Q:

Any plans with the software update plugin to add a gui assisted receive function ?

A:

It's in our backlog but no firm plan yet to include "receive" function in GUI.

Q:

Can that list of fixes be filtered, ie I only want to see ENH PTF's?

A:

Yes, you can filter and sort all columns

Q:

Is it coming to z/OS 2.5 ?

A:

No, this function is in 3.1 and above

Q:

If there's a usermod applied to a module, does software update spit out an error, or does it fail? (it used to fail)

A:

We have not changed any of the underlying function in this PTF.  You can open a case or idea is there is an  issue with usermods

Q1:

Can you update/override the BYPASS to put on a PE that you are not bothered about, also MODID

A1:

You can not update/override the BYPASS.  You can only exclude or resolve HOLDs.

Q2:

So I can resolve a MODID or HOLDERROR in the GUI if I'm happy for the regression or PE going on?

A2:

You cannot resolve (BYPASS) a MODID error. You can resolve (BYPASS) a HOLDERROR in the Install by Name or Install by Fix Category actions. You cannot resolve (BYPASS) a HOLDERROR in the Install by Source ID action because z/OSMF automatically excludes unresolved HOLDERRORs (PEs) in that action.

Q:

Where is the output from this apply check stored? Can it be sent to sysout with particular dest/writer for archival product

A:

The output is stored in the file system.  As Kurt just said, periodically you get the option to export/download the output

Q:

If there are multiiple steps within a Hold Action, is it possible/easy to assign the steps within Hold Actions to another person/team within the workflow? For example, we may want to assign Step 1 to DBA for a Db2 task and then assign Step 2 to another team for a configuration task.

A:

No way to do any assignment of HOLDs

Q:

The export only had zip or txt? It would be nice to be able to send to sysout as well

A:

Please open an IDEA for sending output to sysout

Q:

Can you summarize what is new in what you have shown, except from the renaming of the categories?

A:

What is new is displaying the list of PTFs and source IDs that are applicable.  Prior to this PTF, you had to specify the PTFs that you wanted to install. When installing by name - previously you had to enter in the exact name (it was just an input field).  Now you are given a list of the available PTFs that you can select from. The other big change is that can select the source IDs you want to apply.  Prior to this change, you were forced to apply the most current CAR, RSU or RSL level.  

Q:

re: export, otherwise you've got some o/p run via ISPF archived to View for example, some other buried in filesystem. Is the o/p in filesystem searchable/human readable or in compressed format?

A:

Currently, most of the output is in a zip file in the file system

Q:

Is the iterative output to resolve sourceid PE's presented to the user for each step or just the final result?

A:

The zip file contains the output of all the iterations.

Q:

but only the final presented to the user?

A:

The entire SMP/E output is not presented to the user. The final list of HOLDs to resolve, from the final iteration, is displayed.

Q:

SMP/e RECEIVE function is usually done on a sandbox LPAR that may not have scheduling software.

A:

Cron works well on my sandbox, since I don't have authority to use any scheduling or automation software :).

Q:

How are space abends (or others ie using wrong id to do apply that doesn’t have relevant racf auth to GIM/BPX/etc) on the apply presented in the GUI?

A:

Those errors are displayed on the GUI as a pop-up and also in an output box with an option to download the smp/e output

Q1:

Can you RESTORE a PTF that went PE after you did the APPLY?

A1:

You can RESTORE but not using the Software Update plugin.

Q2:

So the Software Update plugin will be out of sync if you have to do a RESTORE function?

A2:

Software Update plugin is reading the CSI, so no, it does not get out of sync

Q:

If PTF has been RESTORED, the Software Update plugin will be out of sync.  How does that affect deployment within z/OSMF?

A

Software Update and Software Management do not maintain separate lists of which PTFs are installed. Both Software Update and Software Management query the CSI data sets dynamically as needed to determine which PTFs are installed. So, neither can get “out of sync” if PTFs are applied or restored outside of z/OSMF.

Q:

Is there a backup step?

 A

Regarding backup during software update, you may vote on following idea: https://ibm-z-hardware-and-operating-systems.ideas.ibm.com/ideas/ZOS-I-3756.

Regarding including SMP/E receive in z/OSMF Software update, you may vote on following idea... https://ibm-z-hardware-and-operating-systems.ideas.ibm.com/ideas/ZOS-I-3909

Q:

is the 'SMPE Userid' option protected in some way?

A:

Yes, the logged in z/OSMF user ID must be properly authorized to run as the specified SMP/E userid, and z/OSMF verifies this authority. The required authorizations are documented on the Help page for the Settings, here: https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/zos/3.1.0?topic=preferences-values-settings-window

Q:

The new IU96759, is that for 3.1 only, is there  an option for  2.5 for this ?

A:

The new function is only on 3.1

Q:

Does Software Update by Source ID selection list allow filtering by Selected versus not selected so we can see default selections together without scrolling the whole list?

A:

You cannot filter by selected.

Q:

Is there any plan to add the SMPE ACCEPT function?

A:

No ACCEPT function currently, but it is in our backlog.