Order Number: BA322--90047
This manual describes changes to the software; installation, upgrade, and compatibility information; new and existing software problems and restrictions; and software and documentation corrections.
Revision/Update Information: This is a new manual.
Software Version: OpenVMS I64 Version 8.3 OpenVMS Alpha Version 8.3
Hewlett-Packard Company Palo Alto, California
© Copyright 2006 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Confidential computer software. Valid license from HP required for possession, use or copying. Consistent with FAR 12.211 and 12.212, Commercial Computer Software, Computer Software Documentation, and Technical Data for Commercial Items are licensed to the U.S. Government under vendor's standard commercial license.
The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
Intel and Itanium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
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Oracle is a US registered trademark of Oracle Corporation, Redwood City, California.
OSF and Motif are trademarks of The Open Group in the US and other countries, and UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group.
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X/Open is a registered trademark, and the X device is a trademark of X/Open Company Ltd. in the UK and other countries.
ZK6677
The HP OpenVMS documentation set is available on CD.
| Contents |
This manual is intended for all users of the HP OpenVMS Alpha or HP OpenVMS for I64 Integrity servers Version 8.3 operating system. Read this manual before you install, upgrade, or use OpenVMS Version 8.3.
This manual contains the following chapters and appendixes:
Notes are organized by facility or product name when applicable.
This manual contains release notes introduced in the current release and notes from previous OpenVMS Alpha versions that still apply to the new release. A subheading for each release note indicates either the version of origin (for example, V8.2) or the version when an old note was last updated (for example, a note from V8.2 that was revised for Version 8.3 will be labeled with V8.3).
Notes from previous releases are published when:
For a list of additional documents that are available in support of this version of the OpenVMS operating system, refer to the HP OpenVMS Version 8.3 New Features and Documentation Overview manual.
For additional information about HP OpenVMS products and services, visit the following World Wide Web address:
http://www.hp.com/go/openvms |
HP welcomes your comments on this manual. Please send comments to either of the following addresses:
| Internet | openvmsdoc@hp.com |
| Postal Mail |
Hewlett-Packard Company
OSSG Documentation Group, ZKO3-4/U08 110 Spit Brook Rd. Nashua, NH 03062-2698 |
For information about how to order additional documentation, visit the following World Wide Web address:
http://www.hp.com/go/openvms/doc/order |
The following conventions may be used in this manual:
| Ctrl/ x | A sequence such as Ctrl/ x indicates that you must hold down the key labeled Ctrl while you press another key or a pointing device button. |
| PF1 x | A sequence such as PF1 x indicates that you must first press and release the key labeled PF1 and then press and release another key or a pointing device button. |
| [Return] |
In examples, a key name enclosed in a box indicates that you press a
key on the keyboard. (In text, a key name is not enclosed in a box.)
In the HTML version of this document, this convention appears as brackets, rather than a box. |
| ... |
A horizontal ellipsis in examples indicates one of the following
possibilities:
|
|
.
. . |
A vertical ellipsis indicates the omission of items from a code example or command format; the items are omitted because they are not important to the topic being discussed. |
| ( ) | In command format descriptions, parentheses indicate that you must enclose choices in parentheses if you specify more than one. |
| [ ] | In command format descriptions, brackets indicate optional choices. You can choose one or more items or no items. Do not type the brackets on the command line. However, you must include the brackets in the syntax for OpenVMS directory specifications and for a substring specification in an assignment statement. |
| | | In command format descriptions, vertical bars separate choices within brackets or braces. Within brackets, the choices are optional; within braces, at least one choice is required. Do not type the vertical bars on the command line. |
| { } | In command format descriptions, braces indicate required choices; you must choose at least one of the items listed. Do not type the braces on the command line. |
| bold type | Bold type represents the introduction of a new term. It also represents the name of an argument, an attribute, or a reason. |
| italic type | Italic type indicates important information, complete titles of manuals, or variables. Variables include information that varies in system output (Internal error number), in command lines (/PRODUCER= name), and in command parameters in text (where dd represents the predefined code for the device type). |
| I64 | An abbreviation representing HP OpenVM for Integrity servers |
| UPPERCASE TYPE | Uppercase type indicates a command, the name of a routine, the name of a file, or the abbreviation for a system privilege. |
| Example | This typeface indicates code examples, command examples, and interactive screen displays. In text, this type also identifies URLs, UNIX commands and pathnames, PC-based commands and folders, and certain elements of the C programming language. |
| - | A hyphen at the end of a command format description, command line, or code line indicates that the command or statement continues on the following line. |
| numbers | All numbers in text are assumed to be decimal unless otherwise noted. Nondecimal radixes---binary, octal, or hexadecimal---are explicitly indicated. |
This chapter contains information that you need to know before installing or upgrading to OpenVMS Version 8.3. Topics of interest to both Alpha and I64 users are covered first. Later sections group notes of interest to users of specific platforms.
HP recommends that you read all of the following manuals before installing or upgrading OpenVMS Version 8.3:
Refer to Chapter 6 for hardware release notes and to Chapter 2
for information about associated products.
1.1 HP Software Technical Support Policy
HP provides software technical support for OpenVMS operating system software for the latest, currently shipping version and the immediate prior version of the product. Each version is supported for 24 months from its release date, or until the release of the second subsequent version, whichever is greater. "Version" is defined as a release containing new features and enhancements. Patch kits and maintenance-only releases do not meet the definition of "version" in the context of this support policy.
Current version-level support (Standard Support or SS) and Prior Version Support (PVS) for OpenVMS operating system software is provided for OpenVMS versions in accordance with these guidelines. The current level of support for recent versions of OpenVMS Alpha and OpenVMS VAX is kept up to date on this web page:
The Operating System Support Policy applies to all OpenVMS Major Releases, New Feature Releases, and Enhancement releases, which are defined as follows:
The following OpenVMS core products are supported at the same level (Standard Support or Prior Version Support) and duration as the operating system version on which they ship:
These products require their own individual support contracts and are
not included in the operating system support contract.
1.2 General Application Compatibility Statement
OpenVMS has consistently held the policy that published APIs are
supported on all subsequent releases. It is unlikely applications that
use published APIs will require changes to support a new release of
OpenVMS. APIs may be "retired," and thus removed from the
documentation; however, the API will continue to be available on
OpenVMS as an undocumented interface.
1.3 Obtaining Remedial Kits
Remedial kits for HP products are available online at the HP IT Resource Center (ITRC). Use of the ITRC patch download site requires user registration and login. Registration is open to all users and no service contract is required. You can register and log in from the following URL:
You can also use FTP to access patches from the following location:
1.4 Networking Options
V8.3
OpenVMS provides customers with the flexibility to choose the network protocol of their choice. Whether you require DECnet or TCP/IP, OpenVMS allows you to choose the protocol or combination of protocols that works best for your network. OpenVMS can operate with both HP and third-party networking products.
During the main installation procedure for OpenVMS Version 8.3, you have the option of installing the following supported HP networking software:
Alternatively, after you install OpenVMS, you can install your choice of another third-party networking product that runs on OpenVMS Version 8.3.
For information about how to configure and manage your HP networking software after installation, refer to the TCP/IP, DECnet-Plus, or DECnet documentation. The manuals are available in online format on the OpenVMS Documentation CD; printed manuals can be ordered from HP (800-282-6672).
HP strongly recommends that you apply the current Engineering Change
Order (ECO) for TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS Version 5.5 after upgrading
to OpenVMS Version 8.2--1 to ensure that the latest software is
installed.
1.5 Disk Incompatibility with Older Versions of OpenVMS
V8.3
The OpenVMS Version 8.3 installation procedure initializes the target disk with volume expansion (INITIALIZE/LIMIT). This renders the disk incompatible with versions of OpenVMS prior to Version 7.2. In most cases, this does not present a problem. However, if you intend to mount this new disk on a version of OpenVMS prior to Version 7.2, you must first take steps to make the disk compatible for that operating system version. Refer to the HP OpenVMS Version 8.3 Upgrade and Installation Manual for detailed instructions.
Note that by taking these steps, your new system disk might include a relatively large minimum allocation size (as defined by /CLUSTER_SIZE). As a result, small files will use more space than necessary. Therefore, you should perform these steps only for system disks that must be mounted on versions of OpenVMS prior to Version 7.2.
ODS-5 disks are also incompatible with versions of OpenVMS prior to Version 7.2. |
V8.3
The following table lists which versions of DECwindows Motif are supported on various platforms of the OpenVMS Version 8.3 operating system.
| OpenVMS Version | DECwindows Motif Version |
|---|---|
| OpenVMS I64 8.3 | DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS I64 V1.5 |
| OpenVMS Alpha 8.3 | DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS Alpha V1.5 |
The DECwindows Motif software relies on specific versions of OpenVMS server and device driver images. Be sure to install or upgrade to the version of DECwindows Motif that is appropriate to your operating system environment, as noted in Table 1-1.
For information on support for prior versions of DECwindows Motif, see the HP DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS Release Notes.
For detailed information about installing the DECwindows Motif
software, refer to the HP DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS Installation
Guide.
1.7 Release Notes for OpenVMS for Integrity Servers Users
The following notes are primarily of interest to users of OpenVMS for
Integrity servers.
1.7.1 A6825A Gigabit Ethernet Controller and RX4640 Restriction V8.3
The HP sx1000 Chipset for HP Integrity servers provides the CPU, memory, and I/O subsystem to the HP Integrity rx7620, HP Integrity 8620, and HP Integrity Superdome servers. The cell controller is combined with four CPU chips into the computing cell in the sx1000 Chipset architecture. The cell controller chip also provides paths to the I/O devices and off-cell memory.
The rx7620, rx8620, and Superdome servers provide a varying number of sx1000 Chipset cells. The rx7620 provides up to 2 cells (8 CPUs), the rx8620 provides up to 4 cells (16 CPUs), and the Superdome provides up to 16 cells (64 CPUs).
For OpenVMS I64 Version 8.3, there are two primary storage interconnects:
Customers who used any earlier evaluation or field test kits should note the following important considerations:
V8.3
The rx7620 and rx8620 have an internal U160 (SCSI) that comes with the
system as core I/O. The internal connections to the racks of SCSI disks
(which appear on the front of the system box) are supported by OpenVMS.
The internal box also has two external ports. HP does not support
attaching them (via cables) to a SCSI rack.
1.7.3 Clearing the System Event Log (SEL) on Integrity Servers
V8.3
HP Integrity servers maintain a System Event Log (SEL) within system console storage, and OpenVMS I64 automatically transfers the contents of the SEL into the OpenVMS error log. If you are operating from the console during a successful boot operation, you might see a message indicating that the Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) SEL is full. You can safely continue when the BMC SEL is full by following the prompts; OpenVMS will process the contents of the SEL. If you wish to clear the SEL manually, enter the following command at the EFI Shell prompt:
Shell> clearlogs SEL |
This command deletes the contents of the SEL. The command is available with current system firmware versions.
If your Integrity server is configured with a Management Processor (MP) and you see a BMC event log warning while connected to the MP console, you can clear the BMC event log by using MP. Press Ctrl/B to drop to the MP> prompt. At the MP> prompt, enter SL (from the main menu) and use the C option to clear the log.
HP recommends that you load and use the most current system firmware. For more information about updating the system firmware, refer to the HP OpenVMS Version 8.3 Upgrade and Installation Manual.
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