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Differences between Notes/Domino Maintenance Releases, Fix Packs and Cumulative Client Hotfixes
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| | | Abstract | | This document provides an explanation of the differences between Lotus Notes and Domino Maintenance Releases, Fix Packs, and Cumulative Client Hotfixes. It is important to note that client Fix Packs are NEW in 8.0.2 and will help address the most pressing customer issues in a well tested public deliverable. | | | |  | | | Content |
Maintenance Releases (MR) are scheduled updates containing a large number of Server and Client fixes. They contain 500 to as many as 2,000 fixes. Maintenance Releases are shipped more frequently (1-2 times a year) shortly after a feature release ships, and less frequently as a release matures. Maintenance Releases undergo extensive testing which includes: bug fix verification, regression testing, interoperability testing with products that work with Notes/Domino, and are deployed in a production environment.
Fix Packs (FP) are released periodically between Maintenance Releases to provide a greater level of stability for customer environments. They contain a small number of safe fixes that help to address the issues the broader customer base is or is likely to experience. The SPRs selected to be fixed focus on bad regressions, crashes, hangs, security issues, data loss issues, and critical functional bugs. To ensure quality, the triage criteria for inclusion in a fix pack targets safe fixes that have been deployed in a production environment, doesn't impact translation, and doesn't contain new features. By delivering a limited number of fixes in a smaller package, customers can deploy with less testing and less risk then a bigger Maintenance Release. Customers can also spend the time needed to validate a Maintenance Release before deploying, while utilizing Fix Packs in the interim to address the bulk of the more pervasive issues. Fix Packs undergo testing which includes: bug fix verification, targeted regression testing, interoperability testing with products that work with Notes/Domino, and are deployed in a production environment.
Starting with Release 8.0.2 Fix Pack 1, Fix Packs will be available for both the Client and Server. Prior Fix Packs were for the Server only. Fix Packs are cumulative and contain all of the fixes from earlier Fix Packs. For example, 7.0.2 Fix Pack 3 contains all of the fixes found in 7.0.2 Fix Pack 1 and 7.0.2 Fix Pack 2. Fix Pack fixes are also included in the next shipping Maintenance Release. Customers unable to upgrade to later Maintenance Releases will want to install Fix Packs to benefit from later fixes made to the product. By providing a small number of fixes, customers are able to accept fewer code changes with lower risk, allowing them to "patch" an older Maintenance Release until a more extensive upgrade to the current Maintenance Release is possible.
Fix Packs provide important fixes and IBM strongly recommends applying the latest Fix Pack available for a Maintenance Release, but IBM still recommends that customers upgrade to the latest Maintenance Release plus Fix Pack combination to receive the broadest set of fixes available. You will receive more overall fixes with a later Maintenance Release plus Fix Pack than with a set of Fix Packs on top of an earlier maintenance Release.
A Cumulative Client Hotfix (CCH) is a bundle of Client Hotfixes. The client fixes included in a CCH are hotfixes that multiple customers need urgently for deployment but cannot wait for the next Fix Pack or Maintenance Release. The fixes in a previous/obsolete CCH for a particular Notes Client release are rolled into the current CCH for that same Notes Client release. For example, CCH3 would contain fixes from CCH1 and CCH2. We do more pointed testing on a CCH vs a typical hotfix to ensure it is a higher quality deliverable. Extensive regression testing is not performed on a CCH but the fixes are merged into the next Maintenance Release or Fix Pack where we do perform that level of testing. Starting with 8.0.2 CCH1, CCH releases are now available on Fix Central.
A Interim Feature Release (IFR) is an optional update for a specific new feature. Notes 8.0.2 Interim Feature Release 1 is the first update delivering additional Sametime Entry features for Lotus Notes 8.0.2 Refer to www.ibm.com/support, Technote No. #1327080, for frequently asked questions and known issues.
| Maintenance Release
(MR) | Fix Pack
(FP) | Cumulative Client Hotfix (CCH) | Interim Feature Release (IFR) | | Pre-ship Testing and Validation | Extensive | Extensive | Condensed | Extensive | | Number of fixes | 500+ | Typically 50+ | Varies | Feature release only | | Types of fixes | Mix of high & low impact | High impact | High impact | Feature release only | | Client and/or Server | Client & Server | Client & Server starting in 8.0.2 FP1 | Client only | Server or Client, so far just Client | | Availability | 1-2 times per year | As needed | As needed | As needed | | Installation | Full Notes installation | Bug fixes applied to base | Bug fixes applied to base | Modification to full install | | Platforms and Languages | Specific installer for each language | All; single install functions on all language versions | All; single install functions on all language versions | All; single install functions on all language versions | Note about Mass Deployment: - To mass deploy a Hotfix, CCH, or Fix Pack for the Notes client, your options are to use the Notes/Domino Smart Upgrade feature and/or the Smart Upgrade RunAs (SuRunAs) utility.
- While the Domino Update Site feature can be used to deploy plug-in updates, it cannot be used to deploy Notes client code fixes.
Should you install both of the latest Fix Packs and the CCHs?
Installing a Fix Pack is a pro-active maintenance approach. You are installing safe fixes for bad regressions, crashes, etc. The triage criteria for a Fix Pack is that all of the fixes have been deployed and proven in a production environment. We perform greater interoperability and regression testing for Fix Packs.
A CCH would be the solution if there are specific fixes beyond the Fix Pack that are needed.
If there is both a client and server Fix Pack, do you have to install both?
Just like any prior release, where different client and server versions interoperate, the same is true with CCH's and Fix Packs. They do not need to be running the same version.
Can you install fixes for Notes 8.x Standard Configuration clients on Notes 8.x Basic Configuration clients (or vice versa).
No. Be sure to download and apply the fix type specific to the configuration (mode) of Notes 8.x you are running.
How do client MUI (Multilingual User Interface) packs work with client Fix Packs? MUI packs for Notes 8.0.2.x and 8.5.x should be installed before fixes to avoid install issues. See technote #1404436 for details. MUIs produced in 8.5.1 and above will address this issue.
How are Fix Packs and CCH's announced?
The status and subsequent announcement of Fix Packs can be found in the Notes/Domino Fix List on developerWorks. The announcements for Fix Packs and CCH's are also on Fix Central. A technote will also be flashed so it appears prominently on the Notes and Domino support Web sites.
Where can you find Fix Packs and CCH's? Are CDs available?
Fix Packs and CCH's are available for download at Fix Central. CDs are not made available. Starting with 8.0.2 CCH1, customers do not need to open a PMR to download a CCH release.
If you install a Fix Pack, can you also later install a CCH if one becomes available?
Only one client fix can exist on a machine. The install of any hotfix, CCH, or Fix Pack will first back-out any existing hotfix, CCH, or Fix Pack.
For example, if you have 8.0.2 CCH3 installed, and then apply 8.0.2 Fix Pack 1, 8.0.2 CCH3 will no longer be installed. It is also worth pointing out that CCHs built on top of a Fix Pack will include the Fix Pack. This allows a customer who is running 8.0.2 to go directly to 8.0.2 Fix Pack 1 CCH1 when available, without first having to go to 8.0.2 Fix Pack 1.
In the CCH, how can you tell what Client Hotfixes are included?
A list of SPRs included in a CCH or Fix Pack is documented in a technote linked from the download readme file.
In the Fix Pack, how do we know what Client Hotfixes or CCH's are included? Can we assume that all of the Client Hotfixes in the Fix Pack are in a CCH?
A list of SPRs included is documented. In general, fixes in a CCH are included in the next Fix Pack. With 8.0.2 FP1, some late breaking fixes are in CCH2/CCH3 that are not in Fix Pack 1. They were excluded since they have not gone through necessary testing. A list of these SPRs will be included.
Will the 8.0.2 CCH3 fixes be included in 8.0.2 Fix Pack 1?
Not all of them. 8.0.2 Fix Pack 1 goes through a lengthier test cycle than a CCH, including regression testing and interoperability testing with extended products (Sametime, Portal, Quickr, etc). A CCH has more recent fixes.
Will CCH3 be around the same size as CCH2 (~100 MB)?
Yes. Same with the Fix Pack.
Will there be a 8.0.2 CCH4 and, if not, what will be the next CCH version?
There will not be a CCH4.
Future CCHs will be built on top of 8.0.2 Fix Pack 1 and will include 8.0.2 Fix Pack 1.
8.0.2 Fix Pack 1 CCH1 will be a union of 8.0.2 Fix Pack 1 and 8.0.2 CCH3. Most customers should deploy 8.0.2 Fix Pack 1 unless there are specific fixes needed before the next Fix Pack or Maintenance Release.
What is Notes 8.0.2 Interim Feature Release 1?
Notes 8.0.2 Interim Feature Release 1 (IFR1) is an optional update delivering additional Sametime Entry features for Lotus Notes 8.0.2.
Are there any install considerations when installing Notes 8.0.2 IFR1, if a Hotfix or CCH is already installed?
If you already have 8.0.2 IFR1 installed, there is nothing special to do. Simply install any hotfix, CCH, or Fix Pack on top.
If you already have a client fix applied and have not installed IFR1, you must first uninstall any prior hotfix, CCH, or Fix Pack before installing Notes 8.0.2 IFR1. Notes 8.0.2 IFR1 patches the existing code with feature plug-ins and can be installed only by running the Notes installer.
The suggested install order is to:
1. Uninstall any hotfix , CCH, or Fix Pack
2. Install Notes 8.0.2 IFR1
3. Reinstall any hotfix, CCH, or Fix Pack
Notes 8.0.2 IFR1 documentation can be found at www.ibm.com/support.
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| Product categories: |
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| | Software | |
| | Messaging Applications | |
| | Advanced Messaging | |
| | Lotus Domino | |
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| Operating system(s): |
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Windows
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| Software version: |
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7.0, 8.0, 8.5
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| Reference #: |
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1368141
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| IBM Group: |
| | Software Group |
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| Modified date: |
| | 2009-11-03 |
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