The officials words I was sent:
Starting on November 13, 2011, each IBM client accessing Fix Central (whether
through their employees or other authorized representatives) will require an
individual IBM ID to download fixes for a limited number of additional product
areas (including AIX and VIOS). This requirement will be expanded to additional
products in the future.This requirement will be expanded to additional
products in the future. The registration process will be quick and simple and will
provide users with a customized experience to better serve their needs. Fix
Central downloads are available only for IBM clients with hardware or software
under warranty, maintenance contracts, or subscription and support.
Of course, lots of us already have an IBM ID including IBMers to gain access to downloadable content and to get sent email alerts and information on our favourite technologies. If you have not, it is actually simple enough to get but do remember to save those passwords safely.
I use KeePass to remember password. It has a master password to decrypt a tiny database (file) with all my passwords in and it is simple enough to add new items then cut'n'paste passwords from it. You can actually use it to generate passwords from hell (they look like very long hexadecimal SAN WW Port ID/Names/Thingys to me) but then I hit a problem that some sites have maximum password checks even when the password set webpage does not but that is another story! I am just a happy KeePass user - there may well be other tools that have a similar functions but I can use KeePass on my Android phone with a backup copy of the file, for peace of mind.
You also need that SWMA (Software Maintenance Agreement) and its details to get access - of course, downloading updates without a SWMA was illegal (I am not a lawyer but I think that is the correct term) but now you have to prove you have it. This is now in-line with most of the industry - so that is fair enough. I guess we should be grateful to have got away without having to prove we have paid for support for so long!!
Back the FixCentral - I have some concerns:
- How is Systems Director going to cope with this? It's Update Manager searches FixCentral for the available updates for HMC, System Firmware, Adapter Firmware, AIX and VIOS and other software. Is that going to stop working?
- Added later - Turns out this works fine and is not an issue.
- The Big Brother attitude (from the book 1984) in the official words I have seen "this is for your own benefit and you are going to like it" - OK, I added that last bit
- Added later - I guess we have to get use to IBM falling in line with the industry norm.
- Yet more time getting my update downloads sorted out - currently I have about 80 passwords to remember.
- Added later - OK, it takes me a couple of seconds and I only do this once a month.
This all kicks off on Saturday 12th to Sunday 13th Nov 2011, when FixCentral will be down for this update - we live in "interesting times".
Perhaps, I will download the latest updates today!
Good luck on Monday, thanks Nigel Griffiths
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