Problem

The appliance platform upgrades require Internet access in order to pull OS/repository packages from the Axway repositories. In some environments, however, there is no Internet access available to the appliances and this article provides information how to update the platform in such environments.

Resolution

To circumvent the need of Internet access to pull the required OS packages, you can create a local repository located on the server's file system. The local repository will contain the latest packages required for the platform upgrade.

There are two methods of doing this - using an Axway Appliance that has Internet access (for example, an Edge appliance), or using your own, separate server running Apache web server.

Method #1: Using Axway Appliance with Internet access

For this method, you'd need an Axway Appliance, which is allowed to access the Axwat repositories over the Internet. For example, which can be an appliance runing ST Edge, which is usually deployed in the DMZ.

Downloading the OS repository packages

To circumvent the need of Internet access to pull the required packages, you can create a local repository located on the server's file system. The local repository will contain the latest packages required for the platform upgrade. The prerequisite is to download the packages from an appliance server (or virtual appliance) that has access to the Internet - a "temporary" server. Use the following command on the temporary server:

zypper update --download-only

The packages will be saved in /var/cache/zypp/packages by default and they can be archived and moved to the server that is to be upgraded.

Setting up a local repository

When the files are moved on the server it is time for a local repository to be created.

1. Login to the server console and run the YAST tool with yast

2. Navigate to Software Repositories

3. With the Tab key navigate to the list and using the arrow keys mark every single existing repository and press Enter to disable it

4. With the Tab key navigate to Add and press Enter

5. Select Local Directory

6. Using the Tab key go to Next

7. Type in path to the location where you have placed the downloaded packages

8. Use Tab to navigate to OK and hit Enter

9. Use Tab key to navigate to Quit

For reference refer to the attached PDF file.

Upgrading the appliance platform

1. Download the respective Appliance Platform upgrade package

2. Navigate to the temporary directory and enter the following commands to expand and extract the file.

unzip Appliance_Platform_7.1.1_UP1-from-7.0.3_ap-x86-64_BN53.zip

*The Appliance Platform upgrade file name may vary depending on your currently deployed platform version.

3. Enter the following command to upgrade the operating system:

./upgrade.sh

While upgrading, the operating system upgrade script displays status updates. When the upgrade completes, it may restart the appliance

NOTICE: Have in mind that some files that are not a mandatory requirement for the upgrade would not be updated and you might notice some info, warning or error messages that some files have not been updated. This is expected and it does not indicate that there was a failure during the upgrade.

Method #2: Using a separate server, running Apache

This method requires your own, separate, machine or VM, that is allowed to access the Axway repositories over the Internet and is running Apache web server.

The detailed steps are provided in the Axway's Community post here: Axway Community: How to upgrade an appliance without Internet access?