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New features

This section contains a cumulative list of new features introduced in the previous interim fix and in the current fix pack.

New features in this fix pack

The following features have been introduced in this fix pack:

Table 2. Customer enhancement request references
Description Feature
Performing patch management using WSUS Feature 55317
Maintaining the access attributes of already existing files and directories on a UNIX(R) target, a new attribute (preserve_unix) is available. Feature 55359
New 32-bit MRMBIOS.EXE Feature 180357
Running a program before the reboot of a commit Feature 55409
Managing software packages Feature 55487
Working with the Software Distribution Endpoint Notification dialog Feature 55522
Performing patch management using WSUS - Feature 55317
You can perform patch management using WSUS to implement the approval mechanism of patches and to download up-to-date patches from the Microsoft(R) Web site. For more details on this new automated patch management solution, see the updated version of the IBM(R) Tivoli(R) Patch Management Guide.
Important

To continue working with SUS, do not install the Patch Management fix pack component and do not run the new inventory SQL scripts available with this fix pack.

Maintaining the access attributes of already existing files and directories - Feature 55359
You can maintain the access attributes of already existing files and directories on UNIX. To enable this feature, select the Maintain existing value check box in the Add File System Objects Properties - Advanced window, UNIX Attr. tab of Software Package Editor or set preserve_unix to y in the add_directory or add_file stanzas of the SPD file.
A 32 bit scanner, mrmbios.exe, substitutes the 16 bit scanner - Feature 180357
With this feature the Windows(R) 64-bit platforms support has been extended. The old 16-bit mrmbios.exe file has been now replaced by a 32-bit file having the same name, and using new device drivers. The new mrmbios.exe file allows you to scan, in addition to the old platforms, new platforms such as AMD 64 and Itanium 64.
Running a program before the reboot of a commit - Feature 55409
You can run a program before the reboot of a commit by setting the following variables in swdis.var:
__COMMIT_REBOOT_FORCED__
Specifies YES to force a reboot when a commit is run with -cr or -co parameters.
__BEFORE_REBOOT_PROG_PATH__
Specifies the path of the program to be run on the endpoints. If this variable is empty no program is run.
__BEFORE_REBOOT_PROG_ARGS__
Specifies arguments passed to the program. Separate arguments with a blank space.
__BEFORE_REBOOT_PROG_TIMEOUT__
Specifies the time, expressed in seconds, to wait for the completion of the program. Default is 60.
To enable this feature, you must set at least __COMMIT_REBOOT_FORCED__ to YES and define the program path in __BEFORE_REBOOT_PROG_PATH__.
Managing software packages - Feature 55487
You can set the use_real_capabilities key to true with the wswdmgr command to not distribute a software package on targets belonging to policy regions where the administrator, submitting the distribution, does not have the required roles. The default is false.
Working with the Software Distribution Endpoint Notification dialog - Feature 55522
The Software Distribution Endpoint Notification dialog that pops up on the screen of the endpoint when a software package is submitted for distribution is changed. In the title bar the Close button (X) no longer appears. The Cancel push button is replaced by the Reset push button that resets the changed values in this dialog with the default values for this operation. To close the dialog you must click OK.

New features in the previous interim fix

The following features have been introduced in the previous interim fix:

Table 3. Customer enhancement request references
Description Feature
Enabling proxy support for the SUS Patch Management solution
Avoiding concurrent logins during critical distributions Feature 54613
Performing the logoff operation on Windows endpoints Feature 55186
Displaying the .jar files version Feature 55204
Displaying the patch level for the Activity Plan Editor and Activity Plan Monitor Feature 55205
Completing workflows separately Feature 55260
Enabling proxy support for the SUS Patch Management solution
You can use a proxy server to access the Microsoft Web site, or your local HTTP server where the mssecure.cab file has been downloaded.

You can customize the HTTP proxy server name (if enabled) and the related user ID and password (if required by the proxy settings). Proxy parameters are defined at installation time in the tpm_update.req file, as described in the readme of the interim fix. This feature guarantees a higher security when accessing the Internet or your local network.

Avoiding concurrent logins during critical distributions - Feature 54613
On Windows operating systems, you can use the concurrent login feature to prevent the end user from logging in to the workstation and performing a shutdown while a distribution is taking place. This feature guarantees that critical distributions are not interrupted. You can also define a maximum number of logins that can be performed during a distribution. In this case, the distribution is paused and restarts after the user logs off. For more information, see Implementing the concurrent login feature.
Performing the logoff operation on Windows endpoints - Feature 55186
You can perform the logoff operation on Windows endpoints. A new action has been added to the software package definition file. You can define the logoff operation in the following phases: For more information on this feature, see Documentation notes.
Displaying the .jar files version - Feature 55204
You can display the version of APM .jar files, if the version is indicated in the .jar file. You can start the command on Tivoli servers and managed nodes after having set the Tivoli environment, as described below:
On UNIX operating systems:
. ./wjarversion.sh jarfile
On Windows operating systems:
wjarversion.bat jarfile
where:
jarfile
Is the name of the .jar file for which you want to display the version. The following are the .jar files supported for this feature:
  • apm.jar
  • apm_utils.jar
  • swd_plugin.jar
  • tl_plugin.jar
The files required for implementing this feature are located in the /JarVersion folder in IBM Tivoli Configuration Manager, Fix Pack 4.2.3-TCM-FP01.
Displaying the patch level for the Activity Plan Editor and Activity Plan Monitor - Feature 55205
You can display the patch level installed for the Activity Plan Editor and Activity Plan Monitor by selecting the About menu item in the Help menu.
Completing workflows separately - Feature 55260
You can decide whether patch management workflows are completed in one or in two steps. This feature guarantees a higher flexibility in the workflow process. For more information on this feature, see Documentation notes.

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