Re: Cumulative PTFs - what are all these steps doing?

At 08:48 02/09/2000 , Debbie Gallagher wrote:

>It seems to me that LODPTF is transferring the info from the CD to the
>AS/400. According to the documentation, the PTFs are applied at IPL. Is this
>much right?

LODPTF makes a list of PTFs that are eligible for installation. It makes 
sure that all co and pre requisites are either installed or available for 
installation, and (it can) permanently apply superceded PTFs so that they 
will be out of the way.

APYPTF processes the PTFs that have been previously loaded. It can apply 
PTFs right now (if the PTF allows it), a mixture of right now and during 
the next unattended IPL, or during the next unattended IPL only. Some PTFs 
(usually microcode PTFs) are "delayed" and can only be applied during IPL. 
You can't rotate your tires while you're driving down the highway either.

>What I am still missing is - how is APYPTF different from Install PTF
>package? What is being done at these steps?

During the early days of OS400, the PTF process consisted of permanently 
applying existing PTFs, then loading and applying all PTFs for each program 
product on the system. The instruction pamphlet was about the same size it 
is now, but it consisted mostly of commands that you had to key at the 
console. Even then, the PTF process (usually) had enough intelligence to 
handle the pre and co requisites. Sometimes multiple IPLs were required, 
but usually one was enough to handle the delayed PTFs. This process has 
been streamlined, but the basic steps are still required. When you install 
a PTF package, you are running a program that examines your system and 
loads the required PTFs, then applies them and initiates an unattended IPL 
during which the delayed applies are actually processed.

Pete


Pete Hall
pbhall@execpc.com
http://www.execpc.com/~pbhall
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