From: dedourek@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca (John DeDourek)
Subject: Re: problem with PTF numbers -- answers
Organization: University of New Brunswick
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 16:27:51 GMT

I recently posted a query about the PTFs received on tape in response
to a PTF order.  With the help of J. Kennedy of IBM Austin and the local
SE, answers to most of the questions posed were obtained.  It turns
out that there were two essential concerns which could be identified
in the original post:

First, are duplicate PTF numbers for separately installable components, e.g.
U404783 for both bosadt.prof.obj and bosadt.lib.obj valid and are they
handled properly?

J. Kennedy assures that this numbering is correct, i.e. a single PTF
number can incorporate corrections to more than one optionally installable
component, and that the RS/6000 update procedure is designed to handle
this situation.

The second question: given that two particular PTFs were ordered, with
prerequisites, and the update procedure on the RS/6000 was asked to
install these same to PTFs, with prerequisites, why weren't all the
PTFs on the tape installed?

My original message reported that the PTFs obtained when ordering
U406646 and U406855 were as follows:
      PTFs on tape:                                             108
      PTFs installed by update:                                  45
      PTFs present on tape for optional products not installed:   2
      PTFs which present on tape which had been previously
               installed:                                        25
                                                                ----
      Leaving PTFs shipped but not installed:                    36

An error was made during the original analysis (a PTF which
      was, in fact, already installed, was missed,) making
      the correct numbers:       108
                                  45
                                   2
                                  26
                               -----
                                  35

What was missed was that a large number of the PTFs on the tape
were superceeded by other PTFs (in most cases, the superceding
PTFs were also on the tape; in one case the superceding PTF had
been previously applied to the system from another media to
correct another error).  Presumably, these PTF's must be shipped
precisely because the user has the option of selecting various
combinations of PTFs from a PTF tape, and it should be possible
to omit the superceding PTF.  The new numbers are then:
                 PTFs on tape:      108
                 PTFs applied:       45
                 Not applicable:      2
                 Previously applied: 26
                 Superceded:         34
                                    ---
                 Not applied:         1

The one PTF not applied was bosadt.lib.obj.03.02.0000.0000.U406877.
Note that PTF bosadt.prof.obj.03.02.0000.0000.U406877 was applied.
The latter is a prerequisite bos.obj.U406855 andbosext1.csh.obj.U406866.

My presumption is that when one "part" of a prerequisite, e.g.
the bosadt.prof.obj part of U406877 is required as a prerequisite,
all parts of U406877 are shipped on a PTF tape, but the RS/6000
update will apply only the necessary part.

As an added hint, on an RS/6000 (with a print queue running), the
command:
   lslpp -a -l all | pr 'software status' | lpr
will produce a concise report on the update status of a machine.

John D.
dedourek@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca
       
Newsgroups: comp.unix.aix