I get the desire to be up to date on PTFs and if you are doing it that
often, then automating the process. I will caution that you are setting
landmines to step on.
First off as good as IBM is, they do come out with defective PTFs
occasionally. Sometimes unwinding those can be complicated and if it
affects a core function your business needs, then you could be in for quite
a time. Usually corrective PTFs come out quickly (read: next two weeks or
so) but in the meantime, ouch. Waiting a week or two and reviewing the
defective PTF list is encouraged, strongly.
As Rob mentions TRs and other larger changes often require extra steps, and
a healthy reading of the PSP is in order for those.
Thirdly, IBM is delivering new feature/function within the group PTFs all
the time, which is great, until it affects a current process you have.
Maybe it's the removal of a security protocol that you rely on but have not
yet upgraded. Maybe it's a change to the behavior of SQL because it was
wrong before and IBM is correcting it, but you are using it (remember the
thread a short while ago with compiler errors that were fixed, then put back
because a large customer came to rely on the error) and that causes
troubles.
I encourage my customers to consider a quarterly sequence for PTFs, usually
in the two weeks of the month away from month end close. It's rare that a
HIPER PTF is needed any faster than that, and if it is you can always apply
it as needed. That will keep your system updated and well within the
support center's vision. They can advise if you run into a problem that
requires a more updated group.
--
Jim Oberholtzer
Agile Technology Architects
-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Rob
Berendt
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2019 8:01 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Schedule PTFs?
I don't recall getting an additional screen regarding the TR but just a
message at the bottom instead. Then I almost never use the menu but just
the commands instead. The commands would be more like the experience one
would get by automating this.
Knew a business which never worked on Sundays. They set it up to order
PTF's and IPL every Sunday.
Rob Berendt
--
IBM Certified System Administrator - IBM i 6.1 Group Dekko Dept 1600 Mail
to: 2505 Dekko Drive
Garrett, IN 46738
Ship to: Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com
-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of
Steinmetz, Paul via MIDRANGE-L
Sent: Monday, July 8, 2019 8:55 AM
To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion' <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Steinmetz, Paul <PSteinmetz@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Schedule PTFs?
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not
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Justin,
If a TR is included in your LODPTF & APYPTF, GO PTF, *SERVICE will stop and
come back with a screen asking you to IPL your system to continue the
process.
There could be other reasons also.
I have a scheduled AJS job that downloads PTFs every other Tuesday, which is
the day the new HPER group is available.
Sometime the PTF download also fails.
Too many variable to totally automate this.
Paul
-----Original Message-----
From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Justin Taylor
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2019 8:46 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Schedule PTFs?
Our server automatically downloads PTFs the first of every month. We do an
IPL every weekend that will apply PTFs. The first Saturday of every month,
I remote in and do a GO PTF 8, *SERVICE, no IPL. This past Saturday I
thought, "why don't I just schedule this?".
Is there a compelling reason not to schedule a LODPTF & APYPTF to run
automatically every month?
TIA
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