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Problem(Abstract) |
Announcing an updated strategy for delivering Cumulative
Fixes for IBM® WebSphere® Application Server V5.0 and V5.1 releases. |
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Resolving the
problem |
Cumulative Fix Strategy overview:
WebSphere Application Server Support is delivering this strategy to
provide a clear upgrade path that reduces the risk of installing
collections of Application Server fixes.
This is in response to requests for published collections of fixes that
are:
- Delivered in a timely manner
- Tested together
- Without new features or behavioral changes
Starting with WebSphere Application Server V5.0.2, component specific
Cumulative Fixes are replaced with a single Cumulative Fix that will be
updated regularly.
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Cumulative Fix details:
- Delivery will be timely (every 12 weeks). The date of the
next planned Cumulative Fix will be published in Recommended Updates at least 30 days before
availability.
- There is a single list of all defects for each release (V5.0 and V5.1), that is updated for each new Cumulative Fix
and Fix Pack.
- Install on top of either a specific Fix Pack with no
Cumulative Fix applied or a Fix Pack with any previous Cumulative Fix
installed (5.0.2.3 could be applied to 5.0.2 or 5.0.2.2).
- New Java™ SDK Service Releases are tested with the latest
Cumulative Fix, but delivered separately. Java SDK Service Releases are
included in Fix Packs.
- The Update Installer, Plug-in and Edge components are
delivered in each Cumulative Fix, but are also published separately for
your convenience.
- Superseded Cumulative Fixes will be withdrawn, with the
two latest Cumulative Fixes available. For example, 5.0.2.3 supersedes
5.0.2.2. When 5.0.2.3 was published 5.0.2.1 was withdrawn.
Types of solutions provided for WebSphere
Application Server
Solutions
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Characteristics of Each Solution
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Release |
- A new WebSphere Application Server that includes major
new function, such as V5.1
- This is a separate installation that can coexist with
other Application Server releases
- Full testing of all applications with new release is
recommended
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Fix Pack |
- A package that includes minor new features and
fixes, such as V5.0.2
- Fix Packs are cumulative, so V5.0.2 includes features and
fixes contained in V5.0.1, as well as Cumulative Fixes and Interim Fixes
published for V5.0.1
- Fix Packs uninstall all Cumulative Fixes and Interim Fixes
previously applied to the release. So it is necessary to check the list of
delivered fixes to determine if an Interim Fix must be reinstalled.
- Regression testing of critical functions with the new Fix
Pack is strongly recommended
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Cumulative Fix |
- A package of only fixes, such as V5.0.2.3
- Cumulative Fixes install on top of a specific Fix Pack,
such as V5.0.2
- Cumulative Fixes also install on top of a previous
Cumulative Fix, such as V5.0.2.2
- Cumulative Fixes are just that, so V5.0.2.3 includes all
fixes in V5.0.2.2
- Cumulative Fixes uninstall all Interim Fixes applied to
the release since the last Fix Pack or Cumulative Fix was installed.
Therefore, it is necessary to check the list of delivered fixes to
determine if an Interim Fix needs to be reinstalled.
- Brief testing of critical functions with the new
Cumulative Fix is recommended
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Interim Fix |
- A single published emergency fix, such as
PQ79582
- Interim fixes are created when a stand-alone fix is
required between Cumulative Fixes. They are validated by at least one
customer prior to publishing
- It is recommended that you test functions impacted by the
WebSphere Application Server component fixed
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Upgrade planning:
Choose the appropriate upgrade solution and verify that the needed
individual fixes are included in Cumulative Fixes or Fix Packs:
- Review Recommended Updates, List of Defects for V5.0 and List of Defects for V5.1 to help you plan
upgrades.
- In order to ensure quality Cumulative Fixes and Fix Packs,
individual fixes that become available late in the development cycle may
NOT be included in a Cumulative Fix and Fix Pack.
- In cases where individual fixes are not included in a
Cumulative Fix or Fix Pack, these fixes will be uninstalled and need to be
installed again after the Cumulative Fix or Fix Pack is installed.
- The historyInfo utility lists the history of
installed and uninstalled fixes. For details, see:
Prior to installing any WebSphere Application Server solution in
production, appropriate testing should be done on a test system.
Upgrade options for WebSphere Application
Server

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Recommended upgrade path:
- Upgrade to latest Cumulative Fix for current Fix Pack in
order to proactively avoid problems already resolved within WebSphere
Application Server.
- Upgrade to the latest Fix Pack only when there is time in
the development schedule for a full regression test of your
application.
- Below is an upgrade scenario where Fix Packs and
Cumulative Fixes are installed as soon as they are available:
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Cross Reference information |
Segment |
Product |
Component |
Platform |
Version |
Edition |
Application Servers |
WebSphere Application Server Enterprise |
General |
Multi-Platform |
5.0.2 |
Edition Independent |
Application Servers |
WebSphere Application Server |
Install |
Multi-Platform |
5.0.x, 5.x |
Edition Independent |
Application Servers |
WebSphere Application Server Enterprise |
EE Install |
All Platforms |
5.0.2.2, 5.0.3, 5.1 |
Edition Independent |
Application Servers |
WebSphere Application Server - Express |
PTFs & interim fixes |
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Business Integration |
WebSphere Business Integration Server Foundation |
General |
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Application Servers |
Runtimes for Java Technology |
Java SDK |
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