IBM has lists of "recommended ptf's" at
http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.nsf/recommendedfixes
Apparently every department that has a list has their own format for
displaying the list. I find it tedious to copy these into a list to
summarize before I order them. I would find it advantageous to have a
couple of web services. One perhaps to provide the list of lists. And a
shared service for each list to get that departments recommended ptfs.
Then I would need a consumer program on the i to read the list of lists.
Then read each list, order the ptf's and set them to apply at the next
IPL.
That's the summary.
I don't want to get bogged down too much in the details like I order ptf
SI12345 for TC1 but it also downloaded coreq's MF23456 for 999 and SI21345
for SS1 so make sure these all get loaded and set to apply at the next
IPL. And, SI12345 is on three lists so don't specify REORDER(*YES) and
waste bandwidth repeatedly downloading it.
The workaround from IBM might be to increase the number of group ptfs and
get these departments to issue group ptfs on a timely basis. For example,
some of these recommended ptf's are simply to order their group ptf and
where to do so. Others may even have a group ptf but don't update it
often enough, instead they say 'get these also'. Some just don't have
their own group ptf.
And perhaps a different DCR: Increase your stinking bandwidth for
downloads! I started a download yesterday and I fully expect the discs I
ordered as backup to arrive before the download completes.
Rob Berendt
midrange.com
