6 Using the IT Resource Center

The IT Resource Center (ITRC) is a website you can personalize to provide a wide range of services and support, including support for HP-UX patch management. The ITRC website is your fastest connection to HP Support and is located at http://itrc.hp.com.

This chapter presents many of the ITRC HP-UX patch-related areas. You should explore the links on the ITRC main page and familiarize yourself with all the ITRC has to offer. For more information, select Online help from the left navigation or Introducing the ITRC from the right navigation Useful links menu.

Many ITRC services require you to obtain a user account, and some ITRC services require additional authorization such as a certain level of support agreement or an online purchase.

Obtaining an ITRC user account

Most ITRC areas require you to have a user account. To obtain a user account:

1.Go to the ITRC at http://itrc.hp.com.

2.From the Select language pull down at the very top of the page, select your preferred language.

3.Choose the appropriate site (Americas/Asia Pacific or European).

4.Select Register from the left navigation.

5.Select My Profile from the left navigation.

6.Under the “Link support agreements, HP Care Packs and warranties to your profile” heading, add any support agreements, care packs, and warranties to your profile. This option allows access to additional services, including the download of patches.

Useful pages on the ITRC

The following pages are expanded on in this chapter.

•self-solve tools

—“Search knowledge base” (page 62)

•patching

—“Find individual patches” (page 55)

—“Standard patch bundles” (page 62)

—“Custom patch bundles - run a patch assessment” (page 62)

•downloads/licensing

—“Find individual patches” (page 55)

—“Standard patch bundles” (page 62)

•collaborate

—“Ask your peers in the forums” (page 62)

•assessment and warranty

—“Custom patch bundles - run a patch assessment” (page 62)

•notifications

—“Support information digests” (page 62)

Find individual patches

The ITRC patch database should be your primary means of searching for patches, getting information about patches, and acquiring patches. The patch database is an excellent tool for system administrators who employ a reactive patch management strategy. The patch database is also an excellent general-purpose tool to refresh specific patches with newer versions.

Obtaining an ITRC user account 55