SGI Operating System Upgrade Instructions

Overview

This is a guide to performing SGI IRIX operating system upgrades. It is assumed the reader has a working knowledge of Unix. Some system administration experience would be very helpful. For the inexperienced or those wanting more detailed information please see the SGI online manuals for System Administration.

This guide is divided into sections covering the three main upgrade situations:

  1. Section 1 - Repartitioning the System Disk

    2. Repartition and Clean Install: This procedure can be used for a new or older disk if you want to increase the size of the swap space from the default. It is also used if you are currently running an older version of the operating system such as IRIX 5.3 with separate /root and /usr partitions and you want to upgrade to 6.5. The root partition of older versions of IRIX was too small to install the new software so a change was made to a larger, single partition containing both /root and /usr. To accomplish either of these the system disk partition configuration needs to be changed, the disk repartitioned, and new software installed.  All system configuration and user files would need to be saved and restored.
  2. Section 2 - Performing a Clean Install

    3. Clean Install: This is when you are installing a newer major release or reinstalling the operating system after a break in or security breach.  An example would be upgrading from IRIX 6.2 to 6.5 or after a hacker has broken in and compromised your system. All the old files would be deleted and the disk wiped clean followed by a fresh installation of the operating system. This eliminates old or corrupt files remaining on the disk. All system configuration and user files would need to be saved and restored.
  3. Section 3 - Installing Software

    4. Simple Upgrade: This is when you are just installing a minor release and not making any major changes to the system configuration. An example would be upgrading from IRIX 6.5.3 to 6.5.6, where only a few operating system files would be modified. System configuration and user files would not be touched.

Quick Overview of Upgrade Procedures:

  1. Make sure you have a current backup of your system.
  2. Check the version of the operating system on your machine with the "uname -r" (pre 6.5) or "uname -R" (6.5 or higher) commands.  A major upgrade would be if you are changing from 5.x to 6.x (the first number of the version designation changes) or if you are changing from 6.2 to 6.5.x (the second number changes).  A minor upgrade would be if you are changing from 6.5.3 to 6.5.6 (the third number changes).
  3. Do you have separate /root and /usr partitions? Check this with the "df" command.  If you see separate lines for /root and /usr your system needs to be repartitioned.  Start with "Repartitioning the System Disk" then follow with "Installing Software".
  4. Do you need to do a major upgrade (IRIX 6.2 to 6.5.x) or was your machine broken into? Then you need to do a clean install. Start with "Performing a Clean Install" then follow with "Installing Software".
  5. Are you doing a minor upgrade (IRIX 6.5.3 to 6.5.6)? Then just go to "Installing Software".

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