Re: Which update for HMC? -- MIDRANGE-L

Since all of our customers are behind those levels, I did not want you
to give any advice about them. For us it is not always easy to get
approval for such changes, unless it seems urgent like the Heartbleed
vulnerability was. We are following the upgrades with some delay,
depending on the maintenance window, anf other factors. Maybe others
(with experiences of such upgrades) could tell you more.

On Mon, 8 Dec 2014 12:46:38 -0500, rob@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

Based on this snippet:
<snip>
(new feature, new H/W, security, some bug in the the original code,
obsolete level making upcoming upgrades more difficult)
</snip>

I define anything not the latest and greatest as "obsolete" therefore
warranting applying the latest and greatest.

What I am really looking to see is something like "Rob, I applied the
latest HMC code and did not experience any ill effects", or, "Rob, I put
on the other fixes instead of upgrading my HMC to the latest and didn't
have any ill effects" or even "Rob, don't put on that newest HMC upgrade!
I put it on and thank God I have a second HMC! I'm still working on that
ticket with IBM".

Rob Berendt
--
IBM Certified System Administrator - IBM i 6.1
Group Dekko
Dept 1600
Mail to: 2505 Dekko Drive
Garrett, IN 46738
Ship to: Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com

From: Frederick Boniholmes <seft2011@xxxxxxxxx>
To: midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: 12/08/2014 12:40 PM
Subject: Re: Which update for HMC?
Sent by: "MIDRANGE-L" <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

Rob,

Please read my original post again. I asked you abot H/W, and
vulnerability issues. If there is a fix you need to install to cure
them, do it. I meant: if there is no specific reason, (new feature,
new H/W, security, some bug in the the original code, obsolete level
making upcoming upgrades more difficult) I would not do it.

Regards,
Bon

On Mon, 8 Dec 2014 12:25:36 -0500, rob@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

I've never bought the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" motto for the

main

reason that most people stick their heads into the sand so they won't

find

out that it IS broke. For example, have you checked your level of HMC
code to determine if you are susceptible to the heartbleed issue? My dad

used to use that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" on why he didn't

change

the oil in his car.

We like to keep current with firmware. If my boss asks me "can we

install

this card?" I want to be able to say "sure". I don't want to have to

say,

"well, I wish I would have known before this last quarterly downtime we
just did as our next downtime is in three months and you'll just have to
wait". The latest firmware will work on our current level of HMC.

However

it recommends newer.

At one time I let firmware and HMC code get WAY behind. And these have

to

be somewhat in sync, not perfectly, but somewhat. It ended up me having
to upgrade HMC to an intermediate level, upgrade firmware to an
intermediate level - repeat several times (with IPL's thrown in) until I
got both current.

Also there are some things I am trying in the 'new' UI of HMC that only
works in the 'classic' UI of HMC. I'm hoping the newer version of HMC
code fully works with the new UI.

Also, many people keep redefining 'broke' to meet their requirement of

not

having to put on any fixes or upgrades. "Hey, I'm running 6.1 with the
original cume and I can't get this to work..."
reply "upgrade OS". OP decides to 'work around' or not implement new
function. See? Not "broke".
Same work around is tried if reply was "put on cume such-and-such or
higher".
Cycle continues until machine is replaced by non IBM i platform.

Rob Berendt
--
IBM Certified System Administrator - IBM i 6.1
Group Dekko
Dept 1600
Mail to: 2505 Dekko Drive
Garrett, IN 46738
Ship to: Dock 108
6928N 400E
Kendallville, IN 46755
http://www.dekko.com

From: Frederick Boniholmes <seft2011@xxxxxxxxx>
To: midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: 12/08/2014 11:53 AM
Subject: Re: Which update for HMC?
Sent by: "MIDRANGE-L" <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Rob,

Let me ask you the opposite: any reson to update/ upgrade? Is there
any H/W you want to install, which is supported on 8.8.2 only? Any
specific issue, vulnerability to fix? If not, I would not do it. If it
ain't broke, do not fix it, that is my motto, and my two cents worth.

Regards,
Bon

On Mon, 8 Dec 2014 07:43:24 -0500, rob@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

I am running a couple of 7042-CR8's for my HMCs. They are at 8.8.1
MH01421, MH01436. Which upgrade should I take?
- 8.8.2 and it's current fixes (MH01453, MH01454) dated 2014-11-18?
- MH01420 for 8.8.1?

Any reason NOT to upgrade to 8.8.2?

Rob Berendt