[pca] Why try to install patches that are already applied?

[Martin Paul]

Jeff Blaine wrote:
>     'all and installed make no sense to use when running in
>     --install mode'

That's only 99% true, though. If you have a Solaris installation with a 
limited set of packages installed, and later add more packages, it might 
actually make sense to re-install already installed patches. Background: 
a patch might come with changes to 2 different packages (SUNWa, SUNWb). 
If only SUNWa is installed, only these changes will be applied when 
installing the patch. If you add SUNWb later, this package will be 
unpatched. When installing the same patch again, it will leave SUNWa 
alone and apply changes to SUNWb only. That's one of the deficiencies in 
Sun's patch system, and one of the reasons why it might be easier to 
install everything ("Entire Distribution") when setting up a machine.

> ...might be worth mentioning on the Usage web page.

I think it describes "installed" and "missing" quite well. Plus, 
"missing" is the default for a good reason :)

> I want the last 5 hours of my life back :)

Can't give you that, but no matter whether with or without pca, you will 
collect your amount of wasted time when dealing with Solaris patches :)

> Off to bed.

Good night,

Martin.