MR, FP, FR, IFR, Hotfix, IF - what do they all mean?
Tags :Domino Sametime Hotfix IFR CCH FP
As a customer and even partner you may struggle with all of the terms that Lotus uses for things outside of the full point version numbering schema. With some digging I was able to bring together a short list for you to use as reference.
MR= maintenance release
This is the building block of the number system. Where 8.5 would be the base install version, the MR would be the .1 behind it to make 8.5.1. You get more fixes with a later MR than an earlier MR with FPs applied.
Extensive testing is done on these and usually we see 1-2 a year.
Hotfix = it's broken and here is a tiny fix till next FP
Self explanatory. These are normally not mass released and you have to call support to get them (even ones that other customers have) so Lotus can keep track of who installed it. Beware they are not hard core tested and may contain regressions.
CCH = cumulative client hotfix
A bundle of hotfixes all wrapped nice and pretty. Extensive regression testing is not done on CCHs but will be done when it moves to FP level.
Oh you need like four hotfixes together to make that work. Here is a CCH for you.
IF = interim fix
This should sit up near fixpack as it is a temporary fix. They seem to word it more than a hotfix, but not quite a fixpack. These are publicly available, where hotfixes are not
FP = fixpack
This represents fixes applied on top of a specific maintenance release. They are issued between MRs and are cumulative. This means installing FP4 would include the same fixes from FP1-3 with new ones to make 4. A version will be represented as 8.5.1 FP4 for example.
However, you must uninstall hotfixes before applying fixpacks that contain the hotfixes.
"By providing a small number of fixes, customers are able to accept fewer code changes with lower risk, allowing them to "patch" an older Maintenance Release until a more extensive upgrade to the current Maintenance Release is possible" from IBM.
FR = Feature Release
These are normally blended into maintenance releases and now Upgrade Packs (UP). IBM snuck some into the following IFR, but you will find new features being introduced when they talk of feature releases.
IFR = Incremental Feature Release
This is a new naming idea that showed itself in the IBM Sametime 8.5.2 codestream. While it added quite a few fixes it also added enhancements. Some of us feel the new features should have made it an actual maintenance release, but IBM stood strong and made up the IFR.
UP = upgrade pack
This is quite new to the Domino family. it is totally optional and adds capabilities to an otherwise stable version. It has made it first appearance in 8.5.3 to add social capabilities. I can see IBM doing many more of these since it is not required by anyone.
The new Notes and Domino Social Edition that is pending release will sit atop of Domino 8.5.4 but is optional and in my opinion will be called an Upgrade Pack.
Digging around to get this information found one IBM technote with some of the information.
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On Monday, January 30th, 2012 by Chris Miller
