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Abstract
Your Software Subscription and Support (S&S) enables you to download fixpacks and interim fixes (iFix). This includes obtaining timely critical security vulnerability fixes. In 2021 WebSphere Application Server (WAS), Liberty and WebSphere eXtreme Scale (WXS) will verify S&S entitlement prior to allowing access to FixCentral downloads and the Installation Manager Online Repository.
You may also know S&S as IBM Software Maintenance (SWMA) or Passport Advantage.
Use this technote to ensure you can access WAS and Liberty maintenance fixes for your company. Downloading fixes will be available to individuals whose company has current S&S license covering WAS/Liberty/WXS and is enrolled as an authorized user by your company.
Content
Downloading WAS, Liberty and WXS fixes require passing an entitlement check starting in 2021. The scheduled rollout is listed below. Entitlement checks include:
- Fixpacks,
- Interim fixes,
- Critical security vulnerabilities,
- WAS/Liberty/WXS SDK maintenance,
- Fixes from both FixCentral and the Installation Manager Online Repository.
Downloading fixes requires an IBM ID and authorization to WAS/Liberty/WXS fixes under your company's S&S or other applicable software support agreements.
- Obtain an IBM ID
- If you have an IBM ID, then use it and skip to step 2.
- If you do not have an IBM ID you can request one at this link.
- Obtain authorization to download WAS/Liberty/WXS fixes.
- Log in to the Customer Support Portal at link: https://www.ibm.com/mysupport/
- Click "Manage support account" tab and select "Support Access" from the drop down.
- Log in using your IBM ID and password.
- Click the Request Access button.
- You will be prompted to provide information including product and the IBM Customer Number associated with your license that includes WebSphere.
- Fill in all information and click “Submit”.
- Your "Access Level" and "Status" will be pending until your company Administrator approves access.
- You should receive an email showing your request has been sent. You will receive a second email when your company's Administrator acts on your access request.
Schedule:
Starting in 2021 every new WAS/Liberty/WXS fix published will require entitlement authorization. Additionally, fixes published before 2021 will also require entitlement authorization. The table below provides the general timeframe for new fixPacks and previously published fixes to require entitlement authorization.
| Date | Fix Package |
|---|---|
| January 2021 |
|
| February 2021 |
|
| March 2021 |
|
| April 2021 |
|
| May 2021 |
|
| June 2021 |
|
FAQs:
- How will I know I am authorized to download WAS/Liberty/WXS fixes?
- You can check the Customer Support Portal "Support access" to determine the status of your account numbers.
- If WAS/Liberty is entitled by an IBM stack product such as BPM, will I be able to obtain fixes?
- Yes, as long as you have current S&S for the stack product that provided WAS in the same License.
- If WAS/Liberty is entitled by a Partner/Vendor with a non-IBM stack product, will I be able to obtain fixes?
- Yes and No, you must have active S&S through IBM to obtain fixes from IBM.
- If you are entitled to WAS/Liberty through a vendor that bundles WAS, you must obtain fixes and support from the vendor.
- Who grants me authorization after I submit the request to register my IBM ID with my company's IBM Customer Number?
- Granting access to users is managed by your company. Once you request access, your company's administrator or their designated member will grant or deny that access.
- If I can open WAS/Liberty/WXS support cases today, does that mean I will have access to download fixes in 2021?
- Not necessarily. Currently our entitlement check for opening support cases is not product specific. It is possible you obtain access to support via any IBM product but in order to download fixes for WAS/Liberty you will need to pass product level entitlement checking for the particular fix you are downloading.
- If I am not able to obtain the fix after registering who can I contact for assistance?
- You may open a case with your product support team for assistance. Provide them the following information:
- Screen shot of the Support Portal's Support access page showing your existing and pending registrations,
- Screen shot of the error you are receiving when attempting to download the fix,
- IBM ID, IBM Customer Number and country you are using to log into the IBM Support Portal,
- Name of the stack product if the WAS you are using comes from a licensed stack product,
- Provide the name of the IBM program that provides your entitlement for WAS/Liberty/WXS. Such programs include S&S, SWMA, Passport Advantage and Partner World.
- You may open a case with your product support team for assistance. Provide them the following information:
Related Information
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Document Information
Modified date:
25 August 2021
UID
ibm16398736