Snap Upgrade

 The goal of Snap Upgrade is to leverage ZFS cloning so that an upgrade is performed on a copy of the system, using new package tools and the image packaging system to update the system to a new set of packages obtained from either media or a network repository. This upgrade will include support for installed native-brand zones. Since an upgrade will be done to a clone of the system, reversing the upgrade will be a supported operation.

Key Requirements and Functionality

• For Preview 1:
  • Nothing planned.
• Phase I:
  • Clear definition of a ZFS BE (dataset layout)
  • Provide a cli to manage BEs.
  • Provide a BE library to support the installer and pkg(5).
• Phase II ...
  • Supports upgrade from S10 or later (this includes SXCE).
  • GUI installer provides a migration path from UFS to ZFS root; this is not reversible.
  • BE cli provides migration path from UFS to ZFS root.
  • Support upgrade of installed native-branded zones.

Dependencies

• Image packaging system
  • IPS pkg(5) will be able to:
    • upgrade a system mounted at some altroot.
    • upgrade a zone mounted at some altroot.
    • upgrade a system installed with old packaging (S10 or later)
• ZFS boot

Resources

• Mailing list: Caiman-discuss
• Project documents for Snap Upgrade 
• Source code: ssh://anon@hg.opensolaris.org/hg/caiman/slim_source
• Defects can reported against snap upgrade using defect.opensolaris.org.  You can view the current list of open bugs.