         Level        Action       Status       Date         Time
           ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Path: /usr/lib/objreposbos.ecc_client.rte
                           6.1.9.100    COMMIT       COMPLETE     04/27/17     09:19:12
                           6.1.9.100    APPLY        COMPLETE     04/27/17     09:19:12
    
    Path: /etc/objreposbos.ecc_client.rte
                           6.1.9.100    COMMIT       COMPLETE     04/27/17     09:19:22
                           6.1.9.100    APPLY        COMPLETE     04/27/17     09:19:22