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Why IBM needs to remove the draconian download limits from Fix Central.

By Robert Berendt posted Fri December 12, 2025 08:09 AM

  

Fix Central has implemented draconian restrictions on downloads that not only affect IBM i but are also affecting other products such as QRadar.

These need to be removed, NOW!

1)  I downloaded the latest cume, groups, etc from Fix Central.  A day later I hear they've updated the hiper and security groups.  I try to download those and Fix Central will not let me.  I send an email to fixexp@us.ibm.com.  Wait for an email with a form attached.  Fill out the form and send that back in.  Wait for their approval.

2)  I have multiple LPARs on one machine.  I do a SNDPTFORD SF98750 after applying the latest fixes, etc to verify it still works.  It did.  I try it on another LPAR and it fails.  I try it on the original one and it now fails too.  I opened up a case with IBM but the technician will not listen to me about the fix central issues and keeps having me rebuild the service configurations, etc.

3)  Our consultant cannot upgrade our QRadar installation because of similar issues with Fix Central.

I created an idea at IBM's idea site

https://ideas.ibm.com/ideas/IBMI-I-4746

2 comments
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Permalink

https://community.ibm.com/community/user/blogs/robert-berendt/2025/12/12/removefixcentraldownloadlimits

Comments

Robert Berendt
Tue December 30, 2025 07:44 AM

Go through the list at  IBM i Support: Recommended fixes

Fixes to fix defective PTFs:  43
Cryptogrophy/DCM 80+
ECS (not on a cume) 3
FAX 40+
Print (not on a cume) 4
LDAP 2
Infoprint (not on a cume) 7
Infoprint MRI's:  a few dozen
Performance (not on a cume) 5
smtp 9
Temp space 2
iDoctor 17
 
Now that is just for 7.5
Repeat for my 7.6 servers.   

Yan Tina Zhuo
Mon December 29, 2025 05:47 PM

For IBM i, the Fix Central download logic was changed in November:

  • Original download max was 25 PTFs per day
  • New download max for IBM i customers is max 50 downloads per day, where a download could be a cumulative PTF package.
  • This change will override the general download policy published here, https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7181930

If it is necessary to download beyond the stated 50 limit, please contact the Exception Handling Team - fixexp@us.ibm.com.

We also encourage customers to use the blue Contact and Feedback button, which is floating on the right edge of the Fix Central pages, to capture the error and send the email to the exception handling team. IBM will continue to assess whether there are still issues, etc.

Thanks!

IBM i Product Management Team