GROUPEXTEND Mode

CA CSM lets you invoke the SMP/E utility with the GROUPEXTEND option enabled for managing (applying and accepting) maintenance.

Sometimes before you install a maintenance package, you install other maintenance packages first (SYSMODs).

If a SYSMOD - prerequisite for the required maintenance package, has not been applied or cannot be processed, you can install the maintenance package in GROUPEXTEND mode. (For example, the SYSMOD is held for an error, a system, or a user reason ID; it is applied in error; it is not available.) The SMP/E environment where the product is installed automatically includes a superseding SYSMOD.

Note: When applying maintenance in GROUPEXTEND mode, the SMP/E environment must receive all SYSMODs that are included in the GROUPEXTEND option.

When you apply maintenance in GROUPEXTEND mode, the following installation modes are available:

Apply Check: Checks if the maintenance can be applied to the selected SMP/E environment in GROUPEXTEND mode.
Apply: Applies the maintenance to the selected SMP/E environment in GROUPEXTEND mode.
Apply Check and Apply: Checks if the maintenance can be applied to the selected SMP/E environment in GROUPEXTEND mode. Then applies it if possible.

For the GROUPEXTEND option, CA CSM does not automatically receive and display maintenance or HOLDDATA prerequisites that must be bypassed when applying the maintenance. Apply check mode lets you check if any prerequisites or HOLDDATA exist and report them in the task output.

You can also use the following similar installation modes to accept maintenance in GROUPEXTEND mode:

Accept Check
Accept
Accept Check and Accept