Using the AIX download cacher
You can use the AIX download cacher utility to deploy service pack, concluding service pack, or technology level fixes. The download cacher uses HTTP to download specific fix packs. Ensure that HTTP network traffic is not blocked in your environment.
The AIX download cacher tool is a Python executable that automatically downloads and caches AIX technology levels, service packs, or concluding service packs on the Windows BigFix server to facilitate deployment of AIX Fixlets.
- Click Note: The Windows BigFix server and relays must be subscribed to the Patches for AIX site for the task to be relevant.
.
- Select the appropriate link in the Actions box to start the download.
- download packages to a specified folder without creating archive .aix file (no proxy)
- download packages to a specified folder without creating archive .aix file (proxy)
Running the download cacher tool manually
The Run Download Cacher Tool - AIX task might require you to enter your proxy server user name and password. If you deploy the action, any action parameter you enter will be accessible in plain text on all client endpoints. Do not deploy the actions unless this behavior is acceptable in your environment. If this presents a security issue, run the Download Cacher tool manually.
- Download the BFArchive tool from the BigFix software website at https://ibm.biz/BdHSUw.
This tool uses HTTP to download specified fix packs, ensure such behavior is acceptable in your environment.
- Download the AIX Download Cacher Package Tool from the BigFix software website at https://ibm.biz/BdHSUt, and store it in the same directory as the
BFArchive tool.
This package consists of the Python executable, JRE, and the Electronic Customer Care (ECC) client.
- Use the BFArchive Tool to extract the download cacher package
tool. Use the following command:
For example:<name of the BFArchive tool executable file> -x <source archive> <target directory>
BFArchive-win-x86-9.3.1.0.exe -x AIXDownloadCacher.bfarchive c:/AIXDownloadCacher
- To run the AIX Download Cacher tool, you can create a batch file
with the listed parameters. If you run the tool without specifying
any parameters, you are prompted to enter the parameters at the command
line. A sample
.bat
file:AIXDownloadCacher.exe --dir "C:\SavedFiles" --logdir "C:\logs" --repo "C:\MyAIXRepo" --proxyserver http://proxy.server.com:8080 --proxyuser myuser --proxypass secretpass --fixid 6100-08-07-1524
Usage:AIXDownloadCacher.exe --dir <directory> --fixid <Fix Pack ID> [optional parameters]
- --dir <path to output directory>
- Directory where downloaded files will be saved. This directory is also used for temporary storage of downloaded files before being compressed into a single archived file.
- --fixid <Fix Pack ID>
- AIX Fix Pack ID or Interim Fix APAR ID to be downloaded. For example,
6100-08-07-1524 or IZ93611. Note: You must specify the operating system level, technology level, service pack level, and build number in the Fix Pack ID.
- --CountryCode <COUNTRY CODE>
- The Country code selection is based on the location of your IBM system.
- --MachineSerialNumber <MACHINE SERIAL NUMBER >
- The Serial Number is a 7 digit ID labeled "S/N" on the exterior of your IBM system. Dash ("-") characters may be omitted.
- --MachineType <MACHINE TYPE>
- The Type Number is a 4-digit number (usually followed by a 3-character Model identifier) printed on the exterior of your IBM system. It may be the first part of an ID labeled "Model" or "System Model" ID.
- --proxyserver <servername:port>
- Name and port of proxy server (for example,
http://myproxy.company.com:8080
). - --proxyuser <username>
- Proxy username if required by server.
- --proxypass <password>
- Proxy password if required by server.
- --logdir <path to log directory>
- Specify the directory to write the log file to. Defaults to the current working directory.
- --repo <path to local repository of .bff files>
- Specify the location of the local cache to check before attempting to download files from the Internet. Missing files are added to the cache directory if write access is enabled.
- --base
- Specify the base Technology Level (for example, 6100-00) to use when building the fileset list for the specified fix pack ID. Defaults to the TL of the fix pack. This option is ignored with interim fixes.
- --no-archive
- Skip creation of
.aix
archive file. The output directory will contain the individual filesets. - --clean
- Remove temporary files after each run. Enabling this option disables the ability to resume failed and incomplete downloads. Default behavior is to remove temporary files only after all files for the fileset have been downloaded and a complete archive has been created.
- --sha1
- Renames the archived
.aix
file to its SHA1 value. - --version
- Display version information.
- --help
- Displays usage information.
Examples:
AIXDownloadCacher --dir "C:\temp" --fixid 6100-08-07-1524
--proxyserver http://proxy.server.com:8080 --proxyuser myuser
--proxypass secretpass --repo "D:\AIXCache"
.aix
archive
file to its SHA1 value. AIXDownloadCacher --dir "C:\temp" --fixid 7100-02-07-1524 --base 7100-02
--clean --sha1
.aix
archive
file. AIXDownloadCacher --dir "C:\temp" --fixid 6100-08-07-1524 --base 6100-00
--no-archive
- If you run the tool without specifying any parameters, you are prompted to enter the parameters at the command line.
- The
--sha1
parameter works only with created archive files and is ignored if it used with the--no-archive
parameter.