automated upgrade script

[Jacob Yocom-Piatt]

i expect that a number of you have scripts that automate most of the 
upgrade procedure and i would like it very much if someone were willing 
to share such a script. upgrading by hand a la the upgrade instructions 
goes relatively quickly but the number of machines under my supervision 
keeps growing and is now over 20. i have tried han boetes' binary 
upgrade script but find mergemaster to be very cumbersome in light of 
the already-supplied upgrade patch.

i go from release to release on most of my machines due to my own time 
limitations. if i am not finding an already-known script of this sort, 
do supply the relevant pointer.

cheers,
jake