Installing cumulative PTF packages

To install a cumulative PTF package from a physical or virtual device, follow these steps.

If you received a cumulative PTF package as save files, see Installing fixes received as save files.

You need to order and install the current cumulative PTF package to keep your system at the most current fix level. Do this on a periodic basis according to your fix maintenance strategy or when you install a new release of a licensed program.

Notes:
  1. The cumulative PTF package automatically includes the most recent Database PTF group and HIPER PTF group.
  2. In an effort to simplify the process for installing a cumulative PTF package from media, some special instructions might be automated during installation when possible.

It is important that you thoroughly read the installation instructions received with your package. The information provides any special instructions that you should be aware of before you install your cumulative PTF package. The steps that follow step 1 are part of the letter also. They are provided here as an overview of some of the steps that you need to do. To install cumulative PTF packages, follow these steps:

  1. Read the installation instructions thoroughly and follow the instructions contained in it.
  2. Select the storage area if you have not already done so. You should be running on the B storage area (B side) when installing the cumulative PTF packages.
  3. If you received your cumulative PTF package as an image, see Installing IBM i fixes from an image catalog.
  4. Type GO PTF from any command line.
  5. Type option 8 (Install program temporary fix package) and press Enter. The Install Options for Program Temporary Fixes display is shown.
    • Type optyy, where optyy is name of the optical device (for example, opt01) where you loaded the fix media.
    • If you want to automatically IPL your system after loading the fixes, type a Y (Yes) in the Automatic IPL field.
    • If you are not using an image catalog and have additional fixes to install at this time, type a 2 (Multiple PTF volume sets) in the Prompt for media field, and install the additional fixes.
    • Type Y for Other options. The Other Install Options display is shown.
    • Type 1 for Apply Type.
    • Type 1 for the PTF type.
    Note: To prevent someone from unintentionally performing an IPL on your system when using the GO PTF option 7 or option 8, use the Change Service Attributes (CHGSRVA) command. Specify *DLYALL for the PTFINSTYPE parameter to override the Automatic IPL field and the Apply type field on the GO PTF option 7 and option 8.

Omitting individual fixes when you install a cumulative PTF package

The omit function allows you to specify individual fixes that you do not want to install from the cumulative package. A situation might exist where you received the latest cumulative package from IBM, and the preventive service planning (PSP) information indicates that the package contains two defective PTFs. In this situation you do not want to install the defective PTFs. To omit any PTFs, follow these steps:
  1. Type GO PTF on any command line.
  2. Select option 8 (Install Program Temporary Fix package) and press Enter.
  3. On the Install Options for Program Temporary Fixes display, specify Y for the Other options field, and press Enter. The Other Install Options display is shown
  4. Specify Y for the Omit PTFs field, and a value for the Apply Type field, and then press Enter. The Omit Program Temporary Fixes display is shown.
  5. In the Opt Column, type a 1 next to each product and release for which you want to omit specific fixes from being installed, and press Enter. The PTFs to Omit display is shown for each product that was selected on the previous display. This display shows the list of fixes that are to be omitted from being loaded for the specified product and release.
  6. To add fixes to the list on the PTFs to Omit display, type a 1 on the first line of the Opt column and specify the fix ID in the PTF ID column. Press Enter.
  7. Repeat step 6 until you have specified all of the fixes you want to omit from being installed for the product and release. Press Enter again and repeat the procedure for the next product and release you selected on the Omit Program Temporary Fixes display. When you are done with the last product and release you have selected, the Omit Program Temporary Fixes display is shown again. The > symbol next to the product and release indicates that you have specified fixes to be omitted. Press Enter. The Confirm to Omit PTFs display is shown.
  8. The Confirm to Omit PTFs display lists each of the fixes that have been specified to be omitted from being installed. If the list is correct, press Enter. Normal fix installation process continues from this point.

Remember, you can install fixes by scheduling a time to shut down and restart the system.