IBM^® Security Access Manager for Web

Firmware Update 8.0.1-ISS-WGA-FP0009 README

©Copyright International Business Machines Corporation 2013, 2018. All rights reserved. U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights -- Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp.

IMPORTANT: Please note that this appliance firmware update should not be considered as a fix pack. When applying this update to the appliance, the fix pack option should not be used. Please ensure that all upgrade instructions provided are reviewed before applying this to your appliances.

NOTE: Before using this information and the product it supports, read the general information under the Notices section of this document.

Date: Friday, 29 May 2020

Table of Contents

1. About the appliance firmware update

1.1 Important notices

1.2 Appliance firmware update contents and distribution

1.3 Appliance firmware updates and releases superseded by this update

2. APARs and defects fixed

2.1 IBM Security Access Manager for Web

3. New features

4. Known issues, limitations, and workarounds

5. Before installing the appliance firmware update

6. Installing the appliance firmware update

7. After installing the appliance firmware update

7.1 IBM Security Access Manager for Web

8. Uninstalling the appliance firmware update

9. Documentation

10. Notices

10.1 Trademarks

1. About the appliance firmware update

This appliance firmware update provides fixes and new features for IBM Security Access Manager for Web Version 8.0.1.9.

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1.1 Important notices

Please note that there is a potential change to performance when the Spectre/Meltdown fixes are applied. As a result, the Spectre/Meltdown fixes are disabled by default on all ISAM environments.

Administrators can use the following Advanced Tuning Parameter to enable and disable the Spectre/Meltdown fixes. You can change the value for this Advanced Tuning Parameter in the local management interface by selecting Manage System Settings > System Settings > Advanced Tuning Parameters. 

kernel.disable.spectre = true/false

true - indicates that the fix is disabled. This will be the default for all ISAM environments. 

false - indicates that the fix will be enabled.

IBM recommends using a value of kernel.disable.spectre = false in all ISAM environments. Administrators are advised to evaluate the performance in their environments and make deployment adjustments accordingly.

IMPORTANT - The setting of the above advanced tuning parameter does not require the restart of any services or the appliance itself. The configuration will be automatically applied to the running system.

Performance assessment summary

Administrators can expect performance degradation after they enable the mitigation for the vulnerability. Processing times are impacted and as such, users submitting browser-based requests are likely to experience increased response times. 

The impact on appliance performance is estimated to be in the 0% to 20% range for most IBM Security Access Manager environments. 

Due to nature of more complex environments, this performance degradation may be higher. 

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1.2 Appliance firmware update contents and distribution

This appliance firmware update package contains:

• A .pkg file image of the software
  
• This README file
  

This appliance firmware update is distributed as an electronic download from the IBM Support Web Site .

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1.3 Appliance firmware updates and releases superseded by this update

IMPORTANT - This release also supersedes all interim fixes applied to the major fix pack releases identified below.

8.0.1-ISS-WGA-FP0008

8.0.1-ISS-WGA-FP0007

8.0.1-ISS-WGA-FP0006

8.0.1-ISS-WGA-FP0005

8.0.1-ISS-WGA-FP0004

8.0.1-ISS-WGA-FP0003

8.0.1-ISS-WGA-FP0002

8.0.1-ISS-WGA-FP0001

IBM Security Access Manager for Web V8.0.1

8.0.0-ISS-WGA-FP0005

8.0.0-ISS-WGA-FP0004

8.0.0-ISS-WGA-FP0003

8.0.0-ISS-WGA-FP0002

8.0.0-ISS-WGA-FP0001

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2. APARs and defects fixed

2.1 IBM Security Access Manager for Web

The following APARs were fixed with this release of the product.

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4. Known issues, limitations, and workarounds

4.1 There will be no updates of the online documentation for this fix pack release. The existing 8.0.1.3 documentation should be referenced for guidance in regards installing, configuring or administrating this latest version.

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5. Before installing the appliance firmware update

The upgrade tasks are described in the IBM Knowledge Center. See Upgrading to version 8.0.1.8

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6. Installing the appliance firmware update

IMPORTANT: Please note that this appliance firmware update should not be considered as a fix pack. When applying this update to the appliance, the fix pack option should not be used. Please ensure that all upgrade instructions provided are reviewed before applying this to your appliances.

Procedure

• Install the appliance for the first time.
1. Download the .iso image.
   
2. Follow the instructions in the IBM^® Security Access Manager Virtual Appliance Quick Start Guide .
   

Note: If you download from Fix Central or IBM Security Systems site, skip step 1 in the Virtual Appliance Quick Start Guide.

1. Complete the configuration instructions for Web.
   
• 
  
  

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7. After installing the appliance firmware update

Check that the correct version is installed. From the local management interface, select Manage System Settings > Updates and Licensing > Overview.

You can also navigate to Manage System Settings > Updates and Licensing > Firmware Settings. Examine the details that are associated with the Active partition and ensure that the firmware version is correct.

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7.1 IBM Security Access Manager for Web

No additional steps are required.

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8. Uninstalling the appliance firmware update

You cannot uninstall the firmware update, but you can boot the appliance to the previous version of the firmware. For more information, see Managing firmware settings .

Procedure

1. In the local management interface, select Manage System Settings > Updates and Licensing > Firmware Settings.
   
2. Select the partition and click Set Active.
   
3. Click Yes to accept the warning about swapping the partition. This automatically reboots the machine with the previous firmware partition.
   

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9. Documentation

The IBM Knowledge Center contains all documentation for this release. See IBM Security Access Manager for Web Version 8.0.1.3

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10. Notices

This information was developed for products and services offered in the U.S.A. IBM may not offer the products, services, or features discussed in this document in other countries. Consult your local IBM representative for information on the products and services currently available in your area. Any reference to an IBM product, program, or service is not intended to state or imply that only that IBM product, program, or service may be used. Any functionally equivalent product, program, or service that does not infringe any IBM intellectual property right may be used instead. However, it is the user's responsibility to evaluate and verify the operation of any non-IBM product, program, or service.

IBM may have patents or pending patent applications covering subject matter described in this document. The furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents. You can send license inquiries, in writing, to:

IBM Director of Licensing
IBM Corporation
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For license inquiries regarding double-byte (DBCS) information, contact the IBM Intellectual Property Department in your country or send inquiries, in writing, to:

Intellectual Property Licensing
Legal and Intellectual Property Law
IBM Japan, Ltd.
1623-14, Shimotsuruma, Yamato-shi
Kanagawa 242-8502 Japan

The following paragraph does not apply to the United Kingdom or any other country where such provisions are inconsistent with local law:

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IBM Corporation
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Such information may be available, subject to appropriate terms and conditions, including in some cases, payment of a fee.

The licensed program described in this document and all licensed material available for it are provided by IBM under terms of the IBM Customer Agreement, IBM International Program License Agreement or any equivalent agreement between us.

Any performance data contained herein was determined in a controlled environment. Therefore, the results obtained in other operating environments may vary significantly. Some measurements may have been made on development-level systems and there is no guarantee that these measurements will be the same on generally available systems. Furthermore, some measurement may have been estimated through extrapolation. Actual results may vary. Users of this document should verify the applicable data for their specific environment.

Information concerning non-IBM products was obtained from the suppliers of those products, their published announcements or other publicly available sources. IBM has not tested those products and cannot confirm the accuracy of performance, compatibility or any other claims related to non-IBM products. Questions on the capabilities of non-IBM products should be addressed to the suppliers of those products.

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10.1 Trademarks

IBM, the IBM logo, and ibm.com^® are trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corp., registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Other product and service names might be trademarks of IBM or other companies. A current list of IBM trademarks is available on the Web at “Copyright and trademark information” at www.ibm.com/legal/copytrade.shtml.

End of the IBM^® Security Access Manager for Web 8.0.1-ISS-WGA-FP0009.README file.