Updating

The package update commands with apt-get, yum, or zypper do not complete the process of updating your service. Packages for Linux simplify only certain steps of that process.

Updating packages without completing the rest of the update process leaves your P4 Server in a precarious state. Make sure to read and understand the entire process before updating any packages.

Review the update (upgrading) process.
1. See Upgrade the server.
2. Packages for Linux help you accomplish only specific steps from the general process. If you are attempting to update your P4 Server using packages, you should still follow the general process of upgrading the server, but with these package-specific modifications:
  1. You might be able to stop, checkpoint, and start your P4 Server using p4dctl:
```
$ sudo -u perforce p4dctl [stop|checkpoint|start] servicename
```
  2. You do not need to manually retrieve the new component binaries (such as p4d) from the Perforce website. The package update commands with apt-get or yum accomplish this step.
    
    Platform-specific package update commands are below.
  3. You still need to upgrade the P4 Server database to use the new versions of components delivered by the packages.
    
    As a convenience, 2016.1 and newer packages attempt to present tailored instructions and commands on-screen for upgrading those P4 Server databases that are discovered automatically.
Determine if an updated package is available.

To update a different package, substitute its name for p4-server in the commands below.

Run one of the following:
- For Ubuntu:
```
sudo apt-get update
apt-cache madison p4-server
```
- For CentOS/RHEL:
```
yum --showduplicates list p4-server
```
- For SUSE Linux Enterprise Server:
```
sudo zypper search -s p4-server
```
Install an updated package.

To update a different package, substitute its name for p4-server in the commands below.

The command to update is the same used to install initially.

Run one of the following:
- For Ubuntu:
```
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install p4-server
```
- For CentOS/RHEL:
```
sudo yum install p4-server
```
- For SUSE Linux Enterprise Server:
```
sudo zypper install p4-server
```
Failure to complete all update steps could result in continued downtime for your P4 Server.