Understanding Patch Types
Subscribers
The Liferay Support Team creates and releases fixes to issues discovered in DXP. The fixes are packaged in ZIP files referred to generally as patches. There are patches for security issues, customer-specific issues, and issues reported by the Liferay community. Here you’ll learn about the patch types provided to DXP subscribers, fix delivery for Liferay Portal users, and the levels of testing for each patch type.
Here’s a summary of the DXP patch types and the Portal fix delivery method.
| Patch Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Fix Packs | Resolve the most recent issues. |
| Security Fix Packs | Address the latest security issues immediately. |
| Hotfixes | Requested by customers to fix business critical DXP issues fast. |
| Service Packs | Incorporate the latest Fix Pack and can include larger fixes that require more testing. |
| Rolling Releases | Apply fixes to Portal based on the latest DXP Service Pack. |
Fix Packs
Versions before Liferay DXP 7.3 SP3
A Fix Pack is a bundled collection of the latest fixes for subscribers. They address issues in the DXP core and Marketplace applications that ship with DXP. Fix Packs are cumulative: each one contains all the fixes from previous Fix Pack and the latest Security Fix Packs.
Fix Packs are available on the Help Center’s Downloads page and are installed using the Patching Tool. Release notes and change logs accompany each Fix Pack. Release notes highlight key information, such as important changes and security fixes. Change logs provide detailed information about each fix.
The Patching Tool applies fixes to Fix Packs automatically. If a new (fixed) version of a Fix Pack is released, install it with the Patching Tool. The Patching Tool installs the new version on top of the old Fix Pack.
In DXP 7.2, the Patching Tool uninstalls the old fix pack, replacing it with the new fix pack.
Security Fix Packs
versions before Liferay DXP 7.3 SP3
DXP Security Fix Packs address the latest critical security issues. They are available on the Help Center’s Downloads page and are installed using the Patching Tool.
Security Fix Packs for intended for particular Fix Packs (base Fix Packs). Each Security Fix Pack on the Downloads page specifies the base Fix Pack it is for. Their file names indicate the base Fix Pack too.
For example, the parts of file name liferay-security-dxp-1-201902-1-7210.zip represent these characteristics:
liferay-security: Security Fix Pack prefix.dxp-1: Base Fix Pack.2019: Build year.02: ID used by Liferay.1: Counter used by Liferay.7210: Build number. The one represents DXP 7.2.10.
Security Fix Packs do not change your DXP installation’s regular Fix Pack level.
Hotfixes
A Hotfix is a fix or collection of fixes requested by a customer and delivered in between 7.4 update releases or between 7.3 or 7.2 Fix Pack releases. Hotfixes address confirmed critical issues in DXP. You can request at Hotfix via a Help Center ticket. The Liferay Support Team works with you to determine if the issue is with the product, and provides a fix for any unintended product behavior.
In DXP 7.3 or 7.2, a Hotfix can depend on a particular Fix Pack level. If you attempt to install it without installing the base Fix Pack first, the Patching Tool reports the required Fix Pack level. Go to the Customer Portal and obtain the base Fix Pack. Once all the necessary patches are downloaded to the patches folder, the Patching Tool installs them.
In DXP 7.2, if you already have a Hotfix installed and a Fix Pack that contains that Hotfix is released, the Patching Tool manages integrating them. Fix packs always supersede Hotfixes; when you install a Fix Pack, any Hotfixes it contains are uninstalled and the Fix Pack version of the fix is installed in its place.
Service Packs
versions before Liferay DXP 7.3 SP3
A Service Pack is built on top of the original DXP GA major release and includes the latest Fix Pack, Patching Tool, and bundled Marketplace applications. Fixes that require more time to implement and test can be reserved for Service Packs.
Service Packs are available on the Help Center’s Downloads page and are installed using the Patching Tool.
It’s best to start a new project on the latest Service Pack for DXP, because of all that it includes.
If you’re maintaining an existing DXP installation, it’s best to keep it updated with the latest Fix Pack (according to your own deployment schedule). This way, you’re integrating changes in smaller doses.
Rolling Releases
Rolling Releases are based on DXP Service Packs and are typically available a few weeks after the corresponding Service Pack. They include the same fixes, minus those for EE-only features. See Upgrading Via Docker for more information.
Patch Testing
The following table describes the testing applied to each patch type.
| Patch Type | Testing |
|---|---|
| Hotfixes | Automated regression testing similar to Fix Packs (see below), and the support engineer who fixes the reported issue tests it. |
| Fix packs | Automated regression testing and manual testing. |
| Service packs | Liferay runs test suites on the packaged Service Pack. |
| Rolling Releases | Same testing as the corresponding DXP Service Pack, plus upgrade testing from the previous GA. |
Keeping Up With Patches
Liferay’s Help Center (help.liferay.com) is your destination for patch information and more.
Announcements section: Links to the latest news on fix packs, security alerts, product releases, and system updates.
Subscribe button: Signs you up for Liferay DXP release, patch, and system improvement emails.
Downloads page: provides access to
- Latest Release
- Fix Packs
- Service Pack Archives
- Security Fix Packs
- Patching Tool
- and more
Security page: Links to security-related overviews, advisories, Security Updates (7.3 SP3+) and Security Fix Packs (versions before 7.3 SP3).
The Help Center is also a launching point for account support, support FAQs and more. Liferay is here to help!
Conclusion
Now that you know the patch types Liferay provides for delivering fixes, you can stay updated on relevant patches and install them.