Infoblox provides automatic software updates when they become available. Updates are applied to all hosts, physical or virtual. However, you can override and reschedule the automatic software updates. You can also defer the updates to a later date and time. You can also schedule or defer multiple software updates for different days and times. You can configure up to a total of 50 scheduled and deferred software updates, which means you have the flexibility to create up to 50 update groups across different hosts when you create applicable tags. Deferred updating per individual host is unavailable except when the host is associated with a tag. Tags can be used to associate scheduled updates with a specific  host. 

Scheduling Software Updates

When manually scheduling software updates rather than having software updates applied automatically, any software update will take place only at the time and date specified and will only occur within the time window specified. When scheduling software updates for hosts, the software update applies to all hosts residing within the account for a customer-specified duration. The only exception to this policy is when a tag is associated with a specific  host or hosts. Using tags to associate a specific host or hosts, custom updates, and deferrals can be applied to all hosts associated with the tag.

To manually schedule software updates, complete the following: 

1. From the Cloud Services Portal, click Manage > Infrastructure > Hosts.
2. Select the host on which you want to schedule a software update.
3. Click ... > Schedule Software Updates.
4. On the Schedule Software Updates page, perform the following:
5. Schedule Updates:
   
   • Select Scheduled Updates to override the automatic update process and defer software management updates. By default, Automatic Updates is selected.  
   • Day & Time: Select a day of the week and a time to perform the scheduled updates. Note that the time specified is per the host’s timezone. If a timezone has not been designated for the host, then the time defaults to UTC. All updates will occur on the day and time specified.
   • Duration: Select the duration period for performing software management updates. The duration period can range from 4 to 10 hours. During this time, updates will not be applied. This deferral window supersedes the Automatic and Scheduled Updates settings. This is the time window when updates will be applied. If updates fall outside the duration period, they will not be applied.
   • Tags: You can use tags to associate the scheduled updates with specific hosts. For example, you can create a tag called "deferred update group" and enter a value of "DFP" to remind yourself that this tag can be used to defer software updates for the host running the DNS forwarding service. When you assign this tag to applicable hosts, you have created a software update group with hosts that will get the deferred software updates. Note that the scheduled updates apply only to hosts that have the matching tag you created for the scheduled updates. For more information about tags, see Managing Tags.   
6. Optionally, to schedule multiple software updates, click Add Schedule to configure another scheduled software update. You can configure up to 50 scheduled and deferred updates, which means you have the flexibility to create up to 50 update groups across different hosts when you create  applicable tags. You can also perform the following before saving your configuration:
   • Remove a scheduled update that is no longer applicable by clicking Delete for the selected scheduled update.
   • View details of a scheduled update by clicking the down arrow key of the selected scheduled update. 

      7. Click Save & Close to save your scheduled software updates configuration.

You can add or delete any scheduled updates that are not applicable any more. 

Deferring Software Updates

Software management updates can be deferred up to four weeks. Using this feature, the updates for all hosts residing in the account will be deferred for the period specified. The software updates will not be applied during the period specified. The deferral window can be disabled at any time. Deferred updating per individual host is unavailable except when the host or hosts are associated with a tag. Deferral supersedes the Automatic and Scheduled Updates settings. 

To defer software management updates, complete the following:

1. From the Cloud Services Portal, click Manage > Infrastructure > Hosts.
2. Select the host on which you want to schedule a software update.
3. Click ... > Schedule Software Updates.
4. On the Schedule Software Updates page, perform the following:

1. Defer Updates:
   
   • Disabled/enabled switch: Toggle the Disabled/Enabled switch to the enabled position to enable update deferrals. Update deferments can be delayed for up to four weeks. Once this deferment period has expired, the latest update will be applied. 
   • Start/End calendar object: Select a start date and an end date for the update deferral. The deferral time is based on your account and takes place in the host’s timezone. When updates have been successfully deferred, you will see a small icon appear to the right of the calendar object indicating update deferral status.
   • Tags: You can use tags to associate the deferred updates with specific hosts. For example, you can create a tag called "deferred update group" and enter a value of "DFP" to remind yourself that this tag can be used to defer software updates for the host running the DNS forwarding service. When you assign this tag to applicable hosts, you have created a software update group with hosts that will get the deferred software updates. Note that the deferred updates apply only to  hosts that have the matching tag you created for the deferred updates. For more information about tags, see Managing Tags.
2. Optionally, to defer multiple software updates, click Add Schedule to configure another deferred software update. You can configure up to 50 scheduled and deferred updates, which means you have the flexibility to create up to 50 update groups across different  hosts when you create applicable tags.
   You can also perform the following before saving your configuration:
   • Remove a deferred update that is no longer applicable by clicking Delete for the selected update.
   • View details of a deferred update by clicking the down arrow key of the selected update.
3. Click Save & Close to save your scheduled software updates configuration.
4. Click Confirm on the prompt screen to complete the software update deferral process. 

When visiting the Schedule Software Updates page after initially saving and closing the deferral configuration, the Cloud Services Portal will display one of the following deferral statuses:

• Scheduled: The deferral date has been set up and the start date has not yet begun. 
• In Progress: The deferral start date has begun and the deferral period is active.
• Expired: The deferral start and end date has expired and the updates are implemented according to the users preference of Automatic or Scheduled.