Yes, thanks for asking, we have thought about an alternative. And an alternative exists in z/OSMF Software Management and Portable Software Instances. In this form you can package, deliver, and install software whether it is SMP/E managed or not. If it is SMP/E managed, as much of the software on the z/OS platform is, then the package includes the SMP/E artifacts like CSIs so you can install PTF fixes. You can of course choose to ignore the SMP/E artifacts and just repeat the process to install an updated Portable Software Instance in 3 months as you suggest.
Kurt Quackenbush IBM | z/OS SMP/E and z/OSMF Software Management | [email protected] Chuck Norris never uses CHECK when he applies PTFs. -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Colin Paice Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2023 10:37 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [EXTERNAL] Is SMP/E needed for installs? This week, I did my first SMP/E install since my previous one over 40 years ago! The process hasn't changed much. It took me about half a day to download the files and configure the jobs - making the same changes in several jobs. For people new to z/OS "installation" is hard to get into, understand, and get working properly. Has anyone thought about alternative ways of shipping products? For example many products are now Web downloads, which you just restore. I would like to see a DFDSS dump of the CST level of all objects and a matching dump of the SMP/E datasets of the product. I can just restore the product stuff,and not the SMP/E stuff, or I can install the SMP/E stuff as well. If you want to install a fix, then apply it to the SMP/E libraries. In 3 months time, repeat the whole process. I think we have to do something before all those with the knowledge and experience retire! Colin ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
