In comp.sys.hp.mpe, [log in to unmask] (Scott McClellan) wrote:

>Hello everybody:

>I am the orginal desinger of the Stage/iX subsystem.

>------------ BACKGROUND INFORMAITON ON Stage/iX --------------------

>For those of you not familiar with Stage/iX it is a subsystem that
>allows customers to install patches into "staging areas" which reside
>on disk. The system manager can direct the system to boot from any
>staging area. As a result patches can be applied to the system without
>creating an CSLT tape and without doing an UPDATE (at the ISL>
>prompt). In addition, if the customer finds that the patched software
>environment has some kind of serious problem (eg: a regression of an
>old problem, the introduction of new problem as a side effect of one
>of the patches, etc), the system can be re-booted from a previous
>staging area, backing out all of the patches that were just applied.
>Again this can be done without creating a CSLT tape and without doing
>an UPDATE.

>Stage/iX is intended to both simplified and speed up the act of
>applying patches, and to reduce the risk by making it very easy to
>backout bad patches.

>Stage/iX requires Release 5.5. It is part of FOS (no purchase
>necessary). Currently the only patch installtion tool that supports
>Stage/iX is Patch/iX. Patch/iX is available on Release 5.0, but does
>not allow the user to create staging areas and put patches in staging
>areas until Release 5.5. To use Stage/iX, the customer must do an
>"initialize" command (one time only) in STAGEMAN.

>------------- FEEDBACK NEEDED --------------------------------------

>From what I can tell, the actual usage of Stage/iX is very limited
>today. I have already collected some information from various sources
>and I have a "working theory" as to why Stage/iX is not being widely
>used. I would greatly appreciate it if as many of you as possible
>could take the time to answer the questions below.

>When answering these questions, please feel free to send the e-mail
>directly to me. I do not want to discourage an open discussion on
>3000-L on this topic, but if you feel you can be more frank or are
>more comfortable with replying directly to me then that is fine.

>My e-mail address is [log in to unmask]


>Are you alredy up on Release 5.5?
>   ____ Yes
>   ____ No, but we plan to move to 5.5 soon.
>   ____ No, and we do not currently have plans to move to 5.5.

>   Comments:  (hopefully related to Stage/iX and/or Patch/iX)



>Have your ever used Stage/iX to apply patches to one or more of your
>systems?
>   ____ No, I have heard of Stage/iX and I am interested, but I have

>        not used it yet.
>   ____ No, I have never even heard of Stage/iX.
>   ____ No, I have heard of it, but I have no plans to use it.

>   ____ Yes I have used it one or more times.


>   If Yes, then pleae describe your usage of Stage/iX including
>   approximately how many times you have used it, if you are still
>   using it, and how well it worked for you.






>Are you presently using Patch/iX? Or do you still use AUTOPAT to
>install patches on your system?



>If you are using Patch/iX and are not using Stage/iX, please explain
>why.





>If you are still using AUTOPAT, briefly describe why (vs Patch/iX).



>If you are still using AUTOPAT, describe what it would take to get you
>to use Patch/iX instead.



>If you are still using AUTOPAT, would you be more likely to use
>Stage/iX if AUTOPAT supported Stage/iX? (if so please explain why)