If you have a specific question not answered here please send it to the support group at : alcs@uk.ibm.com

Downloading APAR and PTF Fixes from the ALCS Web Site

All APARs and PTFs you download from the website consist of a package of files compacted into a single ZIP file.

These ZIP files are directly linked to the hyperlinks for the APAR or PTF. Right Click on the hyperlink for the required APAR or PTF and select "Save Link As" (Firefox) or "Save Target As" (Internet Explorer). You should then be requested to provide a location on your local drive where the file is to be saved.

Unpacking the downloaded file

Fixes available for download from the ALCS web site are packaged as compressed (ZIP) files. To extract the contents run the downloaded file on your PC (double click on it). The fixes themselves are binary files that will need to be transferred as a binary file to your ALCS host. The supporting files are ascii files that can be read on the PC or transferred to the host as ascii files.

Files you may find in the downloaded package

Each APAR package contains a NOTES file (an ascii file with a file name of the APAR file and an extension name NTX) describing the problem and the apar fix file. In 2.3.1 there was a DESCRIBE file (extension STX). The APAR fix file (a binary file with extension name FIX) is a copy of the SMP format APAR fix. Some APAR fix packages contain additional files.

Each PTF package contains a PTF file (a binary file with a file name of the PTF and an extension name PTF) which is a copy of the SMP format PTF fix. They also to contain the NOTES file which relates to the APAR which the PTF supercedes, so this file will have the file name of the APAR, not the PTF. Some PTF fix packages contain additional files.

The possible files are :

Transferring the binary fix file to your host

The important point to remember is to transfer the file as a binary file.

There are two methods of transfer normally available.

PC file transfer uses the terminal emulator software to send or receive data between the host and PC. The drawbacks are it is slow as it is restricted to using a small buffer defined in the emulator software and the session is unavailable for other use during the transfer. One of the transfer options will be some form of transfer type where you may specify binary.

Another method is to use FTP. To do this the host (z/OS) system must have the file transfer protocol (FTP) server up and running. FTP is a TCP/IP application that can be set up by the z/OS communications system programmer. Once you have established a FTP session connecting your PC to the host the FTP command binary will set the transfer type to binary.

Additional information can be found on the Tips for Downloading Maintenance page.