Determining which interface to use
The system offers you many ways to connect to and communicate with the systems in your IBM® i environment, and different methods exist to perform the tasks related to managing your fixes. To perform these tasks, you need to know whether it is best to use the character-based interface, IBM Systems Director, System i® Navigator, or web-based IBM Navigator for i.
You may already be using the IBM System Manager for i 5770-SM1 licensed program or you may be performing your fix management tasks with the IBM i commands and menus available. You may prefer a graphical user interface to manage and administer your systems. Supported graphical interfaces include IBM Systems Director, System i Navigator, and IBM Navigator for i.
Refer to the following table for more information about determining which interface to use for a particular task.
| Task | Character-based interface | IBM Navigator for i |
|---|---|---|
| Order fixes and fix groups 1 | Yes, Send PTF Order (SNDPTFORD) command. | Not available. |
| Install fixes from media | Yes, GO PTF option 8 or Install PTF (INSPTF) command, which allows you to install cumulative PTF packages and single fixes. If you need to distribute your fixes, use the Change Service Attributes (CHGSRVA) command to change the Copy PTFs service attribute to *YES. | Yes, with the Install PTFs action. |
| Install fixes received as save files | Yes, GO PTF option 8 or Install PTF (INSPTF) command. Specify *SERVICE for the device name. | Yes, as part of the send, install, and send and install actions for selected fixes or for fix group fixes. 3 |
| Display fix status | Yes, Display PTF (DSPPTF) command. | Yes, perform Display PTFs action and view the Properties page of the fix. |
| Remove or uninstall fixes | Yes, Remove PTF (RMVPTF) command. | Yes, with Remove action on a fix or Remove PTFs on a product. |
| Distribute fixes4 | No | Yes, with the Compare and Update wizard or send and install action.3 |
| Compare and update fixes | No | Yes, with the Compare and Update wizard or send and install action.3 |
| Manage fix groups5 | Yes, Work PTF Group (WRKPTFGRP) command allows you to list, display, and delete fix groups. | Yes, with the Display PTF Groups action. However, you cannot delete fix groups from IBM Navigator for i.3 |
| Load and apply PTFs | Yes, Load PTF (LODPTF) command and Apply PTF (APYPTF) command. | Yes, with the Load and Apply actions. The Install PTFs action also performs a load and apply if you install fixes by specifying a list of PTF IDs. |
| Create custom package | Yes, Copy PTF (CPYPTF) and Copy PTF Group (CPYPTFGRP) commands. | Not available. |
| Display cover letters | Yes, Display PTF Cover Letter (DSPPTFCVR) command and Display PTF (DSPPTF) command. | Yes, from the Properties page of a fix, select Cover Letter. |
| Compare and update fixes | Not available. | Yes, with the Compare and Update wizard.3 |
| Clean up save files and cover letters | Yes, Delete PTF (DLTPTF) command. | Yes, with the Clean Up action on a fix or Clean Up PTFs action on a product. |
| 1In addition to ordering fixes with the SNDPTFORD command, you can also order fixes from the Internet, by voice, or through electronic customer support. 2The IBM System Manager for i licensed program allows you to create fixes for your own products. You can also use the Software Product APIs to create fixes. 3When the source system that you are using with the IBM Navigator for i function has selected the cumulative PTF package fix group, the source system prevents you from attempting certain operations. These IBM Navigator for i operations include sending fixes, sending and installing fixes, and installing fixes. The operation fails. 4The IBM System Manager for i licensed program also distributes fixes to other systems in your network. 5Many of these tasks can also be done using the Software Product APIs. |
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To read about fix status descriptions, see these topics:
- IBM Navigator for i fix status descriptions
- IBM Navigator for i provides fix management functions. View the fix status descriptions as well as a comparison between the IBM Navigator for i descriptions and the DSPPTF command status descriptions.
- Command interface fix status descriptions
- View the fix status descriptions that are shown by the DSPPTF commands.