Q) Where do you get the patches from?
A) http://us-support.external.hp.com/
   You have to be a registered user, but you can register on-line.
One you connect, follow the "Patch Database" link.

Q) What patches should you install?
A) Beats me.  I'm on MPE/iX 5.5, with PowerPatch 1.  The only
"reactive patch" I've installed so far is MPEJXB4A.  I'm hoping it
will solve my NS/VT hang/disconnect problems.  In the patch
description, under "Criticality", it says: "(2) The system could
experience a Deadlock or Hang without the patch."

I guess you could check the "Criticality" of each available patch,
if you've got some spare time on your hands.  You could skip the ones
whose description includes "HAS BEEN MARKED BAD"...

Q) Ok, I've found a patch I want to install.  What do I do now?
A) I'm going to assume you are like most users, and are accessing the
page with a PC-based web browser.  If so, HP directions won't work
for you.  Since they don't mention *any other way* to access the
patches, I don't know what they have in mind.

1) Download the unpackp command file.
   a) DON'T click on the link.  This will merely show you the command
file in your web browser.
   b) With NETSCAPE, you <SHIFT>-<CLICK> the link.  With Explorer,
you <RIGHT-CLICK> the link.  Everyone else is on their own.
   c) BEFORE you upload UNPACKP to your HP3000, open it with any PC
text editor and then save it again.  This fixes some kind of <CR><LF>
nonsense that I haven't seen before.  (BTW, using windows
cut-and-paste to cut the text from your editor and paste it into
QEDIT did NOT solve the problem.)
   d) Upload UNPACKP to INSTALL.SYS.

2) Download the patch file.

3) Upload the patch file to INSTALL as a binary.  You don't need to
do anything special (at least, using Reflection).  The default
attributes seem to work fine.

4) You can now follow the instruction in the MPE Patch Installation
Guide (linked to by the patch database page).

If you are going to use PATCHIX, you'll type:

:UNPACKP PATCHID, PATCHIX, UNPACKP

(This will put the patch files in PATCHXL.PUB.SYS.)

5) Ok, assuming you are going to use PATCHIX, stay in the
INSTALL.SYS group and type

:PATCHIX

and follow the instructions, BUT BEWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:

When you choose "Select Activities", then mark "Adding Reactive
Patches", then press "Process List", DO NOT ACCEPT THE DEFAULTS!  The
"defaults" will: purge all files in PATCHXL.SYS (including the
patch files you just finished uploading) and try to restore the
patches from a tape.  JUST SAY NO!  Then, from the list of steps you
are presented with, turn off ("undo mark") "Purge all files in
PATCHXL.SYS Group." and "Restore files from reactive patch tape."

That's about it.  Follow the instructions and the rest should be
pretty simple.

Oh, if you want to use a "staging area", and you haven't yet done so,
follow the instructions in the 5.5 communicator on how to initialize
STAGEMAN before you run PATCHIX.

Have fun!
---
Michael D. Hensley             |
Software Development Manager   | [log in to unmask]
Lund Performance Solutions     | http://www.lund.com