Re: Suddenly I'm a hardware guy? shhheeessshhhhh -- MIDRANGE-L

Accessing PTF's Electronically is country dependent. By that I mean IBM has
different rules in different countries. Here in the US you can't get MF's
without a hardware contract. I had a client in Canada at one time several years
ago that IBM Canada would not give ANY PTF's without a hardware contract.

Your Mileage May Vary...

Andy Youens wrote:
>
> Tony
>
> Yes iPTF's are accessible by anyone, but so PTF's via ECS, we never have
> had a hardware maintenance from IBM but have used ECS for PTF's for the
> past 14 years and have downloaded both MF & SF PTF's.
>
> Regards
>
> Andy Youens
> FormaServe Systems
> T: 01908 319566
> F: 01908 316000
> M: 07770 380276
> E: mailto:Andy@FormaServe.Co.Uk
> W: www.FormaServe.Co.Uk
>
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> |-----Original Message-----
> |From: William A.(Tony) Corbett [mailto:corbett@asresources.com]
> |Sent: 02 March 2002 22:11
> |To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange. com
> |Cc: "Booth Martin"
> |Subject: Re: Suddenly I'm a hardware guy? shhheeessshhhhh
> |
> |Booth,
> |Here's my experience, just my experience:
> |
> |1.  iPTF will work for anyone, you just have to sign up (online) for
> it,
> |giving your customer number, serial number, and such.  It was really
> flaky
> |for a while, but seems to be pretty good now.  But, you can't order
> MF#####
> |ptf's this way...MF ptf's can only be ordered on media or with hardware
> |maintenance.(see next item).
> |
> |2.  To get PTF's by ECS, you must have a hardware maintenance contract
> with
> |IBM.  I know because a couple of times, when mine ran out, my ECS
> |priviledges went away, but never exactly on time.  You are on the
> hardware
> |maintenance either by purchasing hardware maintenance, or on the 1-year
> |warranty which comes with a new box, or a mainboard-level (my term)
> |upgrade,
> |such as a processor upgrade, which throws you back into the 1-year
> warranty
> |situation.  If ECS is working for someone without this, either you have
> |some
> |form of IBM maintenance and don't know it, or IBM's records are screwed
> up
> |and I'd be quiet and enjoy it, while it lasts.  Mine ran out, ECS died
> |shortly thereafter...I purchased a processor upgrade, ECS came back.
> |
> |3.  To order PTF's on media, you don't have to have a support contract
> in
> |place.  Call Supportline and tell the person that answers that you want
> to
> |order PTF's.  THey will transfer you to the right place.  The PTF
> person
> |can
> |even point you in the right direction (give you a phone#) to place
> upgrade
> |orders.  I placed an order for 513 ptf's the other day and found out
> that
> |they even have an email address for large orders like this.  (I wasn't
> |about
> |to read off 513 ptf numbers)  I imagine that 90% of these were
> superseded,
> |but my list had 513 in it.
> |
> |4.  To get an OS (or licpgm) upgrade, you have to speak to whoever sold
> you
> |the system, ie., your IBM rep or your BP.  If you don't have a BP, find
> out
> |who your rep is.  Somewhere out there you have one which covers your
> |geographical area, at least.  Just ask someone at IBM, and they'll find
> |out.
> |I'd start with the PTF folks, then go to IBM direct.  I have to find
> out
> |who's my rep every time I call, IBM plays musical chairs and it's
> usually
> |someone new.
> |
> |5. If you "have" to have a supportline contract, so what, set one up.
> Just
> |sign up for a hourly contract and if you never need it, don't use it.
> This
> |is usually the first thing I do when I walk into a new situation...set
> up
> |an
> |hourly supportline contract.
> |
> |You may have a hard time getting back-level ptf's, especially
> |"way-back-level" ptf's.  I've known CE's to sometimes have a "stash" of
> |these old ptf files.
> |
> |None of this is magic, most of the IBM folks are helpful and will try
> to
> |help.
> |
> |And if you stick around this for long enough, yes, you are a hardware
> guy
> |whether you know it or not.
> |
> |Your machines will probably be in a P05 group, if so, software
> subscription
> |and supportline will be fairly cheap...and worth every dime of it.
> |I've got SS and 24x7 supportline but get my hardware support via a
> local
> |company.
> |
> |AS/Resources, Inc.
> |William A.(Tony) Corbett
> |IBM Certified Specialist - AS/400 Developer
> |http://www.asresources.com
> |corbett@asresources.com
> |770-587-4812 (no answer forwards to mobile)
> |fax:  404-663-4737
> |
> |
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