The Four Hundred

OS/400 Edition
Volume 12, Number 8 -- February 24, 2003

Admin Alert: A Checklist for Applying Cumulative PTFs

by Joe Hertvik

In last week's column, I discussed how to use IBM Web sites to identify and obtain OS/400 PTFs. This week, let's change gears and work through an OS/400 PTF checklist to help you prepare your system for cumulative PTF application, apply the PTFs, and restart your system when you're done.

Step One: Understand What You're Getting

IBM changed its cumulative PTF packaging last year so that it ships two sets of PTFs when you order the cumulative PTF package. The first set is your regular cumulative fixes (SF99520 for OS/400 V5R2 or SF99510 for V5R1). The second set includes both the latest HIPER group PTFs (SF99519 for V5R2 or SF99097 for V5R1) and the latest Database group PTFs (SF99502 for V5R2 or SF99501 for V5R2). For more information on the way that IBM is packaging its cumulative PTFs, go to the Cumulative PTF Packaging Enhancements Web site.

Also be aware that the two PTF groups are shipped together and that the media labeling for these CDs is a little bit confusing. For an explanation of how to read and understand media PTF labels, see the Admin Alert article "Deciphering Group PTF CD Labeling."

Step Two: Put Your System into Restricted State

For cumulative PTFs, I always put my iSeries or AS/400 into restricted state before I load the fixes. For detailed instructions on how to do this, see "Getting In and Out of iSeries Restricted State."

Also, since you're going to IPL your OS/400 box after PTF application, then check the results of that application before performing other restricted mode processing, you need to set your system so that it IPLs into restricted state on its next IPL. This is necessary because you don't want to restart your system until you've finished applying all the fixes and you're sure that the fixes were applied correctly. To set your iSeries or AS/400 to go into restricted state after the next IPL, follow the instructions outlined in the Midrange Guru tip "You Can Re-IPL an AS/400 into Restricted State."

If your machine has logical partitioning and you're loading cumulative PTFs onto the primary partition, you'll want to put all of your secondary partitions on hold while the primary partition IPLs; otherwise all secondary partitions will automatically IPL with a primary partition IPL. To put the secondary partitions on hold, follow the steps in the Midrange Guru tip "Excuse Me. . .Can You Hold this Secondary Partition While I Upgrade the Primary?"

Step Three: Apply Cumulative PTFs

Next, take out the paper instructions you received from IBM with your cumulative CDs, and apply the PTFs according to the specifications. This usually involves selecting option 8, Install program temporary fix package, from the Program Temporary Fix (GO PTF) menu. Load the name of your OS/400 optical drive (OPT01, for example) into the Device parameter, and you may want to set the Automatic IPL parameter to Y ("yes"), so that the machine IPLs after it installs the PTFs. You can keep other parameters at their default settings.

Many people try to load both the cumulative PTFs and the PTFs contained on the HIPERs and Database group PTF CDs at the same time. I usually perform these installs in two separate passes: The first install and IPL loads and applies the PTFs on the Cume CDs, while the second install and IPL loads and applies the HIPER and Database PTFs on the second set of CDs. An IBM service technician once recommended that I install the CDs that way so that OS/400 wouldn't become confused by loading and applying the two different PTF sets. So my recommendation is to install only cumulative PTFs at this point.

At the end of the cumulative PTF install, IPL the box, if you didn't previously set the Load PTF Automatic IPL parameter to Y (in which case it will automatically IPL itself). During the IPL, your iSeries or AS/400 will apply the new PTFs to your system.

Step Four: Check for a Successful Install

After your machine IPLs into restricted state, check the status of your PTF install by selecting option 50, Display log for messages, from the Work with Licensed Programs (GO LICPGM) menu. Option 50 only shows OS/400 messages that are related to program and product installation. On this screen, you should see several messages referring to the successful application of PTFs.

Step Five: Apply HIPERs and Database PTFs

While your machine is still in restricted state, do the following:

Set your AS/400 to again Re-IPL into restricted state by following the instructions in the You Can Re-IPL an AS/400 into Restricted State article.
Apply the HIPERs and Database group PTFs to your system. Do this by using the IBM instructions and option 8, Install program temporary fix package, from the GO PTF menu. Again, set your optical drive and Automatic IPL parameters to the proper settings. And be sure to IPL your box after the PTFs finish loading from CD, if you didn't set it to automatically IPL during the installation process.
After the machine IPLs, use Go LICPGM, Option 50, to check for successful PTF application, the same as you did in Step 4.

Step Six: Take Your iSeries or AS/400 Out of Restricted State

At this point, PTF application is complete and you can restart OS/400 processing. Do this by restarting your controlling subsystem, using the Start Subsystem (STRSBS) command, as follows:

STRSBS SBS(controlling_subsystem_name)

More detailed instructions for doing this can be found at the end of "Getting In and Out of iSeries Restricted State."

Step Seven: Restart Secondary Partitions Held in Step Two

If you held secondary partitions while you were applying PTFs to your machine's primary partition, be sure to release and restart those partitions now. Instructions can be found in "Excuse Me. . .Can You Hold this Secondary Partition While I Upgrade the Primary?"