Sendmail Patch Fails to Install Causing Other Patches that Depend on it to Fail

Abstract

The following document details problem encounter install HP-UX standard patch bundles or individual patches when the Special Releases of Sendmail is installed on the system. The typical error message looks like:

====== 09/09/08 14:21:50 EDT BEGIN install AGENT SESSION (pid=23956)
(jobid=camxis01-0048) 
* Agent session started for user "root@camxis01 <mailto:root@camxis01>". (pid=23956) 
* Beginning Analysis Phase.
* Source: camxis01:/hppatch/patch/PHNE_35950.depot
* Target: camxis01:/
* Target logfile: camxis01:/var/adm/sw/swagent.log
* Reading source for product information.
NOTE: The filesystems in the filesystem table will not be checked
against those currently mounted because the
"mount_all_filesystems" option is set to "false".
* Reading source for file information.
NOTE: /usr/sbin/sendmail has been replaced by a softlink
to another file. This may be due to a version of
the " sendmail(1m) 811 special release upgrade "
product being enabled on the system.
PHNE_35950 cannot be installed until newer versions
of sendmail are disabled.
NOTE: The "checkinstall" script for "PHNE_35950" gave an "exclude"
return (exit code "3"). The script location was
"/var/tmp/BAAa23956/catalog/PHNE_35950/pfiles/checkinstall".
NOTE: This software will be excluded from further processing.
* Executing preDSA command. 
* Summary of Analysis Phase:
* 2 of 2 filesets will be Skipped.
* The Analysis Phase succeeded. 

======= 09/09/08 14:21:59 EDT END install AGENT SESSION (Cancelled)
(pid=23956) (jobid=camxis01-0048)

Solution

To resolve the issue, Sendmail 8.13.3 must be removed before the patch can be installed. Then the patch bundle will be able to be installed. Sendmail 8.13.3 then can be reinstalled.

• Note: It is suggested that a backup of sendmail configuration file /etc/mail/sendmail.cf be made before removing Sendmail.

Example

1. Check what special release of Sendmail is installed on your system.

# swlist -l fileset | grep sendmail
PHNE_29774            1.0            sendmail(1m) 8.9.3 patch
SMAIL-UPGRADE         B.11.11.02.004 sendmail(1m) 813 special release upgrade

2. Obtained latest sendmail 8.13.3 release version at http://h20392.www2.hp.com/portal/swdepot/displayProductInfo.do?productNumber=SMAIL813

3. Backup Sendmail configuration file.

# cp /etc/mail/sendmail.cf /var/tmp/sendmail.cf

3. Remove Sendmail special release and any related patches for that product.

# xwremove \
-x mount_all_filesystems=false \
-x enforce_dependencies=false \
PHNE_29774 SMAIL-UPGRADE

4. Install any patch bundle or set of patches that generated the error message, for example, the HP-UX 11.11 PHNE_35950.

5. Install Sendmail 8.13.3 from your the depot download on step 1.

# swinstall -x mount_all_filesystems=false \
-x enforce_dependencies=false \
-s <source_to_sendmail_upgrade_release> \* @

6. Recover sendmail configuration file.

# cp /var/tmp/sendmail.cf /etc/mail/sendmail.cf

• Note: Sendmail service doesn't require a restart.

Reference

• SAW: emr_na-c01424674-1 - Sendmail Patch Fails to Install Causing Other Patches that Depend on it to Fail
• WFM Case: 3603173851

Authors

• Alejandro Marin Badilla