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 Perl 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.

Note: The AIX download cacher tool only supports basic HTTP authentication proxy.
To access the tool from the BigFix console, complete the following steps:
  1. Click All Patch Management > Fixlets and Tasks > By Site > Patches for AIX > Run Download Cacher Tool - AIX.
    Note: The Windows BigFix server and relays must be subscribed to the Patches for AIX site for the task to be relevant.
  2. Select the appropriate link in the Actions box to start the download.
Figure 1. Run Download Cacher Tool - AIX task

Run Download Cacher Tool - AIX task
To build a directory of filesets that can be used as an NFS source for a fix pack update, use either of these actions:
  • 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)
Figure 2. Action box of the AIX Download Cacher task

Action box of the AIX Download Cacher task

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.

To run the AIX Download Cacher manually, do the following steps:
  1. 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.

  2. 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 Perl executable, JRE and the Electronic Customer Care (ECC) client.

  3. Use the BFArchive Tool to extract the download cacher package tool. Use the following command: 
    <name of the BFArchive tool executable file> -x <source archive> <target directory>
    For example: 
    BFArchive-win-x86-9.3.1.0.exe -x AIXDownloadCacher.bfarchive c:/AIXDownloadCacher
  4. 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]
Required 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.
Optional Parameters:
--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:

Download Fix Pack 6100-08-07-1524 through a proxy server using a local repository.
 AIXDownloadCacher --dir "C:\temp" --fixid  6100-08-07-1524 
 --proxyserver http://proxy.server.com:8080 --proxyuser myuser 
 --proxypass secretpass --repo "D:\AIXCache"
Download Fix Pack 7100-02-07-1524 for systems already at Technology Level 2, force removal of temp files on failures and rename .aix archive file to its SHA1 value.
 AIXDownloadCacher --dir "C:\temp" --fixid 7100-02-07-1524 --base 7100-02 
 --clean --sha1
Download Fix Pack 6100-08-07-1524 with complete Technology Level without compressing filesets into .aix archive file.
  AIXDownloadCacher --dir "C:\temp" --fixid 6100-08-07-1524 --base 6100-00 
 --no-archive
Notes:
  • 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.