IT31094: IBM MQ for Linux LTS v9.1 "MQSeriesRuntime" RPM package should no longer state that it provides "/bin/sh"

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• The IBM MQ installation RPM package for Linux (all
  architectures) declares that it provides:
  
    /bin/sh
  
  as shown with the RPM package query command:
  
  # rpm -qp MQSeriesRuntime-9.1.0-3.x86_64.rpm -- provides
  /bin/sh
  MQSeriesRuntime = 9.1.0-3
  MQSeriesRuntime(x86-64) = 9.1.0-3
  
  
  While existing Linux installations will already contain a shell
  such as '/bin/bash' which will also declare that its provides:
  
    /bin/sh
  
  when a new system is being installed, or a system image being
  created, using a package manager tool such as 'zypper' on SuSE
  Linux, if a package declares that it requires "/bin/sh" then the
  installation tool may select the "MQSeriesRuntime" package to
  provide that dependency, depending on the ordering of the
  packages from the package search.
  
  As "/bin/sh" is not actually provided by the "MQSeriesRuntime"
  package, this results in a non-functioning system.
  
  For example, the following command lists the packages that
  provides the "/bin/sh" shell in the packages repository:
  
  # zypper search --provides --match-exact /bin/sh
  Loading repository data...
  Reading installed packages...
  S | Name           | Summary                   | Type
  --+-----------------+----------------------------+--------
    | MQSeriesRuntime | IBM MQ Runtime FileSet    | package
  i | bash           | The GNU Bourne-Again Shell | package
  

Local fix

• Do not have the IBM MQ RPM packages in package manager
  respositories when building system images, or installing a new
  system.
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  USERS AFFECTED:
  Users of IBM MQ on the Linux platform, who are building a new
  system image, or installing a fresh Linux installation using a
  package manager tool such as "zypper" or "yum", where the
  package manager's package repository contains the IBM MQ .rpm
  package:
  
    MQSeriesRuntime
  
  
  As IBM MQ v9.1 provides .deb packages for installation on Ubuntu
  (and so the .rpm packages are not to be used on Ubuntu), this
  issue does not affect Linux Ubuntu installations.
  
  
  Platforms affected:
  Linux on Power, Linux on S390, Linux on x86-64
  
  ****************************************************************
  PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:
  The IBM MQ for Linux RPM package:
  
    MQSeriesRuntime
  
  declared that it provided:
  
    /bin/sh
  
  even though it does not actually provide this function.
  
  
  This declaration was added in earlier versions of the IBM MQ
  product to allow this package to be installed on an Ubuntu
  system, where the RPM package database would likely be empty, as
  Ubuntu uses the Debian package management system instead of RPM.
  
    /bin/sh
  
  is required by the IBM MQ packages to be able to run the
  installation scripts - and this requirement could not be removed
  from the built packages.
  
  
  As IBM MQ v9.1 is available for installation on Linux using
  either the RPM or Debian packages, this declaration that the
  MQSeriesRuntime package provides "/bin/sh" is no longer
  required, as IBM MQ is installed onto the Ubuntu distribution
  using the Debian packages.
  

Problem conclusion

• The RPM package declaration for the RPM package:
  
      MQSeriesRuntime
  
  for:
  
    /bin/sh
  
  has been removed from IBM MQ v9.1 Long Term Support (LTS).
  
  Note that the IBM MQ v9.1 Continuous Delivery release had
  already removed this declaration as of version:
  
    IBM MQ v9.1.3
  
  ---------------------------------------------------------------
  The fix is targeted for delivery in the following PTFs:
  
  Version    Maintenance Level
  v9.1 CD    9.1.3
  v9.1 LTS   9.1.0.5
  
  The latest available maintenance can be obtained from
  'WebSphere MQ Recommended Fixes'
  http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=171&uid=swg27006037
  
  If the maintenance level is not yet available information on
  its planned availability can be found in 'WebSphere MQ
  Planned Maintenance Release Dates'
  http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=171&uid=swg27006309
  ---------------------------------------------------------------
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  IBM MQ BASE MP

• Fixed component ID

  5724H7271

Applicable component levels