YMMV. The answer is whatever works for your shop. There are as many choices as shops.
I generally apply PUT (not RSU) maintenance twice annually to (current -2) for the major subsystems. The choice between PUT and RSU is up to your installation. IVS maintenance is applied "as needed" to support the above activities. Given IBMs recent conversion to 2 year release cycles, I have given some thought to moving to once annually for maintenance. No decision has yet been reached. I.E. if PUT1712 (or RSU1712) is current, I will apply bulk maintenance through PUT1710/RSU1710 Many moons ago, when PUTs (Program Update Tape) were shipped regularly from IBM (and the documentation was available), it was noted that virtually all PE's generated by a particular PUT tape were reported within 60 days. Thus, at N-2 by appropriate exclusion of PTFS, you could have a virtually trouble free installation for that particular tape. I have seen nothing to indicate the underlying ecosystem has changed and continue to use current-2. HTH, -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of ANIL KUMAR Sent: Wednesday, December 6, 2017 10:56 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RSU maintenance strategy - Need expert suggestions Hi All, I needed expert suggestions on following the RSU maintenance strategy for z/OS , associated ISV products , DB2 etc. Could you please let me know 1) How many times in a year do we need to apply the maintenance to z/os , ISV products , DB2 etc. 2) How to decide which ones to be applied. (latest RSU) 3) Whether the HIPERs included also be applied , even though we have not encountered the specific issues in out shop. So far in the account I was working for , it was not a strict rule to apply maintenance be it z/OS or DB2 or associated ISV product. Infact I do not remember any maintenance being applied to DB2 unless it was a major upgrade for which the pre-req was needed. Even for ISV's if they are running fine, then no action was taken. However for a different shop , we have been asked to come up with the best approach on whats needs to be done. If we keep updating the maintenance then 1 FTE job will be consumed for the work for a year. Hence needed some advise on what strategy is being used by different shops and what is the best practice. Please advise. If any documents etc are available please point me to them and I shall read. Sincerely hoping to get some advise. Thanks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN ::DISCLAIMER:: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The contents of this e-mail and any attachment(s) are confidential and intended for the named recipient(s) only. 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