Here is my experience with my testing of electronic delivery of z/VM. It may
be of use to others in similar situations or fellow listers may be able to
suggest improvements.
For electronic delivery IBM recommends the installer download the zip files
to their workstation, unzip and then as one option transfer to mainframe. I
work remotely, living in Australia and working on mainframes in US. I
connect to work via a satellite link and use vpn over that link. My download
quota is 3 Gig per month.
Given my "broadband" limits, I prefer to download directly to mainframe
Linux, unzip and then transfer back to VM. I already do this for CA
products.
I was surprised to find that I could not use a ftp client on the mainframe
to get the zip file so as the url prefix was http:// I thought of using a
text based web browser. I installed CHARLOTT and tried with the url only to
be told that the url of 309 characters was greater than allowed string size
of 256 bytes. I went to www.tinyurl.com and converted the IBM url into
something smaller. This time charlott was able to handle the link and I
downloaded the rsu portion of the order.
The next step will be to set up NFS between VM and Linux to transfer the
unzipped files back to VM.
The easiest way to improve this for me would be have ftp instructions as
occur when service is ordered because a) ftp could be used and b) the real
order which will include other products may be placed by admin staff and I
will have to teach them how to save the 309 character url to send to me.
- electronic download of z/VM Graeme Moss
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