The iSeries™ server offers you many ways to
connect to and communicate with the servers in your iSeries 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
or iSeries Navigator.
If the communications protocol that you are using is Systems Network Architecture (SNA), you probably are already using the System Manager (5722-SM1) licensed program or you are performing your fix management tasks with the i5/OS™ commands and menus available from the iSeries server. If TCP/IP is the communications protocol that you use, you may discover that iSeries Navigator, the graphical user interface, is the way for you to manage and administer your iSeries servers.
Refer to the following table for more information about determining which interface to use for a particular task.
| Task | Character-based interface | Management Central function |
|---|---|---|
| Order fixes and fix groups 1 | Yes, Send PTF Order (SNDPTFORD) command. | Not available. |
| Create fixes | Not available.2 | Yes, with the generate fix function. |
| 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 Copy from media function and then the install 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, view the inventory and view the Status page of the Fix Properties. |
| Remove or uninstall fixes | Yes, Remove PTF (RMVPTF) command. | Yes, as part of the uninstall action. |
| 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, from the Fixes inventory or with the send, install, and send and install actions. However, you cannot delete fix groups from iSeries Navigator.3 |
| Load and apply PTFs | Yes, Load PTF (LODPTF) command and Apply PTF (APYPTF) command. | Yes, with the install action. The install fixes action performs a load and apply.3 |
| 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, or select a fix with a cover letter from the fixes inventory, right-click, and 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, as part of the cleanup action. |
| 1In addition to ordering
fixes with the SNDPTFORD command, you can also order fixes from the 2The System Manager 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 Management Central function has selected the cumulative PTF package fix group, the source system prevents you from attempting certain operations. These Management Central operations include sending fixes, sending and installing fixes, and installing fixes. The source system issues message CPDB7CB. The operation fails. 4The System Manager 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:
- iSeries Navigator fix status descriptions
- iSeries Navigator provides a fix management function through Management Central. View the fix status descriptions as well as a comparison between theiSeries Navigator descriptions and the DSPPTF command status descriptions.
- Command interface fix status descriptions
- View the fix status descriptions that are shown by the DSPPTF commands.