One of my colleagues was looking for some information about how to have IBM HTTP Server (IHS) display a different banner page when WebSphere Application Server is placed into maintenance mode. For example, when the WebSphere Application Server cell is being shut down, recycled, upgraded, and so on. After a few iterations and reading Configuring a temporary 'Site Down For Maintenance' page in IBM HTTP Server , this is what I configured. In essence, we place a single file in... [More]

Tags:  http websphere_application_ser... maintenance bpm ihs

  The common question I've been asked multiple times through various means, "How can I tell if my iFix is installable as-is when I upgrade WebSphere Application Server (WAS) to a newer fix pack level?" The answer, as it is to so many things, is "it depends." The manual method is not necessarily difficult, but may be a bit tedious if you have a lot of iFixes to consider. The automatic method is sometimes simpler and can be performed through the Installation Manager (IM) GUI or command line tool, depending on which options are... [More]

Tags:  websphere ibm-blog fixpack install interim maintenance websphere_application_ser... update websphere_nd application_server apar fix was wasadm-blog ifix

  Are you planning to upgrade your level of z/OS or WebSphere Application Server, or maybe even both, and are wondering how one might affect the other? The Software Product Compatibility Report will help you figure this out:   http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/prodguid/v1r0/clarity/index.jsp   The first page you will see is this:   You can select 'High-level' or 'In-depth' reports. The High-level report is sufficient if all you want to see is what maintenance level of the Application Server for z/OS is compatible with the... [More]

Tags:  upgrade websphere_application_ser... system_requirements websphere systemz ibm-blog was spcr z/os maintenance application_server compatibility

  Once your application is implemented and deployed, it is important to keep it up-to-date and maintained to avoid any issues that might impact its availability and to ensure continued support in the event a problem occurs.   The Operational Decision Manager version numbers use the standard IBM format V.R.M.F which stands for Version.Release.Modification.Fixpack . See the V.R.M.F Maintenance Stream Delivery Vehicle terminology explanation for more details.     First of all, it is always... [More]

Tags:  update maintenance migrate odm fixpack upgrade jrules fix

Often, we receive Problem Records (PMRs) or Service Requests (SRs) requesting a fix for a specific APAR problem.  If the fix is included with a published fixpack, we generally recommend that the user apply the latest fixpack rather than requesting an interim fix. Interim fixes are often not available on fix central for general download.  We encourage users to apply the fixpack if possible.  Interim fixes do not undergo the same rigorous 3 month cycle of thorough testing involved in certifying a FixPack.  If a user wants an interim fix for... [More]

Tags:  maintenance upgrade interim websphere wmq download apar mq fix ifix

Thinking about upgrading, migrating, applying maintenance on UNIX tm ?  How about 1 minute sanity check of your environment? Problems often occur during or after an upgrade, migration, or application of maintenance.  If you have bad luck, there's a good chance everyone will become aware of that little thing you left out in your planning.  It's just one of those things... you succeed in private, but fail in public.  I can't change that fact, but what I can do is to help you avoid many issues with a simple, one-sentence tip. Here's the tip:... [More]

Tags:  migrating upgrade wmb broker migration maintenance problems profile upgrading libpath migrate export

It’s September of 2010, well into 2H2010. Have you put together a maintenance plan for your WebSphere environments? If you already have a plan, have you been acting on it? Proactive maintenance might be the single best way to avoid issues with your WebSphere software products. The adage, "If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it", doesn’t really apply here, not to the wise administrator anyway. Consider this - the lack of a plan might save you a few a few hours of discussion time for your WebSphere administrators and IT managers that does... [More]

Tags:  plan maintenance websphere