Automate Extra IPL for PTF Install

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If an extra IPL is required for a technology refresh PTF, we’ll save off your PTF install parameters and use them during the next IPL. Instead of seeing “Confirm IPL for Technology Refresh or Special Handling PTFs” panel, you’ll see a new English message CPF362E: “IPL required to complete PTF install processing”. Actually, if you select Automatic IPL=Y on the “Install Options for PTFs” panel, you won’t see any messages or panels, we’ll just power down. On the next normal IPL, we’ll do your second “GO PTF” during the “PTF Processing” IPL step in the SCPF job, and then automatically do a second IPL of the partition. So when the system IPLs the second time up to sign-on, your PTFs are all activated and ready to go.

Your total PTF install time will be shorter since we won’t start any of the system jobs during the first IPL when we restart the partition. However, you’ll have a somewhat longer IPL time since we’re doing the work you previously did interactively – the second GO PTF to set all PTFs for delayed apply. If you’re wondering why the IPL is taking so long and what it’s doing, you can always bring up the console. The “Operating System IPL in Progress” panel is shown with the “PTF Processing” IPL step active. Previously, we only displayed “Applying PTFs” for the Activity in this step. But now you will also see “Loading PTFs” or “Setting IPL Action for PTFs” if the previous PTF install was incomplete. When all PTFs have been set for delayed apply, you’ll see “IPL requested by PTF processing” status message at the bottom of the screen and then the partition will be restarted again to apply the delayed LIC PTFs. The next time we reach the “PTF Processing” IPL step, we’ll display the usual “Applying PTFs” and the IPL will continue.

To take advantage of this new function, you must have the following PTF (PTF management code) temporarily applied BEFORE you perform your PTF install:
- 7.1:  SI43585 in HIPER PTF group SF99709 level 30 or higher
 
If an IPL is required for a technology refresh PTF, the new function only supports installing from a virtual optical device or *SERVICE (PTFs downloaded electronically to save files). If you are installing from a physical optical device, you’ll still need to perform the extra IPL and second GO PTF manually. So, if you received your PTFs on physical DVDs, just create yourself an image catalog from the DVDs and use the new support.