Guide to fixes - FAQs

This page contains frequently asked questions related to preventive maintenance on IBM i and Licensed Programs.

• What are the categories of fixes?
• Where is a list of the most recent IBM PTFs and Cumulative PTF packages?
• How do I determine which PTFs are currently installed on a system?
• How do I determine which Cumulative PTF package is installed?
• How do I determine if the latest Cumulative package is installed?
• How do I order fixes through the Internet?
• What is the command used to order fixes electronically?
• How do I order Cumulative PTF packages electronically?
• If I order one PTF, why do I sometimes receive more PTFs?

Fixes may now include a flag that can be used to identify fixes associated with specific IBM i and Licensed Internal Code functional categories.

Some of the categories include:

• Security
• Performance
• Install
• Save/Restore
• Print
• Database

To see the list of categories for your release:

1. Go to the Preventive Service Planning - PSP database.
2. Select the All Preventive Service Planning Documents by Release view.
3. Click on your release.
4. You will find the categories listed within the document.

IBM lists PTF information in the Preventive Service Planning - PSP database. Browse our PSP database for the information you need.

To determine the status of the fixes for products that are installed and supported on your system:

1. Enter the Display PTF (DSPPTF) command and press F4 (Prompt).
2. Specify the licensed program number (for example: 5770SS1). If you want to see the status for all the products on the system, specify *ALL for both parameters and press the Enter key until all the licensed programs are displayed.
3. The Display Program Temporary Fix display shows the status of all fixes installed on system.

Use the Work with PTF Groups (WRKPTFGRP) command. On the WRKPTFGRP screen, you should find the PTF group named SF99vrm, where "vrm" corresponds to the release of your operating system. The level of the PTF group corresponds to the 5-digit cumulative PTF package date.

Compare the number (for example: C6085730) with the package number shown for the Cumulative PTF package in the Preventive Service Planning information document.

To locate the Preventive Service Planning information:

1. Refer to the Preventive Service Planning - PSP database.
2. Select All Preventive Service Planning Documents by Release.
3. Select your release (for example: 730 for IBM i 7.3).
4. Select the Current Cumulative PTF Package for your release (for example: "SF98730: Current Cumulative PTF Package").
5. The latest Cumulative PTF package is listed near the top of the information (for example: "The latest cumulative package for IBM i 7.3 is: C6085730").

If the package numbers are identical, you have the latest Cumulative PTF package. If the package numbers are different, you have an older version of the Cumulative PTF package.

Note: In order for the above instructions to work correctly, you must have followed the PTF installation instructions when you applied the Cumulative package, and not omitted any of the additional PTFs in the package.

Use Fix Central to search for, order, and download fixes for your server.

To order individual fixes, use the following command.

SNDPTFORD PTFID(nnnnnnn)

Where nnnnnnn is the number of the individual fix you want to order. You can order up to 20 fixes at a time.

When you receive fixes electronically on your service support communications line, they are placed in a save file in library QGPL. In most cases, the save file name is the Fix identifier prefixed with a Q. For example, the save file for Fix identifier SInnnnn is QSInnnnn.

To order a Cumulative PTF package electronically:

1. Identify your licensed program release level:
   1. Type GO LICPGM on any command line and press the Enter key.
   2. Select option 10 (Display installed licensed programs) on the Work with Licensed Programs display.
   3. Press the F11 key. The current version, release, and modification level is shown in the Installed Release column where V is the version, R is the release, and M is the modification level.
2. Type SNDPTFORD SF99VRM, where VRM is the version, release, and modification level you found in step 1.
   For example, for Version 7 Release 3 Modification 0, type SNDPTFORD SF99730
3. Verify the shipping information on the Verify Contact Information display. If any of the information is incorrect, change it and press the Enter key.
4. Select option 1 (Send service request now) on the Select Reporting Option display. This places the PTF order.

PTFs may have dependencies on other PTFs. There are two different types of dependencies: prerequisites and corequisites. The prerequisite and corequisite PTFs are sent along with the PTFs you order to ensure you are able to load and apply the ordered PTFs.