How to install a patch on OpenVMS

[Graham Van der vaart_1]

Hi
Here's a typical newbie question.
I am busy installing OVO agents to our OpenVMS 7.31 systems, but first require patches.
I downloaded the patches VMS731_UPDATE-V0600 and VMS731_PCSI-V0200. After ftping to our OpenVMS system they look like VMS731_UPDATE-V0600.;1 My question is what am I supposed to do with this thing? I see in the OVO agent install doc that I copy the OVO agent kit to sys$update and then run PRODUCT INSTALL OVOAGENTS. Do I do something similar for patches?
Regards
Graham

[Phillip Thayer · Accepted solution]

Graham,

I believe that these downloaded files are compressed so you will need to execute them with a run command. This will uncompress them and shoulc give you a .PCSI file. The PCSI files can be coppied to whatever directory on the system that you use for storing off pacthes that you have installed in the past and then the PRODUCT INSTALL {PCSI-file-name} command can be used.

Phil

[Duncan Morris]

Hi Graham,

the patch kits are usually supplied as self extracting executables. I would suggest that you try

$ RUN VMS731_UPDATE-V0600.

(note the trailing . as the default would be a .EXE)

This should then extract to a file called something like:-

DEC-AXPVMS-VMS731_UPDATE-V0600--4.PCSI

You can then use

PROD INSTALL VMS731_UPDATE

to do the install.
NB check whether you have to install the PCSI patch first!

[Graham Van der vaart_1]

Thanks guys!
The PCSI patch decompressed OK but the update patch gave the following errors:
Decompress into (file specification):
Opening and checking compressed file...
Decompressing (press Ctrl-T to watch the evolution)...
Creating decompressed file...
Original file specification: VKC_KITS$:[KIT_BUILD.PCSI.ALPHA.731.UPDATE6
.UPDATE.V0600]DEC-AXPVMS-VMS731_UPDATE-V0600--4.PCSI;1
Decompressed file specification: SYS$SYSROOT:[SYSUPD]DEC-AXPVMS-VMS731_U
PDATE-V0600--4.PCSI;1
%FTSV-W-COMP_DECOMPERR, fatal decompressor error
-DCX-W-TRUNC, data truncated
Any ideas what went wrong with it?

Regards
Graham

[Karl Rohwedder]

Were the files FTPed in binary mode? Perhaps you should check the checksum and try a reload.

regards Kalle

[JF Muench]

Hi Graham,
Some (perhaps most) VMS patch kits have load order dependencies. You may need to decompress and install PCSI kit before you can properly expand and install UPDATE kit. If you go to HP patch kit download site (http://www1.itrc.hp.com/service/patch/mainPage.do) you can use built in tools to browse patch list, identify other kits, determine install order, and print out cover letters (which explain how to expand and install as well as identify dependencies). Reply if you'd like more details on this process.
Good luck - John

[Graham Van der vaart_1]

Thanks again for the feedback.
I eventually got the patch decompressed and installed by first using the ftp link rather than the http link on the patch centre page.
Each time I used the http link, the patch downloaded but failed to decompress.

Yes, I first needed to install the pcsi patch prior to the update patch.

Regards
Graham

[Yong Whye Keet]

hi, just to check; do you have to do the patching in single-user mode?

[Steven Schweda]

> [...] do you have to do the patching in
> single-user mode?

VMS doesn't have a single-user mode. So, no.

The instructions for each patch kit normally
list any special precautions which might be
needed.

[Jan van den Ende]

Yong Whye Keet,

Let me start with:
Welcome to the VMS forum.

And next, a little bit of forum etiquette (no offence intended !!)
It is customary in cases like this to start a new thread yourself. If you think a previous thread holds information that is interesting for the question, you can always add a pointer for reference.

Do enjoy this forum, become a regular guest, learn a lot, and HAVE FUN!

Proost.

Have one on me.

jpe