Tips for AIX administrators

Use AIX compare_report command to compare the filesets installed on a system to the contents of a fileset image repository or to a list of available updates that may be downloaded from Fix Central. These comparisons will produce reports that simplify the process of determining the fixes to install to bring a system to the latest maintenance level or the latest level. Reports that are created using the list of available updates can be uploaded directly to Fix Central (5.1 uploads, 5.2 uploads, 5.3 uploads) to request the exact fixes needed for the system.

The compare_report command was introduced in AIX 5L version 5.2 and maintenance level 5100-03 of version 5.1 (APAR IY33992) in the bos.rte.install fileset. It provides an easier way to maintain the software installed on the system and encourages updating to the latest maintenance level.

This example compares the software installed on a system with the list of available updates that can be downloaded from Fix Central. It shows the steps to determine the list of fixes necessary to bring the system up to maintenance level 5100-03.

1. Download the file containing a list of available updates from Fix Central onto your system.

The file (for example, LatestFixData51) contains a list of fixes that are in the latest maintenance package as well as the latest available fixes that have been released after the latest maintenance package. This file can be found by selecting pSeries (Server), AIX OS (Product or fix type), Fix release information (Option), and an OS level from the Fix Central home page. A sample portion of the file is shown below:

# Data file: LatestFixData51
# Format:
# PTF number : base fileset name : version.release.modification.fix : package indicator
#
# The package indicator is either the word LATEST_LEVEL or a word
# indicating that the fix is part of the latest maintenance package.
#
U482719:bos.rte.libc:5.1.0.35:ML510003
U483626:bos.rte.libc:5.1.0.36:LATEST_LEVEL
U482738:bos.rte.libpthreads:5.1.0.35:ML510003
U483623:bos.rte.libpthreads:5.1.0.36:LATEST_LEVEL
U477001:bos.rte.loc:5.1.0.25:ML510003
U483222:bos.rte.man:5.1.0.35:ML510003

2. Run compare_report to generate a report of necessary fixes.

The compare_report command is available with AIX version 5.1 in the 5.1.0.35 or later version of the bos.rte.install fileset
(APAR IY33992) and in AIX version 5.2. To run the command on an AIX 5.1 system that is at an earlier version than maintenance level 5100-03, ftp the script for the compare_report command.

To determine the fixes necessary to bring a system up to maintenance level 5100-03, compare the software installed on a system (-s option) to the report containing a list of available updates (-r option). Enter the following command:

     /usr/sbin/compare_report -s -r /tmp/LatestFixData51 -l

This will generate the two "lower level" reports (-l option):
/tmp/lowerthanmaint.rpt (list of filesets on the system that are at a lower level than the latest maintenance level)
/tmp/lowerthanlatest1.rpt (list of filesets on the system that are at a lower level than the latest level)

NOTE: The compare_report command in AIX 5.1 is only available from the command line. In AIX 5.2, the command is also available through the SMIT menus using fastpath smitty compare_report.

Sample Report Output - disk file

A sample lowerthanmaint.rpt file appears below. This file can then be uploaded to Fix Central to request the listed PTF's (see step 3).

#Installed Software that is at a LOWER level than
#   the latest maintenance level
#PTF:Fileset_Name:Installed_Level:Available_Level
U482734:bos.sysmgt.nim.client:5.1.0.25:5.1.0.35
U482862:devices.tty.rte:5.1.0.25:5.1.0.35
U484817:invscout.ldb:1.4.1.0:1.5.0.0
U484818:invscout.rte:1.4.1.0:1.5.0.0

Sample Report Output - SMIT

In SMIT, the lowerthanmaint.rpt report output would appear as follows:

/usr/sbin/compare_report -s -r /tmp/LatestFixData51 -l -t /tmp
#(lowerthanmaint.rpt)
#Installed Software that is at a LOWER level than
#      the latest maintenance level
#
#                          Installed      Available
# Fileset Name               Level          Level        PTF
#----------------------------------------------------------------
  bos.sysmgt.nim.client    5.1.0.25       5.1.0.35       U482734
  devices.tty.rte          5.1.0.25       5.1.0.35       U482862
  invscout.ldb             1.4.1.0        1.5.0.0        U484817
  invscout.rte             1.4.1.0        1.5.0.0        U484818

3. Upload comparison report file to Fix Central.

The Fix release information section of Fix Central allows you to upload a file that has been generated by the compare_report command, like the file shown in the Sample Report Output - disk file section above. The PTF numbers contained in the comparison report file will be used to provide the requested fixes. After uploading the file, you can download the requested fixes (PTF's) through the normal Fix Central interfaces.