APAR
Authorized Program Analysis Report. A formal report to IBM development, of a problem caused by a suspected defect in a current unaltered release of an IBM program.
Concluding Service Pack
(CSP) AIX 5L terminology. A CSP is the last Service Pack to be released for an AIX Technology Level. Like a Service Pack, a CSP contains fixes for highly pervasive, critical or security-related issues, but it can also contain fixes from the newly released Technology Level that fall into these categories. Thus, a CSP can contain a very small subset of service that was just released in the new Technology Level.
Driver
Also called a device driver, it is a program routine that links a peripheral device to the operating system.
Education
Online tutorials and education related information.
Fix
A software maintenance package such as an interim fix, fix pack or PTF that solves one or more product defects.
Fix list
A list of the fixes currently available for a particular product.
Fix Readme
Detailed information about a fix including any special instruction.FlashAlert notification of significant product related issues.
Forums/discussion groups
An informal electronic forum where community members can share their knowledge and experience with others. These groups are not part of formal IBM support.
HIPER
High Impact. An APAR that describes a serious problem. The APAR should be reviewed and if applicable, the fix should be installed as soon as possible.
Interim fix
Generally, this term refers to a certified fix that is generally available to all customers between regularly scheduled fix packs or other releases. It can contain fixes for one or more product defects (APARs). The associated APARs are closed. Specifically for AIX, the term Interim Fix (IF) is used as a replacement for "emergency fix" or "efix". While the term emergency fix is still applicable in some situations (a fix given in the middle of the night with minimal testing, for example), the term Interim Fix is more descriptive in that it implies a temporary state until an update can be applied that has been through more extensive testing.
Limited availability (LA) interim fix
A fix that is offered on a limited basis. It may contain one or several APARs.
Maintenance Level
Legacy AIX terminology. A Maintenance Level (ML) is a release that contained service updates for AIX releases, but often also contained new features and functions. For AIX 5L, Maintenance Level packages have been replaced by Technology Level packages. Some Maintenance Levels are maintained online for legacy AIX releases.
Manual
IBM warranted product documentation that normally ships with a product.
Manufacturing refresh
An update to an existing product version in which the product media are completely replaced. A manufacturing refresh contains new function(s) and cumulative fixes. It is intended for new customers who want to install the current level of the product.
Release Notes
Newsletter
Online or email publication that highlights recent support related documents and downloads, also product announcements, customer e-business solutions, and other new materials on the web.
Periodical
Magazine or magazine articles that are technical support in nature.Back to top
Preloaded Software
Lists the software that comes preloaded on personal computer systems.
Preventive Service Planning
Service recommendations summary, installation information, documentation changes.
Product Documentation
Last minute documentation that gets included on the CD shipping with products.
Product LifeCycle
Product announce and market availability, end of service dates, follow-on product upgrade.
Product Readme
Helpful information about a product, intended to be reviewed prior to product installation.
PTF
Program Temporary Fix. For System p products, a PTF is a fix that is made available to all customers. A PTF is tested by IBM. It contains a PTF record.
Redbooks
A pointer document describing the contents of a specific Redbook. A Redbook is a technical manual that provides positioning and guidance, installation and implementation experiences, typical solution scenarios, and step-by-step "how-to" scenarios.
Release date
This is a field that appears in a fix list in the "Details" section for a particular fix. It is the date that the fix was made available on the internet.
Release modification
A release modification is a fix that delivers new functionality for a particular Version and Release. There are two types of release modification:
Refresh pack
A cumulative collection of all of the function(s) and fixes that are available since the base version (V.R.) of the product. The refresh pack may contain function and fixes not previously released, and they can span multiple products or components. A refresh pack can be applied on top of any previously-shipped maintenance to bring the system up to the current refresh pack level.
Documentation that support a release of a product, listing the modifications and fixes included in the release as additions or modifications from the prior release.
Service Pack
(SP) AIX 5L terminology. Service Packs contain service-only updates (also known as PTFs) that are grouped together for easier identification. SPs are released between Technology Levels and contain fixes for highly pervasive, critical, or security-related issues. SPs are provided for the N and N-1 releases (for example, V5.3 and V5.2) on the latest Technology Level for each release (for example, 5300-05 and 5200-09). Service Packs are cumulative.
Severity
(Sev) The severity of a particular APAR can range from one to four. Severity values are defined in the IBM Software Support Handbook (in particular with regard to how problem records should be classified, but the same guidelines apply to APARs too).
Severity 1
Critical Impact/System Down: Business critical software component is inoperable or critical interface has failed. This indicates you are unable to use the program resulting in a critical impact on operations. This condition requires an immediate solution.
Severity 2
Significant impact. A software component is severely restricted in its use, causing significant business impact. This indicates the program is usable but is severely limited.
Severity 3
Moderate impact. A noncritical software component is malfunctioning, causing moderate business impact. This indicates the program is usable with less significant features.
Severity 4
Minimal impact. A noncritical software component is malfunctioning, causing minimal impact, or a nontechnical request is made.
Technology Level
AIX 5L terminology. Technology Level (TL) denotes an AIX release that contains new hardware and software features, as well as service updates. A TL is release twice each year. The first TL is restricted to hardware features and enablement, in addition to software service. The second TL includes new hardware features and enablement, software service and new software features, making it the larger of the two yearly releases. The term Maintenance Level (ML) was used in the past, even though an ML release contained code for new features or functions. Technology Level is a more appropriate term for this code.
Technote
Documents a reported customer problem and the currently available solution to that problem. May include brief how-to information on installation, configuration, troubleshooting and usage, as well as answering frequently asked questions.
Test fix
A temporary fix that is supplied to specific customers for testing in response to a reported problem.
Tools/Utilities
A program used for software development or system maintenance. Virtually any program or utility that helps programmers or users develop or maintain their computers or applications can be a tool. Utilities support everyday use of the computer ie file management, searching, comparing files as well as performing diagnostic routines to check performance and current health of hardware.
Updates
A program used for software development or system maintenance. Virtually any program or utility that helps programmers or users develop or maintain their computers or applications can be a tool. Utilities support everyday use of the computer ie file management, searching, comparing files as well as performing diagnostic routines to check performance and current health of hardware.UpgradeA new version or release of a software product.
Utility
A software tool that assists with software installation, migration, testing, configuration, administration, or development.
VRM
Version, release and modification. The combination of "version", "release" and "modification" numbers uniquely identifies the version that fixes apply to.
The "version" number indicates a separate IBM licensed program that usually has significant new code or new functions.
Each version potentially has multiple "releases". Each release makes available major new product functionality.
Generally if new functionality is included in a delivery (modification release), then a new modification level will be created.
White Paper
Document that describes high level solutions or strategies, or give technology and/or product overviews.
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