Concurrent patch

Concurrent patch is available on the z17. It is possible to apply BPC, UPC, Support Element (SE), Hardware Management Console, channel Licensed Internal Code (LIC), PR/SM, coupling facility control code, I390, and PU patches nondisruptively and concurrent with system operation. There can still be situations where a small percentage of patches is disruptive; however, all major LIC components support concurrent patch.

Additionally, there is also support for multiple EC streams (one per major LIC component) further minimizing the number of disruptive patch sessions. On previous models, a single EC stream contained all major LIC components and provided a mandatory sequence for patch application. This could lead to situations where a disruptive patch belonging to one LIC component, for example, PU, could prevent you from applying all nondisruptive SE patches if one or more of the SE patches came after this channel patch in the patch application sequence.

Patches for each major LIC component have their own sequence for patch application. This means that disruptive patches belonging to one LIC component no longer stand as an obstacle to the concurrent application of nondisruptive patches belonging to another LIC component as long as the patches in question are not otherwise defined as corequisite for each other.