Lopez, Sharon wrote:
I already posted this question to IBM but wanted to find out if others are
getting this request from their auditors.
Our auditors want to be able to display the RSU or maintenance level of our
z/OS system. To my knowledge, there is no way to do that (IBM has also
agreed). Does anyone know if this is possible and are you getting the same
request from your auditors.? Keep in mind that our auditors do know z/OS or
mainframe. It sounds like they are used to seeing displays on other platforms
with this information with release and fix level.
<snip>
In scanning this (long) thread, what nobody seems to have explained is
*why* there is no absolute "RSU level." You might understand this
perfectly but I'm not sure all readers of the list do because it seems
to come up from time to time.
RSU is a selection criterion used by SMP/E to determine what PTFs are
candidates for installation. By default, SMP/E filters that list by
excluding unresolved or unresolvable PTFs in error (PEs), and if you ask
nicely (using GROUPEXTEND, which you should use) it adds to that list by
including PE fixes and HIPER fixes.
The combination of products you have installed, HOLDDATA currency and
(received) PTF availability make the actual PTFs that will be installed
different for everyone on a practical level.
Look at it this way: If two people have identical products (version,
realease, modification level, service level) installed and used
identical levels of HOLDDATA (obtained on the same date after the time
of day it's updated) and identical sets of received PTFs, they would
have the same PTFs installed. Otherwise, not. Practically speaking, the
smart money is on "not." It's a fast-moving target.
The best you can do is tell them "the last time we installed service, we
specified these RSU levels." (Note: This is why Level 2 always asks for
information about particular PTFs or verifies which are installed using
the dump.)
Further, there is no way to tie an SMP/E zone or set of SMP/E zones to a
running system other than system programmer procedures and discipline.
Based on the above it's hard to understand why we would write a display
command to show something as fuzzy as an "RSU level"...but you could
always ask formally if you wish.
--
John Eells
z/OS Technical Marketing
IBM Poughkeepsie
[email protected]
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