The Virtualization Cookbook for SLES 10 SP2 - z/VM - IBM

The section that follows is a summary of applying service and also describes how to obtain
service over the Internet using IBM ShopzSeries.
You must first determine if your system needs service. Use the QUERY CPLEVEL command:
==> q cplevel
z/VM Version 6 Release 1.0, service level 0901 (64-bit)
Generated at 09/11/09 16:51:48 EDT
IPL at 08/31/10 08:44:19 EDT
The service level (or RSU) is a four digit field comprised of two segments, each consisting of
two digits. The first two digits represent the last two digits of the year and the second two
digits represent the sequential RSU level within that year. Some examples are 0903RSU, and
1002RSU. With 0903, the first two the digits in the level, 09 represent the last two digits of the
year 2009 and the 03 represents the third RSU service level of that year. Therefore the 0903
is the third RSU issued in 2009. RSU 1002 would be the second RSU issued in 2010.
The overall steps in applying an RSU are as follow:
► “Getting service from the Internet” on page 73
► “Downloading the service files” on page 74
► “Creating a new MAINT minidisk” on page 74 (not usually required)
► “Receiving, applying, and building the service” on page 76
► “Putting the service into production” on page 78
5.1.1 Getting service from the Internet
An RSU is obtained by its PTF number. The PTF for the most current RSU is of the form
UM97xyz where xyz is the z/VM version-release-modification level. So for z/VM 6.1 the RSU
would be UM97610.
With ShopzSeries, knowing the PTF number is not necessary. If you know you want the latest
RSU, you can get it directly, based on the version of z/VM you are running.
Perform the following steps (note that these same steps are documented with some screen
shots in 5.4, “Applying a PTF” on page 85):
► Point a Web browser to the z/VM Service page:
http://www.vm.ibm.com/service/
► Click on IBM ShopzSeries under the IBM Support Portals section.
► Click on the link Sign In for registered users. If you have an user ID and password, use
that. If you do not, click on the link New user registration and fill out the form to create an
ID and password. You must have your IBM customer number.
► Click on the link create new software orders at the top.
► The My Orders page should show. Under the Package Category section, click on the
z/VM - Service radio button and also choose RSU recommended service in the
drop-down menu. Click Continue.
► There will be five screens of forms that are hopefully self-explanatory. On screen 3 of 5,
choose the radio button that is applicable to your version of z/VM. In this example it was
z/VM Version 6.1.0 Stacked 6103RSU (PTF UM97610).
► On screen 4 of 5 choose Internet as the delivery mechanism.
► On screen 5 of 5, complete the form and click Submit.
► In a few minutes, you should get two e-mails - one for the core RSU and one for the PSP
bucket (additional fixes that may have come out after the RSU).
Chapter 5. Servicing z/VM 73