{"id":167,"date":"2024-07-11T15:33:28","date_gmt":"2024-07-11T15:33:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.xenserver.com\/blog\/?p=167"},"modified":"2024-07-11T15:33:29","modified_gmt":"2024-07-11T15:33:29","slug":"taking-the-stress-out-of-updates-with-xenserver-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xenserver.com\/blog\/featured\/taking-the-stress-out-of-updates-with-xenserver-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking the stress out of updates with XenServer 8"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Updating XenServer has always been easy compared to updating other hypervisors \u2013 which can be a stressful and anxiety inducing process – because of the extra layer of management of other hypervisors, that doesn\u2019t exist with XenServer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the past with XenServer, you would choose between a list of hotfixes in XenCenter or search around for them on our website. You could pick whatever hotfixes you wanted, and in whatever order you wanted to install them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem with this method is that there is no way for us to test all of the millions of permutations of possible update configurations \u2013 the combinations of all the different hotfixes and all the different orders in which they could be installed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the release of XenServer 8, we\u2019re making it even easier to apply updates. We are delivering updates in an entirely new way, with a CI\/CD engineering process and an Automated Updates<\/a> feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, updates and patches are delivered as a continuous stream of updates, synchronized from a CDN to your XenCenter. Instead of picking and choosing what to install, you consume the update stream at your convenience. The update stream is a fully tested stack of updates. This delivers even greater product reliability while giving you more confidence in consuming XenServer updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This process allows us to deliver update streams on a release cadence of 2-3 weeks, compared to quarterly in the past \u2013 enabling us to deliver new capabilities and security patches much faster than before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In XenCenter, we now give you much more detail into what is being delivered in the updates as well as clear guidance as to what the specific impact to your XenServers will be. For example, if host restarts are required, or just a restart to the toolstack. This helps you in your planning and Change Management process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Automated Updates works in conjunction with our Live Patching<\/a> and Rolling Pool Upgrade<\/a> features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n