AIX Maintenance Levels

[Roomer]

I have four systems running AIX 4.3, and want know how I go about checking for a potential 'maintenance level' update.

Could anybody who's ever undertaken this process, please give me some information on how's its done, why it's necessary, and any tips you have / pitfalls it may have.

Any info would be appreciated....

Many thanks,
Roomer.

 

[Yegolev]

The FixDist tool is what we use:

http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/rs6k/tools_FixDist.html

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

You can also just order a CD-ROM from IBM, I believe.

 

[bjverzal]

I thought IBM recently released a statement that they were going to take FixDist away, but I could be wrong.

Bill.

 

[aixmurderer]

I still use fixdist as well, I found the site where to download from, but it's pretty a daunting list of packages.
But at least they provide a text list of the packages available to use in a script, I used the list it in GetRight successfully.

But that still left me with the task of ftp'ing it to the AIX boxes, all extra work. I suppose I could do a script on the AIX box to do the ftp, but I could not be bothered while fixdist still works.

The problem with the web based listings is that you need CDE and a browser, my boxes are remote and we use ssh sessions only.

Look here:

http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/server/nav?fetch=ffa4e

IBM Certified Specialist - MQSeries
IBM Certified Specialist - AIX 5 pSeries System Administration

 

[gheist]

http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/rs6k/ml.fixes.html

hope that will help you to point out how to get to AIX 4.3.3 ML 09 from any AIX 4.3.*

trust IBM's instructions - they simply work in the order they are written - ie:
- backup !!! (and try out a bootable tape)
- close all your apps
- smitty update_as_they_say (4.3.any > 4.3.3)
- reboot
- smitty update_as_they_say (4.3.3 > 4.3.3.0.9)
- reboot
- enjoy or restore backup

it worked at least 8 times for me (with no problems but little fear for first time)

 

[Yegolev]

We have far too many systems to ftp the updates to them all. We put them on a NIM master where we keep all that stuff, as well as our various gold images and temporary mksysb images for system copies, and have directories for different maint levels at different OS levels, e.g. /images/433/4330-05, ./4330-06, ./4330-09, etc.
This way we have stable sets at 4.2.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, and soon 5.1. When we want to update a server, we just nfs the appropriate dir, smit update_all, use nfs mountpoint as the source location.

I don't maintain the image server, so I am not sure how we get the patches. I suspect Windows workstation http or ftp, then ftp to the image server. But we also get the CD-ROMs.

 

[avadh]

Hello,

1) one advice is to apply the AIX ML and then commit after few months. This way if there is a issue with one of the filesets at that level of AIX ML that gives you negative effect you can go back to previous level.
Once you commit the fileset and they you have to force overwrite to the base level of the same fileset level.

 

[rishard]

Hi

You can do a lslpp -l | pg to see what the current fileset levels are.ML-9 filesets currently 4.3.3.50/75 if yours lower than that then you can update all from ML-9 cd either from the web or obtainable from IBM.

have fun !!!

 

[bjverzal]

ML10 is out now, or so I hear...

 

[aixqueen]

Here is a general document on maintenance and strategy:

http://techsupport.services.ibm.com..._mode=9&documents=29580572862128&database=aix

to find out what maintenance level you are at:
instfix -i | grep ML
or instfix -ik 4330-01_AIX_ML (for each of the levels 4330-09_ML)

getting patches and checking on levels:

http://techsupport.services.ibm.com/server/nav?fetch=ffa4e

or a refresh can be ordered if the software is registered to a machine

http://www6.software.ibm.com/reg/lvl1suppt/formlist-sel

(for the cost of shipping and media charge)

 

[Yegolev]

I would think we will skip ML 10 and do directly to 5L, seeing as how 4.3 will go out of support on 12-31-02. ML 09 is working fine for us, going up to 10 is something we do not have the person-hours to do.

 

[scotbuff]

Is AIX 4.3.3 really not going to be supported as of 12/31/2002? Is it not standard practice to support the current software and at least one level back sometimes two?


Thanks,

Scott Buffington

 

[PSD]

Scott,

You have got your year wrong it is 2003.

Check out :

http://www1.ibm.com/servers/aix/products/ibmsw/list/cab.html

PSD
IBM Certified Specialist - AIX V4.3 Systems Support
IBM Certified Specialist - AIX V4 HACMP

 

[Yegolev]

That is good news, considering Oracle 9.2 and SAP whatever-is-compatible-with-5L are going to be coming out this fall, at the earliest.