Service and support

Introduction

Preventive

Corrective

Problem Mgmt.

Refresh Recommended Service Level		PSP buckets Installed software report

IBM periodically upgrades the VSE system libraries with the latest level of maintenance. This is known as a service refresh and contains all PTFs available at build time. A refresh is installed by performing a Fast Service Upgrade (FSU).

This refreshed system has been thoroughly tested. In general, a service refresh contains only corrections to the existing VSE system. In rare cases, it also may provide additional functions. These functions are implemented in a way that they do not influence your system if you do not use or need them.

As required, IBM will provide refreshes at identical service levels for the VSE base programs, extended base products and VSE optional programs.

You may want to install a refresh to avoid possible problems. Thus a service refresh may be an option for you, even if your system and its environment are stable. In addition, a refresh may be best when you want to make major changes to your system (add hardware devices or IBM licensed programs, for example). The maintenance requirements for these changes may make installing a service refresh the most efficient way to meet them

Note: Refreshes can only be ordered as long as the corresponding product release is available. After End of Marketing, refreshes can no longer be ordered, although the product is still in service.

Order refreshes

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Preventive Service Planning (PSP) buckets for VSE contain all HIPER PTFs (and other recommended service) for a specific set of products or components on a given VSE refresh level. A PSP bucket has a name (upgrade ID) and contains product information ordered into different 'subsets'. The upgrade ID can be used to order a complete PSP bucket from IBM support. To limit an order to specific products, subset IDs can be specified in addition. A subset contains different 'sections'. HIPER APARs and a short error description can be found in section 'Service Recommendations' together with the recommended PTF number. All recommended PTFs are listed in the 'PTF Include List' for easy ordering.

When ordering a PSP bucket, you get one or more PTF tapes containing all PTFs from the 'PTF Include List' of each ordered subset. You install the PSP by using the PTF apply dialogs. PSPs are available on the Internet (click here) where you can check individual fixes and/or order selected PTFs.

Currently, ShopzSeries can not be used to order PSP buckets, but you can order so called PE-HIPER fixes. This orders all HIPER PTFs of all products and components currently installed on your system. In order to do that you must provide an Installed Software Report. Such a report can be created with the Installed Software Report Tool.

ShopzSeries

PSP buckets

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A new preventive service offering is available for VSE - the Recommended Service Level (RSL).

This new service offering fills the gap between VSE Refresh levels and the "High Impact or Pervasive APAR" (HIPER) service provided via "Preventive Service Planning" (PSP) buckets. An RSL consists of a list of ALL APAR/PTF numbers, which are available at specific cutoff dates. RSLs are updated more frequently than refreshes and contain ALL available service, not only the HIPER service.

RSLs are published via special RLS PSP buckets and on the Internet via the VSE home page. RSL PSPs are ordered on tape like HIPER PSPs and the Internet RSLs can be ordered electronically.

This new service offering helps customers keep their VSE system on a current and reliable service level. An RSL should be installed on top of the latest refresh, followed by the most current HIPER PSP bucket.

RSLs are available for VSE releases currently in service. For VSE releases which are going out of service, an ‘End-of-Service’ RSL will be provided

RSL Introduction (150KB)

The following table contains lists of all available service on top of the individual VSE refresh levels at the specified date. The Base Products and Optional Products lists show the APAR numbers, corresponding PTF numbers and the applicable component-IDs and CLCs. Separate 'PTF Order Lists' are provided which contain only the PTF numbers for easy ordering of the Recommended Service. Known PE solutions and requisite PTFs are included.

Latest update November 1, 2009

• z/VSE 4.1.2 upgraded to the September 30, 2009 level
• z/VSE 4.2.1 upgraded to the September 30, 2009 level
• New PTFs are indicated by an asterisk in the Base Products and Optional Products files.

	ShopzSeries
	Download and order PTFs
	Apply PTFs from the internet

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This section describes how to create a "Installed Software Report" to be used with ShopzSeries. A Installed Software Report (also called VSE service bitmap) contains information about the products and components installed and PTFs that are applied on a VSE system. The report is build from information stored in the MSHP history file. To build the report the MSHP RETRACE PRODUCTS and RETRACE PTFS functions are executed. Afterwards the required information is extracted from the MSHP output and the report is created.

There is a tool available to build such a report for VSE. The tool connects to VSE via FTP, executes 2 MSHP jobs and creates and stores the report on the workstation.

	Download the VSE Installed Software Report Tool
	ShopzSeries

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