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Status Future consideration
Workspace z/OS
Categories Service
Created by Guest
Created on Aug 2, 2023

RELATED IDEAS

Add version number next to component levels in APAR pages

Scenario: you are a new MVS system programmer tasked to obtain the PTF for a specific APAR. You go to IBM Support, search for the APAR number/name and find the APAR page. For example if we take the page for APAR OA62703 it lists the following fixes:

Applicable component levels
R7A0 PSY UJ08027    
R7D0 PSY UJ08024     
R7B0 PSY UJ08022    
R7C0 PSY UJ08023   

The page says to "select the PTF appropriate for your component level". Your system is currently running z/OS 2.4, so how do you figure out which PTF is applicable?

There are a few options but, if you were to rely only on the information provided in the APAR page you must somehow know that this APAR affects the FMID HBB7*** (not mentioned anywhere in the page), and that for z/OS 2.4 the FMID is HBB77C0 , then you should notice the 7C0 is in the R7C0 component level and conclude that UJ08023 is the right PTF for z/OS 2.4.

This is just one example and I have seen the same happening across IBM products besides z/OS. I believe it does not need to be this tricky. 

Please add the software version next to these component levels. 

You could also consider making the component levels show the full FMID, so for example HBB77C0 instead of just R7C0. I am sure it would make identifying maintenance much easier.

APAR PAGE.png
APAR PAGE.png
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APAR PAGE.png
Idea priority Low
  • Guest
    Reply
    |     Sep 13, 2023
    .There is currently a bigger initiative underway to migrate away from legacy systems (e.g. RETAIN) to CSP (Cognitive Support Platform) for defect management. This idea should be addressed by the current plans for this defect management initiative. In the meantime, the following link can be used to associate a z/OS release with an MVS FMID: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/mvs-release-level-fmid-table .

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