RE: If you have SSDs, please read -- MIDRANGE-L

The problem here is that hardly no information is given here. There is no mention of what Sue wrote:

Sue:
They prevent high fallout, system hangs, and possibly severe performance
issues.

There is also no mention in those doc's with the keyword SSD.

There is no mention of what was fixed exactly. I'm guessing they forgot to use the SSD's TRIM() command, but that information isn't divulged either.

A system administrator will look at this PTF and say, hmm low priority not sure what it does. Where as if he had more information he may raise his level of priority for this patch.

More information is always a better position to take, especially when it comes to patchs. IBM needs to step up their game in this area as indicated by the lack of notes on this (and other PTF's).

My 2 cents.

-----Original Message-----
From: rob@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:rob@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2015 7:16 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: If you have SSDs, please read

In all honesty, what would the average system administrator (let alone
developer) do based on more information?
"If we send out code xxx to card yyy to drive zzz, which is often done as part of operation aaa, then data loss may occur if the last write on the SSD indicated a faulty overused section of the SSD and it had to activate a new section of chip. This code, based on the Gandalf corollary of the Feanor theorem, should correct that issue."

Most admins would be happy with:
"We have found an issue that may occur over time and it is strongly recommended that you apply this fix ASAP and IPL to activate it. Don't buy that "if it ain't broke don't fix it" bullshirt since you just may not have had an occurrence yet, of which we predict the odds are 99% that you will over time. Length of time will vary depending on write operations."

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

From: rob@xxxxxxxxx
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 08/24/2015 08:02 AM
Subject: RE: If you have SSDs, please read
Sent by: "MIDRANGE-L" <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

If you look at the cover letter for one of these PTFs (let's pick MF60294
for example)
http://www-912.ibm.com/a_dir/as4ptf.NSF/d274b8e7d37f34a786256e320076c355/b9150768a9c7a96386257e6e00526993?OpenDocument

You will see "APAR Fixed". That should tell you what problem was fixed.
However, in this case it will tell you less than the PTF cover letter.
http://www-912.ibm.com/n_dir/nas4apar.nsf/ALLAPARS/MA44690

Just trying to raise your stress level up. Have a nice Monday.

Rob Berendt