Installation

OS Patching Process

willadams
Contributor

Will the following process work for allowing our SPLUNK environment to be patched (Linux patching and not SPLUNK patching). We have an Indexing Cluster with a CM and a single search head and deployment / license server. I have read through the procedures and wanted to clarify in case I incorrectly do this:

Step 1 --> Perform patching on the Cluster Manager

a. Run splunk stop to stop the SPLUNK process
b. Perform the update and restart
c. Post reboot the Cluster Manager will be back online

Step 2 --> Perform patching on the Search Head

a. Run splunk stop to stop the SPLUNK process
b. Perform the update and restart
c. Post reboot the Search head will be back online

Step 3 --> Perform patching on the Deployment / License server

a. Run splunk stop to stop the SPLUNK process
b. Perform the update and restart
c. Post reboot the Search head will be back online

Step 4 --> Perform patching on the Indexer peers

a. Run splunk enable maintenance-mode on the CM
b. Run splunk stop on Indexer 1
c. Perform the update and restart
d. Post reboot Indexer 1 will be back online
e. Run splunk stop on Indexer 2
f. Perform the update and restart
g. Post reboot Indexer 2 will be back online
h. Run splunk disable maintenance-mode on the CM
i. Confirm with splunk show maintenance-mode on the CM

Does this look right?

Tags (1)

gcusello
SplunkTrust
SplunkTrust

Hi @willadams,
there isn't any rule in OS patcing process, the rules you described are to upgrade Splunk.
Anyway, the main rule is to upgrade systems one by one.
I suggest to add only a step, after each restart, to check that Splunk is correctly running.

Only one thing in your environment, it isn't a best practice to have the License Master on the same server of the the Deployment Server (if it manage many Forwarders).
It's better to have a dedicated server or to put it on the Master Node, never on Deployment Server that, if you have more than 50 Forwarders, must be a dedicated server.

Bye.
Giuseppe

Got questions? Get answers!

Join the Splunk Community Slack to learn, troubleshoot, and make connections with fellow Splunk practitioners in real time!

Meet up IRL or virtually!

Join Splunk User Groups to connect and learn in-person by region or remotely by topic or industry.

Get Updates on the Splunk Community!

How to find the worst searches in your Splunk environment and how to fix them

Everyone knows Splunk is a powerful platform for running searches and doing data analytics. Your ...

Share Your Feedback: On Admin Config Service (ACS)!

Help Us Build a Better Admin Config Service Experience (ACS)   We Want Your Feedback on Admin Config Service ...

Build the Future of Agentic AI: Join the Splunk Agentic Ops Hackathon

AI is changing how teams investigate incidents, detect threats, automate workflows, and build intelligent ...