Patching AIX systems - patches are where? How to apply?Software maintenance in AIX is complicated and alien to the uninitiated. These days, majormajor AIX OS updates are referred to as a "maintenance level" (ML) and revisions to thosecode drops are referred to as "service packs" (SP). You'll want to determine what level yousystems are currently at and the level you wish to upgrade to prior to starting the process. Usethe "oslevel" command to display the software level of a system:

$ oslevel6.1.3.0

Here, oslevel is run without args and displays the basesoftware level, v6.1 ML 3 in the example

To display the SP level use,

$ oslevel -s6100-03-02-0939

Here, we are at ML 3, SP 2 of AIX 6.1

NOTE: I would recommend reading the latest version of theServices and Support Best Practices doc before going very faras the info given here barely scratches the surface of thesubject.

As stated in a previous answer, SUMA is the way to go forquickly gathering OS updates, particularly when one isunfamiliar with navigating the IBM support site and/or AIXmaintenance practices in general. With that said, SUMA offersa slew of options and features that can definitely confuse anewbie so here is a short usage scenario:

1. determine the software level that you wish to apply toyour systems.

2. use SUMA to download the packages3. perform a test install of the packages4. download any missing dependencies using Fix Central

(linked in a previous comment) or SUMA itself (SUMA'sfileset search can be hit or miss, however)

5. Rinse and repeat until the test comes out clean, theninstall for real

Here is a sample SUMA command invocation that would downloadthe updates need to bring a v5.3 system to ML 9:

$ suma -x -a RqType=ML -a RqName=5300-09 -a Action=Download

1. -x: perform the SUMA action now rather than scheduling ajob using SUMA's built-in schedule

2. -a RqType=ML: set the Request Type to ML3. -a RqLevel=5300-09: select ML 09 of the AIX 5.3 release4. -a Action=Download: set the command action to download.

This is the default but it is included here for clarity.

By default, SUMA will download packages to the directory/usr/sys/inst.images/installp/ppc. Unless it is interrupted,SUMA will perform an inutoc command in the download directoryso there is no need to do so following its run.

Once the software is downloaded, it can be installed usingsmitty:

$ smitty update_all

or using the "update_all" command:

$ update_all -d /usr/sys/inst.images/installp/ppc -p

The "-p" in the "update_all" command signifies "pretend" mode. Remove it after the pretendruns cleanly.