Qualys Cloud Agent for Solaris: Transitioning from SVR4 to IPS
Beginning in February 2026, Qualys will start rolling out a new IPS-based package for the Qualys Cloud Agent on Solaris. This update modernizes the agent’s packaging framework and aligns it with Oracle’s recommended Solaris standards.
What’s Changing
- Agent version 7.1 and later uses the modern IPS package manager
- Agent versions 3.11 and below uses the legacy SVR4 package manager
Because IPS and SVR4 are fundamentally different packaging systems, auto-upgrade is not supported for this transition.
Why We Moved to IPS
Solaris has formally shifted to IPS as its primary and recommended packaging framework. SVR4 is now considered legacy and is maintained only for backward compatibility.
This transition is driven by:
- Oracle’s long-term Solaris roadmap
- Customer requirements, including large financial institutions
- Industry alignment, with major vendors like Micro Focus already adopting IPS
SVR4 (Legacy Packaging)
- No longer recommended by Oracle
- Supported only for legacy compatibility
- Core Solaris components ship exclusively via IPS
- New Solaris features assume IPS behavior
IPS (Modern Packaging)
- Oracle’s recommended default packaging model
- First-class support across Solaris tooling and updates
- Designed for scalability and long-term support
- Aligned with modern platforms and customer expectations
Benefits of the New IPS Package
Moving to IPS provides meaningful improvements in stability, manageability, and future readiness:
- Native dependency resolution
Eliminates fragile scripts and manual dependency checks - Safe upgrades and rollbacks
Integrated with ZFS snapshots for system-level protection - Repository-based delivery
Versioned, consistent, and scalable distribution - Atomic and predictable operations
Install, upgrade, and removal actions follow a consistent lifecycle - Deeper Solaris integration
Clean integration with SMF, zones, and boot environments - Future-proof support
IPS is the actively supported and evolving Solaris packaging model
New Capabilities in Agent Version 7.1
Upgrading to version 7.1 not only modernizes packaging but also unlocks new functionality:
- File Integrity Monitoring (FIM)
- Configuration Assessment and Response (CAR)
- Change Activation Key support
- On-demand scans
- Enhanced troubleshooting
- Remote log collection
Steps Customers Need to Take
To move from an SVR4-based agent to the new IPS-based agent, customers must perform a one-time reinstall using one of the following options:
Option 1: Download and Run the Migration Script
As part of the transition from SVR4 to the IPS Cloud Agent, review the Read Me and download the migration script.
Running the migration script automatically removes the existing SVR4 agent and installs the new IPS-based agent, ensuring a seamless transition.
Option 2: Manual Uninstall and Reinstall
- Remove the existing SVR4 agent using the following command
sudo /opt/qualys/cloud-agent/bin/qagent_uninstall.sh- Install the IPS-based agent package using the installation command from within the Qualys console of Cloud Agent
After upgrading to the IPS package, future agent updates will support standard auto-upgrade behavior.
Conclusion
This one-time migration ensures the Qualys Cloud Agent for Solaris stays secure, supported, and aligned with the Solaris ecosystem. Although auto-upgrade isn’t available for the SVR4-to-IPS transition, completing this upgrade allows for smoother, more reliable updates in the future and grants access to new, powerful agent features.
Ready to make the move from SVR4 to the IPS Cloud Agent? Reach out to your Technical Account Manager (TAM) or visit Qualys Support for expert guidance and a smooth transition.