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HP OpenVMS Systems Documentation

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HP OpenVMS Version 8.3 Upgrade and Installation Manual > Chapter 7 After Installing or Upgrading the OpenVMS Operating System

Installing Patches (Optional but Recommended)

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HP recommends installing any relevant OpenVMS and networking patches that are available. Most patches are optional, but some layered products might require one or more patches on the system before their software is installed. For more information about patches that might be required on your system, see the HP OpenVMS Version 8.3 Release Notes.

As of Version 8.3 of OpenVMS, patch files are validated using the Secure Delivery feature. Each patch file includes an associated digital signature file (also referred to as a manifest) that is used to validate the patch file. This validation involves authenticating the originator (HP, in this case) and verifying the contents of the file.

To download and install OpenVMS patches, do the following:

NOTE: HP strongly recommends backing up your system disk before installing patches.
  1. Create a directory on a nonsystem disk called [PATCHES] and set default to that directory.

  2. Enter the following command at the system prompt:

       $ FTP FTP.ITRC.HP.COM
  3. Log in as an anonymous user (user name: anonymous). The password is your e-mail address.

  4. Once you are logged in, enter the bin command at the FTP> prompt to get into binary mode, as in the following example. Binary mode is necessary for downloading patches correctly. Enter commands in this and the following steps in the exact case shown (lowercase or uppercase).

            FTP> bin
    200 Type is set to I.
  5. Enter the command PASSIVE ON, as in the following example:

            FTP> passive on
    Passive is on.
  6. Move to the directory containing the patches by entering the command
    cd openvms/openvms_patches/ os, where os is the operating system (specify either i64 or alpha). For example, to move to the directory containing patches for the OpenVMS I64 operating system, enter the following command:

            FTP> cd openvms_patches/i64
    250 CWD command successful.

    For TCP/IP Services or DECnet patches, use the command cd openvms/layered_products/os, where os is either alpha or i64. For example:

            FTP> cd layered_products/i64
    250 CWD command successful.
  7. Move to the directory that corresponds to the version of OpenVMS for which you want patches. For example, for OpenVMS Version 8.3, move to the directory V8.3.

    To obtain patches for OpenVMS I64 Version 8.3, enter the following command (in the exact case indicated in the list; for example, uppercase V as in “V8.3”, not lowercase as in “v8.3”)

       FTP> cd V8.3
    250 CWD command successful.
  8. Search for the patch you want by using the ls command, specifying a few unique letters of the patch name in uppercase (all patch names are in uppercase) surrounded by asterisks. For example, to look for a patch named VMS83I_MX2-V0100, enter the following command:

    FTP> ls *MX2*
    227 Entering Passive Mode (192,151,52,14,235,168)
    150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for file list.
    VMS83I_MX2-V0100.ZIPEXE
    VMS83I_MX2-V0100.txt

    226 Transfer complete.
    47 bytes received in 00:00:00.00 seconds (45.90 Kbytes/s)

    The patch to be downloaded has the .ZIPEXE file extension. Alpha patches have a .PCSI-DCX_AXPEXE file extension.

  9. If the patch is an UPDATE patch or a TCP/IP patch, you might want to enter the hash command as shown in the following example so that you can verify that the download is happening (hash displays # symbols on the screen as the file is being downloaded).

       FTP> hash
    Hash mark printing on (1024/hash mark).
  10. When you find the patch file, use the get command to download the file, as in the following example. Remember that case is important and that all patch file names are in uppercase.

            FTP> get VMS83I_MX2-V0100.ZIPEXE
    227 Entering Passive Mode (192,6,165,75,248,228)
    150 Opening BINARY mode data connection for VMS83I_MZX2-V0100.ZIPEXE
    (36218732 bytes).
    #########################################################################

    .
    .
    .
    #########################################################################
    #########
    226 Transfer complete.
    local: USER5:[PATCHES]VMS83I_MX2-V0100.ZIPEXE;1
    remote: VMS83I_MX2-V0100.ZIPEXE
    2238464 bytes received in 00:00:01.29 seconds (1.65 Mbytes/s)
  11. Repeat steps 8 through 10 until you have downloaded all the patches you need.

  12. When you are finished, press Ctrl/Z to exit FTP and return to the DCL prompt. The patches are downloaded as compressed files. To decompress them, use the RUN command, as in the following example:

       $ RUN VMS83I_MX2-V0100.ZIPEXE

    This decompresses the patch into either a .PCSI file or .A file.

  13. Install .PCSI or .A patches as follows:

    1. To install .PCSI patches, use the following PCSI utility command:

              $ PRODUCT INSTALL *

      If more than one file is available, the command lists the installable products (patches) in a numbered menu. Select the patch you want to install. If only one file is available, the command displays the patch being selected for installation. In either case, you are prompted to confirm that you want to install the selected patch.

      You then have the option of saving directories, files, and libraries that are replaced, modified, or deleted by the installation of this patch. Saving this recovery data facilitates removing it later (using the PRODUCT UNDO PATCH command). If you do not save this recovery data, you cannot remove the patch. However, you are given the option of renaming replaced files (by appending _OLD to the file extension).

    2. To install .A patches, use the following VMSINSTAL command:

              $ @SYS$UPDATE:VMSINSTAL

      You might see a list of processes running on the system and be asked whether you want to continue. Usually, it is safe to answer YES. You then are asked whether you are satisfied with the backup of your system disk. HP recommends that you have a current backup available in case problems occur with the installation.

      Then you are asked where the distribution volumes are to be mounted. Provide a disk and directory reference for the patch (DKA100:[PATCHES]) to be installed.

      Finally, you are asked the name of the patch to be installed. This is the file name of the patch, not including the file extension. (For example, if the patch file name is DIAA.A, just specify DIAA.) You then see informational messages and might be prompted for additional information during the installation.

  14. After the patch is installed, delete the .PCSI or .A file, leaving the compressed file in case you need it again.