> So could someone point me to the correct procedure to install these
> patches?

   Many people probably could, but I have no idea what, exactly, "these
patches" are.  Even a file name could provide a little information.  I'd
expect a proper patch kit to include installation instructions, but it's
hard to guess how to extract those from the kit while knowing nothing
about the kit.

>  I know we used to FTP them from a site and then install from a
> non system disk; 

   I don't know why you would need to involve another disk.  But you
could if you wish.

> [...] the time Date booting issue on our 1 and only RX2660 Server
> running 8.3.1h1 VMS.

   That's "V8.3-1H1".  I know that there's a problem like that on some
Alpha systems.  Is there a problem like that on IA64 systems, too?

> The most recent post I found was from 2006

   For what were you looking when you found what, exactly?

>   Things could have changed since then

   Probably not much, except that the quality of the kits now seems to
be lower.