Merging Configuration Files

1. Identify changed configuration files with this command:

   # versions changed

   Example 4-17 illustrates output of the previous versions command. (You can use an equivalent command from the Inst application: admin config changed.)

   Configuration Files

   m = modified since initial installation

   ? = modification unknown

   blank = file is as originally installed

   /etc/halt

   ? /etc/halt.O

   m /etc/passwd

   /etc/passwd.N

   /etc/reboot

   ? /etc/reboot.O

   m /etc/services

   /etc/services.N

   Example 4-17 : Listing of Changed Configuration Files

   The .O versions of the configuration files are the earlier versions. In this case, the no-suffix version contains changes that are required for compatibility with the rest of the newly installed software, that increase functioning, or that fix bugs.

   The .N versions of the configuration files are the versions created during the installation. They contain changes or new features that can be added to the no-suffix version of the configuration file at your option.

   Note: The release notes might have information about the changes that were made to configuration files in the new release.

2. Merge information from both versions of the configuration files.

   Use diff or xdiff to compare .O and .N files with their no-suffix counterparts. Transfer information that is needed from the .O version to the no-suffix version. Add information from the .N version to the no-suffix version if you want it.

3. Delete the .O and .N versions of the configuration files.

   If you want to keep .O and .N files, rename them, since they might be removed automatically during the next installation. When you remove all .O and .N configuration files, no message about configuration files appears when you reboot the system, and the startup process is faster.