patchnummer

PatchNummer is a numeric identifier assigned to a software patch or update. It serves as a concise reference that distinguishes one patch from another within the same product family. Patch numbers appear in release notes, catalogs, and configuration-management records to support traceability, auditing, and controlled deployment.

Purpose and usage: The patch number helps determine installation order, verify that a specific fix has been applied, and support rollback and auditing. In enterprise environments, it underpins baselines, change control, and compliance checks by correlating software state with known issues and remediations.

Formats vary by vendor. Some systems use dotted version-like strings with a patch suffix (for example 1.4.2-5); others use simple integers; others pair a patch number with an advisory identifier (such as KB-12345). In Linux distributions, patch numbers are appended to package versions; SAP and similar systems maintain dedicated patch levels.

Relation to versioning: Patch numbers are usually distinct from product version numbers but linked to them. A single patch may apply to multiple major versions, and successive patches extend or replace earlier ones. Reliable patch management relies on accurate patch-number metadata in inventories, deployment tools, and documentation.

Limitations: Inconsistent naming across vendors, potential non-uniqueness, and confusion from backported patches can occur. Organizations mitigate this by maintaining standardized metadata, cross-referencing with advisories, and ensuring patch numbers map to documented changes.