"What Jim V. said."
And it wouldn't hurt for you and anyone else to open a PMR with IBMLink (I still use the 3270 version because I'm not all that fond of "hide and seek") when something is difficult to understand (after considering that there is always a learning curve). When I find something that's not intuitive, or unclear (on IBMLink, ShopzSeries, and in manuals) I make a specific point to let IBM know what's difficult to understand and what they can do to clear it up. It's much easier for us "outsiders" to point out the problems and make suggestions than for those who work with the doc every day to see the individual trees inside forest.
To answer your immediate question, finding the current RSU (certainly not obvious or documented **where one looks when needing it**), the current RSU is always shown by using the "SIS" application ("Search for Service and Support Information" - intuitively: SIS, right?), selecting "2. APARS", and entering the search argument: UM97vrm (where vrm=Version Release Mod), such as z/VM 440 as UM97440, z/VM 510 as UM97510, z/VM 520 as UM97520 - even for releases past their service date: UM97240 is VM/ESA 240!). If I don't do something often, but struggle to remember how to find it, I've taken to creating personal help files on a CMS disk that I always have accessed. They have the format "subject HELPME fm". In this case perhaps one called "RSU HELPME A", which would contain something like "To find the current RSU, logon to IBMLink, go to the SIS app, search for APAR UM97vrm". Then from the CMS command line I'd enter: HELP ME RSU
I currently have the following (and add more each time things get more foggy):
Filename Filetype
TAPEINIT HELPME
SFS HELPME
VMTAPE HELPME
VMLINK HELPME
TRACK HELPME
The idea of a BOF for "common questions" is a good one - but don't forget:
---<snip>---
Session 9054 - Linux & VM Program Wrap Up and Free-for-All
Chair: Marty Zimelis (Computer Associates)
Times: Fri, 11:00am, Washington State Convention and Trade Center,2nd Floor,Room 206
Length: 1 hour
Classification: Introductory
An open opportunity to share information and get help. This is a semi-structured forum for discussion and for the dissemination of valuable information. On most occasions, we also raffle off VM-related or Linux-related goodies here. A valuable way to end a great week!
---<snip>---
See you at SHARE - the one place where you can get the cheapest, fastest, most direct education for IBM mainframe systems.
Mike Walter
Hewitt Associates
The opinions expressed herein are mine alone, not my employer's.
| "Jim Vincent"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent by: "VM/ESA and z/VM Discussions" <[email protected]> 02/17/2006 08:41 AM
|
|
Jim (what a great name! :-) this is an excellent idea and one that we have
all tossed around in planning discussions. A BOF or even SCIDs would be a
reasonable start to at least get the questions addressed and then possibly
put together an outline of something that could help others with the same
issues. This is one of the many reasons SHARE is successful; you can get
real issues nailed down because all the right people are within arms reach.
We can do this formally (BOF) or informally (SCIDs) or somewhere in between
(Dinner!). If there are more folks that would like to address "ordering
service for z/VM" questions, then a BOF would probably be a good option.
>>> If others speak up before SHARE <<< I will schedule a BOF and tag some
other folks that could help such as Martha, Mike Walter, and a few choice
IBM'rs that need more work to do like John Franciscovich.
The good and bad is there is more than one way to approach this topic.
Everyone doing service work will probably have a different spin on how to
do it. It isn't like the good ol' days where the options were IBMLINK (the
3270 version!) or calling IBM Support - now there are more ways and none
are really intuitive unless you do it often as you noted. The good news is
that you can still simply call IBM and ask them to order the
latest/greatest RSU for you. I have not done that in years and would guess
you would end up with physical media as your only option though.
_______________________________________
James Vincent
Systems Engineering Consultant
Nationwide Services Co., Technology Infrastructure Engineering
Mainframe, z/VM and z/Linux Support
One Nationwide Plaza 3-25-02
Columbus OH 43215-2220 U.S.A
Voice: (614) 249-5547 Fax: (614) 677-7681
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
VM/ESA and z/VM Discussions <[email protected]> wrote on 02/17/2006
08:50:27 AM:
> [email protected]
>
> Perhaps a BOF would be an appropriate gathering to answer some questions
> that have been building up for me and, probably, others. I maintain VM,
> z/VM 4.4, which is as current as our hardware will allow. VM is so
stable
> that I don't spend half of my time anymore living inside IBMLINK looking
> for a PTF to fix the latest CP abend. A couple of times a year when I do
> try to apply maintenance and I go to IBMLINK or whatever is the
redirected
> URL de jour, I flounder around trying to figure out how to order the must
> current RSU and COR. I am certain that the Endicott IBM people have this
> all memorized and it is very logical for them, but for the occasional
> visitor, trying to figure out where to go is a real challenge.
>
> If others have the same kind of questions and could pose them to an
IBM'er
> or two, perhaps a logical, easy to follow roadmap could be put
> together. I'm not volunteering to lead or host a BOF because I don't
have
> the foggiest idea how to go about that, but I would certainly be
interested
> in, at least. cornering a couple of likely looking IBM'ers or other
experts
> such as Martha Mc. or Jim V. at skids and plying them with the beverage
of
> their choice to coax the secrets out of them.
>
> Jim
>
> Jim Bohnsack
> Cornell Univ.
> (607) 255-1760
The information contained in this e-mail and any accompanying documents may contain information that is confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, please immediately alert the sender by reply e-mail and then delete this message, including any attachments. Any dissemination, distribution or other use of the contents of this message by anyone other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited.
