2.5 Given a scenario, install and apply patches and updates - Paiet/Tech-Journal-for-Everything GitHub Wiki

2.5 Given a scenario, install and apply patches and updates

OS updates Scenario: System Improvements when possible
- Patches and updates are necessary for keeping systems secure, improving functionality, and fixing issues
- Helpful to install some sort of patch management system to aid in the administration of update roll-out
Firmware updates Scenario: Vulnerabilities discovered
- Vendor specific software that controls proprietary hardware
Driver updates Scenario: Particular hardware compatibility issues
- Vendor specific software to interact with OS
- Have their own set of feature and security updates
Feature changes/updates
- Added or enhanced functionality to software suites
Major vs minor updates
- Major updates will have drastic improvements and/or changes in the design and use of the software
  - 2.4 -> 2.5
- Minor changes will usually just be some enhancements to the software
  - 2.4 -> 2.4.1 or 2.4a
Vulnerability patches
- aka "Hotfix" or "Critical"
- Closes known security issues
- Should be applied as soon as possible
Upgrading vs downgrading
- Upgrading
  - Make sure to take a backup in case things go wrong
  - If possible, test before deploying to production
  - Apply the update
  - Test functionality
- Downgrading
  - Usually downgrading because of a bad update
    - Bad updates are updates that tend to break more than they fix or are an unwelcome change to the system
  - If possible, just uninstall the upgrade through an uninstallation program, otherwise restore from backup