Sending Testcases Electronically

This document provides information for customers who have been asked by their AIX support representative to deliver testcases associated with PMRs to IBM over the Internet. Delivering these testcases electronically helps IBM resolve problems for you quicker by enabling our support centers to obtain needed information faster.

Before you begin
Delivery via the Internet
Create a compressed tar/pax archive
File naming convention
Deliver the testcase via FTP to testcase.software.ibm.com
If you have been instructed to send your testcase to ECuRep, go to link
ECuRep Website

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Before you begin

Before delivering testcases via the Internet, you must be instructed to do so by the AIX support representative who is working on your problem. You will need the PMR number with Branch number, Country Code, and other necessary information which your support representative will discuss with you.

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Delivery via the Internet

Follow these steps to deliver your testcase:

1. Create your testcase following the recommended file naming convention.

   NOTE: Failure to use the recommended file naming convention will delay resolution of your problem.

2. Use ftp to put your testcase onto an IBM server.

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Create a compressed tar or pax archive

All testcases delivered electronically to IBM should be in compressed tar or pax format, however, in some cases, testcases are in ascii format. (.tar.Z) (.pax.Z).

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File naming convention

When you create the tar or pax archive, using the following naming convention allows AIX support tools to move the testcase automatically to the proper directories and update the PMR to indicate that the testcase is available.

If the testcase files cannot be associated with an existing PMR, they will be tagged as lost and eventually deleted.

 ppppp.bbb.ccc.tar.Z
     |   |   |   | |
     |   |   |   | indicates that the archive is compressed
     |   |   |   | (if you have the gzip command available,
     |   |   |   | this will be .gz rather than .Z)
     |   |   |   |
     |   |   |   indicates a tar archive (if you have a version of 
     |   |   |    box.rte.serv_aid 4.3.3.25 or later, this will be a pax 
     |   |   |    archive instead of a tar archive)
     |   |   |
     |   |   the 3 character country code
     |   |   (Note: 000 is required for US customer files)
     |   |
     |   the 3 character branch office number
     |
     the 5 character PMR number

Examples:

   9x999.999.999.tar.gz (problem_report_#.branch_office_#.country_code.tar.gz)
   1x234.001.000.tar.Z      (problem_report_#.branch_office_#.country_code.tar.Z)
   9x999.999.999.pax.gz (problem_report_#.branch_office_#.country_code.pax.gz)
   1x234.001.000.pax.Z      (problem_report_#.branch_office_#.country_code.pax.Z)

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Deliver the testcase via FTP Failure to use the file naming convention will delay resolution to the problem you are experiencing. If you need help understanding how to create a compressed tar or pax archive, contact the support representative who is working on your problem.

Read the "Statement on Confidentiality". By submitting your testcase to IBM you are agreeing to comply with the statement on confidentiality. If you do not agree, do not use this service.

You should also read and understand the "Service Use Agreement".

1. Connect to the server using FTP:

   ftp testcase.software.ibm.com     
   

   NOTE: If you have problems accessing this machine, contact your Internet service provider.

2. Log in as an anonymous user giving your complete e-mail address as the password. For example:

   Name: anonymous
   Password: sampleuser@samplecompany.com
   

3. Switch to binary mode:

   bin
   

4. Change to the /toibm/aix directory:

   cd /toibm/aix/
   

5. Put your compressed tar or pax archive file into the /toibm/aix/ directory. For example:

   put 81230.469.000.tar.Z (for a pax file, put 81230.469.000.pax.Z)
   

   NOTE:   For subsequent testcases sent within 72 hours of the first testcase, the name must be changed. The pmr#, branch#, and country code# must still appear, however, it must be distinguished from the first somehow. For example, ppppp.bbb.ccc.2.pax.Z. Additional testcases should be named with '3', '4', etc.
6. Notify your service representative that delivery is complete.

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**** Service Use Agreement ****
International Business Machines Corporation
Internet Testcase Delivery Service
Service Use Agreement

This is a legal agreement to which you are consenting to be bound. If you do not agree to all of the terms of this license, do not use the service.

• International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) grants you non-exclusive access to the Testcase Delivery Service via the Internet.
• IBM makes no representations about the suitability of this service or about any content or information made accessible by the service, for any purpose. The service is provided "as is" without express or implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose or noninfringement. This service is provided gratuitously and, accordingly, IBM shall not be liable for any damages suffered by you or any user of the service.
• While IBM intends to maintain this Service, IBM reserves the right at any time to alter access, features, capabilities and functions of this Service. IBM may terminate this Service at any time without notice to you.
• You may not download or upload or otherwise export or reexport images or files from or to systems providing this Service except in full compliance with all United States and other applicable laws and regulations. In particular, but without limitation, none of the images or files provided or received by this Service may be downloaded or uploaded or otherwise exported or reexported (i) into or received from (or to a national or resident of) Cuba, Haiti, Iraq, Libya, Yugoslavia, North Korea, Iran, or Syria or (ii) to anyone on the US Treasury Department's list of Specially Designated Nationals or the US Commerce Department's Table of Deny Orders. By downloading or uploading images or files from or to systems providing this Service, you are agreeing to the foregoing and you are representing and warranting that you are not located in, under control of, or a national or resident of any such country on any such list.

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Statement on Confidentiality

By choosing to send data to IBM, you acknowledge that all information contained in your data, including source, object code, binaries, executables, comments, questions, suggestions, or the like, shall be deemed to be non-confidential and IBM shall have no obligation of any kind with respect to such information and shall be free to reproduce, use, disclose, and distribute the information within IBM without limitation. Further, IBM shall be free to use any ideas, concepts, know-how or techniques contained in such information for any purpose whatsoever, including, but not limited to, developing, manufacturing and marketing products incorporating such information.