Re: Informix patches?

informix-list-bounces@iiug.org wrote on 07/18/2007 05:25:39 PM: > I'm a dba in both an Informix and Oracle shop. I have > a question about patches. Four times a year (October, > January, April, and July), Oracle releases what they > call a Critical Patch Update, or CPU. Oracle > "strongly recommends applying the patches as soon as > possible," I believe because of security concerns. To > apply the patches, you must shut the databases > (instances) down, apply the patch, correct any and all > errors that occur (and it seems there's always at > least one, normally more), and then restart the > databases. To my knowledge, Informix doesn't release > such patches. Maybe I'm asking the wrong group, but > my question is how does Oracle know that every four > months a critical patch will be necessary? Why > doesn't Informix release such patches? I don't mean > to start another flame war, although they are fun to > read, but this has been on my mind for some time now > and I never read any mention of patches in this group. > Upgrades to new versions, yes, but not of any > patches, per se. > > Thanks for any insight! > MJR in Alaska > > IBM releases fix packs for IDS on a more or less regular basis. These fixpacks contain several defect fixes (APAR). In case IBM considers any APAR as critical a flash alert will be released for that APAR on IBM support webpage. A good starting point is: http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/informix/ids/support/ Apart from that: I never did install Oracle patches so can't commment on that. But installing IDs fixpacks is as easy as can be. Barring any "Stupid Me!" errors I never had any probelms after installing IDS fixpacks. HTH Tilman