Here's an alternative:

http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg1OA48941

Bob

IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> wrote on 
10/01/2015 06:28:22 AM:

> From: John Eells <[email protected]>
> To: [email protected]
> Date: 10/01/2015 06:28 AM
> Subject: Re: Unicode Red Alert - Fix REQUIRED Before 15 December!
> Sent by: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]>
> 
> This one's important!  This should match what gets posted at the 
> now-broken link but if they differ, the posted one wins:
> 
> Title:  z/OS Unicode Services Conversion Information Service fails after 

> December 15, 2015
> 
> Abstract:
> Unicode Services conversion information service on all current z/OS 
> releases will return incorrect return code on systems IPLed on or after 
> December 15, 2015 affecting many system services and applications. 
> Action is required to prevent failures.
> 
> Description:
> A recent problem was discovered in Unicode Services where the check for 
> the availability of the Conversion Information service, introduced in 
> z/OS 1.10, is checking the wrong bit in the Unicode UCCB to determine if 

> the function is available. Unfortunately, the wrong bit happens to be 
> within a timestamp reflecting the time at which the UCCB was created at 
> IPL time.  That bit in the timestamp will change when the system is 
> IPLed on or after December 15, 2015, causing the availability check to 
> fail and resulting in an error return code back to every caller of the 
> service.  The intention of the Unicode service itself is not related to 
> time or the timestamp in any way.
> 
> The users of the Unicode Conversion Information service may vary by 
> release.  In z/OS 2.1 and z/OS 2.2, LE C/C++ Runtime iconv() is a major 
> user of these Unicode services, including such functions as Telnet, 
> System Automation, BCPii, ICONV sample job EDCICONV, FTP / SFTP, Java / 
> Websphere applications and others.  These functions may not work after 
> an IPL with a date on or after December 15, 2015.
> 
> Please see APAR OA48941 for more details and latest information.
> 
> Users Affected:
> The problem was introduced in z/OS 1.10 with the creation of the 
> Conversion Information service and applies to all current z/OS levels. 
> Given the LE iconv() exploitation in z/OS 2.1 and 2.2, these releases 
> are significantly impacted, however any callers of the Unicode service 
> will be affected.
> 
> Recommended Actions:
> It is strongly recommended to install the appropriate level fix for 
> OA48941, prior to December 15, 2015 to avoid any issues related to this 
> problem.  Please see the details in the APAR text to obtain fixes, 
> including ++APARs that are currently available.  PTFs are planned for 
> mid October.  An IPL is required to activate the fix.
> If IPLs can not be scheduled to apply the fix before December 15, 2015, 
> an alternative approach may be to install the fix on a SYSRES, and IPL 
> with that SYSRES in the event of an unplanned IPL on or after December 
> 15, 2015.  A scheduled IPL should be planned for the fix as soon as 
> possible afterwards, if not yet installed.
> 
> 
> -- 
> John Eells
> z/OS Technical Marketing
> IBM Poughkeepsie
> [email protected]
> 
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