HP OpenVMS Version 8.3 Release Notes


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1.7.4 Firmware for Integrity Servers

V8.3

OpenVMS I64 Version 8.3 was tested with the latest firmware for each of the supported Integrity servers. The following table lists the recommended firmware versions:

Table 1-2 Firmware Versions for Entry-Class Integrity Servers
System System
Firmware
BMC
Firmware
MP
Firmware
DHCP
Firmware
rx1600 2.18 3.48 E.03.15 N/A
rx1620 2.18 3.48 E.03.15 N/A
rx2600 2.31 1.53 E.03.15 N/A
rx2620 3.17 3.47 E.03.15 N/A
rx4640 3.17 3.49 E.03.15 1.10

Some new rx4640 servers require, and will ship with, the higher firmware versions shown in the table. As this manual goes to press, the lower firmware versions are the latest released to customers to update existing servers. OpenVMS has been tested with both versions of firmware. HP recommends that all rx4640 servers be updated to the higher firmware versions when the firmware is released.

To check the firmware versions for your server, use the Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) command INFO FW, as shown in the following example. (For instructions on how to access and use EFI, refer to the HP OpenVMS Version 8.3 Upgrade and Installation Manual.)


Shell> INFO FW 
 
FIRMWARE INFORMATION 
 
   Firmware Revision: 2.13 [4412]          (1)
 
   PAL_A Revision: 7.31/5.37 
   PAL_B Revision: 5.65 
   HI Revision: 1.02 
 
   SAL Spec Revision: 3.01 
   SAL_A Revision: 2.00 
   SAL_B Revision: 2.13 
 
   EFI Spec Revision: 1.10 
   EFI Intel Drop Revision: 14.61 
   EFI Build Revision: 2.10 
 
   POSSE Revision: 0.10 
 
   ACPI Revision: 7.00 
 
   BMC Revision: 2.35                       (2)
   IPMI Revision: 1.00 
   SMBIOS Revision: 2.3.2a 
   Management Processor Revision: E.02.29   (3)
 

  1. The system firmware revision is 2.13.
  2. The BMC firmware revision is 2.35.
  3. The MP firmware revision is E.02.29.

The HP Integrity rx4640 server contains Dual Hot Plug Controller (DHPC) hardware with upgradable firmware. To check the current version of your DHPC firmware, use the EFI command INFO CHIPREV, as shown in the following example. The hot-plug controller version will be displayed. A display of 0100 indicates version 1.0; a display of 0110 means version 1.1.


Shell> INFO CHIPREV 
 
CHIP REVISION INFORMATION 
 
   Chip                  Logical     Device       Chip 
   Type                     ID         ID       Revision 
   -------------------   -------     ------     -------- 
   Memory Controller         0       122b         0023 
   Root Bridge               0       1229         0023 
     Host Bridge          0000       122e         0032 
     Host Bridge          0001       122e         0032 
     Host Bridge          0002       122e         0032 
     Host Bridge          0004       122e         0032 
      HotPlug Controller     0          0         0110  
     Host Bridge          0005       122e         0032 
      HotPlug Controller     0          0         0110 
     Host Bridge          0006       122e         0032 
     Other Bridge            0          0         0002 
       Other Bridge          0          0         0008 
         Baseboard MC        0          0         0235 

For instructions on upgrading your firmware, refer to the HP OpenVMS Version 8.3 Upgrade and Installation Manual.

1.7.5 Booting from the Installation DVD

V8.2

On I64 systems with the minimum amount of supported memory (512MB), the following message appears when booting from the installation DVD:


********* XFC-W-MemmgtInit Misconfigure Detected ******** 
XFC-E-MemMisconfigure MPW_HILIM + FREEGOAL > Physical Memory and no reserved memory for XFC 
XFC-I-RECONFIG Setting MPW$GL_HILIM to no more than 25% of physical memory XFC-I-RECONFIG 
Setting FREEGOAL to no more than 10% of physical memory 
********* XFC-W-MemMisconfigure AUTOGEN should be run to correct configuration ******** 
********* XFC-I-MemmgtInit Bootstrap continuing ******** 

The message means that the system cache (XFC) initialization has successfully adjusted the SYSGEN parameters MPW_HILIM and FREEGOAL to allow caching to be effective during the installation. You can continue with the installation.

1.7.6 HP DECwindows Motif Release Notes

The following DECwindows Motif release notes are of interest to OpenVMS I64 users.

1.7.6.1 Keyboard Support

V8.2

The only model keyboard supported on HP DECwindows Motif for OpenVMS I64 systems is the LK463 (AB552A for I64) keyboard. Although other types of keyboards may function in the OpenVMS I64 environment, HP does not currently support them.

1.7.6.2 Connect Peripheral Devices Prior to Server Startup

V8.2

To properly configure your system as a DECwindows X display server, you must have all the following peripheral components connected prior to startup:

Otherwise, the server system might not complete the device initialization process correctly. For example, starting up a server system without input devices (mouse and keyboard) could result in a blank screen.

To correct this problem, disconnect and reconnect all peripherals.

1.7.6.3 Countdown Messages Displayed During Startup

V8.2

When running DECwindows Motif in client-only mode (with no server configured), messages similar to the following might be displayed during startup:


Waiting for mouse... 
Waiting for keyboard... 

These messages indicate that device polling is underway and are informational only. They will disappear once the 15-second countdown is complete.

To prevent the messages from displaying, connect the input devices (USB mouse and USB keyboard) to the system prior to startup.

1.8 Release Notes for OpenVMS Alpha Users

The following notes are primarily of interest to users of OpenVMS Alpha systems.

1.8.1 Firmware for OpenVMS Alpha Version 8.3

V8.3

OpenVMS Alpha Version 8.3 was tested with the platform-specific firmware included on Alpha Systems Firmware CD Version 6.8. For older platforms no longer included on the Firmware CD, OpenVMS Alpha Version 8.2 was tested with the latest released firmware version. HP recommends upgrading to the latest firmware before upgrading OpenVMS.

The OpenVMS Alpha Version 8.3 kit includes the Alpha Systems Firmware CD-ROM and Release Notes. Read the firwmware Release Notes before installing the firmware.

You can obtain Version 6.8 and the latest firmware information from the following website (URL is case sensitive):

1.8.2 Upgrade Paths

V8.3

You can upgrade directly to OpenVMS Alpha Version 8.3 from only the following versions of OpenVMS Alpha.

For Alpha:

Version 7.3-2 to V8.3
Version 8.2 to V8.3

For I64:

Version 8.2 to V8.3
Version 8.2-1 to V8.3

If you are currently running OpenVMS Alpha Version 6.2x through 7.3, inclusive, you must first upgrade to Version 7.3-2, and then to Version 8.3. Note that standard support for OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.3-1 systems ended on March 31, 2005. After that, OpenVMS Alpha V7.3-1 systems will not be under Prior Version Support (PVS). For details about OpenVMS operating system support, see the chart on the following website:

If you are running other versions of OpenVMS that are no longer supported, you must do multiple upgrades in accordance with upgrade paths that were documented for earlier versions.

Cluster Concurrent Upgrades

During a concurrent upgrade, you must shut down the entire cluster and upgrade each system disk. No one can use the cluster until you upgrade and reboot each computer. Once you reboot, each computer will be running the upgraded version of the operating system.

Cluster Rolling Upgrades

During a cluster rolling upgrade, you upgrade each system disk individually, allowing old and new versions of the operating system to run together in the same cluster (a mixed-version cluster). There must be more than one system disk. The systems that are not being upgraded remain available.

Only the following OpenVMS Alpha and OpenVMS VAX versions are supported in mixed-version clusters that include OpenVMS Alpha Version 8.3:

Version 7.3-2 (Alpha)
Version 7.3 (VAX)

If you are upgrading in a cluster environment, rolling upgrades are supported from Version 7.3-2 and 7.3-1 of the OpenVMS Alpha operating system. If you have other versions in a cluster, you cannot do a rolling upgrade until those versions are upgraded to a supported version.

Mixed-version support for all of these versions requires the installation of one or more remedial kits. For more information, see Section 4.14.1.

Note

HP currently supports only two versions of OpenVMS (regardless of architecture) running in a cluster at the same time. Only two architectures are supported in the same OpenVMS Cluster. Warranted support is provided for pairings with OpenVMS I64 Version 8.3. For more information, refer to the HP OpenVMS Version 8.3 Upgrade and Installation Manual.

For a discussion of warranted pairs and migration pairs of OpenVMS operating systems, for complete instructions for installing or upgrading to OpenVMS Alpha Version 8.3, and for instructions on installing OpenVMS I64 Version 8.3, refer to the HP OpenVMS Version 8.3 Upgrade and Installation Manual.

1.9 CDSA: Secure Delivery Signing for Third Parties Available After Release of OpenVMS V8.3

V8.3

CDSA Version 2.2, which is included with OpenVMS Version 8.3, will allow for organizations other than OpenVMS Engineering to sign and validate OpenVMS kits using the new OpenVMS Secure Delivery functionality. Although the capability to sign and validate kits is included with CDSA Version 2.2, the supporting business practices are not currently in place to support third party vendors signing their own kits. HP expects to allow third party signing soon. Please monitor the HP Developer & Solution Partner Program web site (http://www.hp.com/dspp) for announcements about the availability of this program.

1.10 Remove Any Lines from SYS$MANAGER:SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM That Start Encrypt or SSL

V8.3

The startup command procedures for Encrypt and SSL are now called from the VMS$LPBEGIN-050_STARTUP.COM procedure. If you are upgrading from a previous version of OpenVMS that had these products installed, edit SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM to remove the calls to SYS$STARTUP:ENCRYPT_START.COM and SYS$STARTUP:SSL$STARTUP.COM. This will prevent these command procedures from executing twice.

1.11 Kerberos for OpenVMS

V8.3

Before configuring or starting Kerberos, check the HP TCP/IP local host database to determine whether your hostname definition is the short name (for example, node1) or the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) (for example, node1.hp.com).

If your host name definition is the short name, you must run TCPIP$CONFIG to change the definition to the fully qualified name.

The following example shows that the hostname is the short name:


$ TCPIP SHOW HOST/LOCAL NODE1 
 
     LOCAL database 
 
Host address    Host name 
 
1.2.3.4  node1 

The following log is an example of how to change the host name definition to the FQDN.


$ @SYS$STARTUP:TCPIP$CONFIG 
 
                TCP/IP Network Configuration Procedure 
 
        This procedure helps you define the parameters required 
        to run HP TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS on this system. 
 
        Checking TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS configuration database files. 
 
        HP TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS Configuration Menu 
 
        Configuration options: 
 
                 1  -  Core environment 
                 2  -  Client components 
                 3  -  Server components 
                 4  -  Optional components 
 
                 5  -  Shutdown HP TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS 
                 6  -  Startup HP TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS 
                 7  -  Run tests 
 
                 A  -  Configure options 1 - 4 
                [E] -  Exit configuration procedure 
 
Enter configuration option: 1 
 
        HP TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS Core Environment Configuration Menu 
 
        Configuration options: 
 
                 1  -  Domain 
                 2  -  Interfaces 
                 3  -  Routing 
                 4  -  BIND Resolver 
                 5  -  Time Zone 
 
                 A  -  Configure options 1 - 5 
                [E] -  Exit menu 
 
Enter configuration option: 2 
 
      HP TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS Interface & Address Configuration Menu 
 
 Hostname Details: Configured=node1, Active=node1 
 
 Configuration options: 
 
   1  -  WE0 Menu (EWA0: TwistedPair 1000mbps) 
   2  -  1.2.3.4/21    node1                Configured,Active 
 
   3  -  IE0 Menu (EIA0: TwistedPair 100mbps) 
 
   I  -  Information about your configuration 
 
  [E] -  Exit menu 
 
Enter configuration option: 2 
 
      HP TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS Address Configuration Menu 
 
      WE0 1.2.3.4/21 node1 Configured,Active WE0 
 
 Configuration options: 
 
         1  - Change address 
         2  - Set "node1" as the default hostname 
         3  - Delete from configuration database 
         4  - Remove from live system 
         5  - Add standby aliases to configuration database (for failSAFE IP) 
 
        [E] - Exit menu 
 
Enter configuration option: 1 
 
    IPv4 Address may be entered with CIDR bits suffix. 
    E.g. For a 16-bit netmask enter 10.0.1.1/16 
 
Enter IPv4 Address [1.2.3.4/21]: 
Enter hostname [node1]: node1.hp.com 
 
Requested configuration: 
 
      Address  : 1.2.3.4/21 
      Netmask  : 255.255.248.0 (CIDR bits: 21) 
      Hostname : node1.hp.com 
 
* Is this correct [YES]: 
 
  "node1" is currently associated with address "1.2.3.4". 
  Continuing will associate "node1.hp.com" with "1.2.3.4". 
 
* Continue [NO]: YES 
Deleted host node1 from host database 
Added hostname node1.hp.com (1.2.3.4) to host database 
* Update the address in the configuration database [NO]: YES 
Updated address WE0:1.2.3.4 in configuration database 
* Update the active address [NO]: YES 
WE0: delete active inet address node1.hp.com 
Updated active address to be WE0:1.2.3.4 

Next, type E three times to exit the TCP/IP Services configuration menus and return to the DCL ($) prompt.

To verify your change, enter the following command:


$ TCPIP SHOW HOST/LOCAL NODE1 
 
     LOCAL database 
 
Host address    Host name 
 
1.2.3.4  node1.hp.com 

If you have not previously configured an earlier version of Kerberos on your system, or if you changed your TCP/IP hostname definition to the FQDN as shown above, you must run the Kerberos configuration program before you start Kerberos.

To reconfigure Kerberos, enter the following command:


$ @SYS$STARTUP:KRB$CONFIGURE 

After you have a valid configuration, start Kerberos with the following command:


$ @SYS$STARTUP:KRB$STARTUP.COM 

For more information, see the Kerberos for OpenVMS Installation Guide and Release Notes.

1.12 Encryption for OpenVMS Installed with the OpenVMS Operating System

V8.3

When you install or upgrade OpenVMS, Encryption for OpenVMS creates its own ENCRYPT and DECRYPT commands. Encryption for OpenVMS starts automatically (after SSL for OpenVMS, which also starts automatically). For more information about Encryption for OpenVMS, see HP OpenVMS Version 8.3 New Features and Documentation Overview.

Note

With Version 8.3 of OpenVMS, the DCL command DECRAM is removed because it conflicts with the new DECRYPT command (DECRYPT overwrites the default definition of DECRAM, which you might have been using to start DECram). You should update any command procedures that use the DECRAM command so that they use the foreign command style of DCL. For example:


$ DECRAM == "$MDMANAGER" 


This change affects the use of the DCL command only; all other aspects of the DECram product remain the same. If you have older versions of DECram on your OpenVMS Alpha system, you must remove them before upgrading. See Section 1.13.

1.13 HP DECram V3.n: Remove Before Upgrading

V8.2

Starting with OpenVMS Alpha and OpenVMS I64 Version 8.2, DECram ships with the OpenVMS operating system as a System Integrated Product (SIP). If you upgrade to Version 8.3 on an OpenVMS Alpha system from OpenVMS Version 7.3-2, you must remove any old versions of DECram. Refer to the HP OpenVMS Version 8.3 Upgrade and Installation Manual for details.

More DECram release notes are included in Section 2.12.

1.14 Converting the LANCP Device Database After Upgrading

V8.3

When you upgrade to OpenVMS Alpha Version 8.3 from OpenVMS Version 7.3-2, you might also need to convert the LAN device database to the Version 8.3 format if this is not automatically done by LANACP when LANACP is first run after the upgrade.

To convert the database, issue the following LANCP commands to convert the device database and then to stop LANACP so it can be restarted to use the new database:


$ LANCP 
LANCP> CONVERT DEVICE_DATABASE 
LANCP> SET ACP/STOP 
LANCP> EXIT 
$ @SYS$STARTUP:LAN$STARTUP 

1.15 DECnet-Plus Requires a New Version

V7.3-2

When you install or upgrade to OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.3-2 or later, you must also install a new version of DECnet-Plus. One of the reasons that make this necessary is a change of behavior in AUTOGEN that was introduced in Version 7.3-2.

Unlike the behavior of previous versions, DECnet-Plus for OpenVMS Version 7.3-2 and later now provides product information in NEWPARAMS.DAT records, as required by AUTOGEN. AUTOGEN anticipates this change in DECnet-Plus, so AUTOGEN does not print any warnings when it removes "bad" records from CLU$PARAMS.DAT; AUTOGEN presumes these records were made by an older DECnet-Plus kit and will be replaced by the new DECnet-Plus kit. So, under normal conditions, you will not see any striking differences in behavior during an OpenVMS Version 7.3-2 or later installation or upgrade.

However, if other products do not provide product information in NEWPARAMS.DAT records, as now required by AUTOGEN, AUTOGEN prints warning messages to both the report and the user's SYS$OUTPUT device. The warnings state that AUTOGEN cannot accept the parameter assignment found in NEWPARAMS.DAT (because no product name is attached) and that no records will be added to CLU$PARAMS.DAT. Because no records are added, the expected additions or other alterations to SYSGEN parameters will not be made, which could lead to resource exhaustion. Developers and testers of software products should be aware of this requirement; it may also be of interest to system managers.

This new behavior is intended to protect both the users and providers of layered products. By keeping this information ordered properly so that it can be updated properly, problems resulting from bad updates should be minimized.

A description of NEWPARAMS.DAT and CLU$PARAMS.DAT is included in the AUTOGEN chapter of the HP OpenVMS System Management Utilities Reference Manual.

1.16 SHADOW_MAX_UNIT Default Setting and Memory Usage

V7.3-2

This note updates an earlier note that discussed the default settings for this system parameter but did not describe the amount of main memory consumed by the default settings.

OpenVMS Alpha Version 7.3 introduced minicopy support in HP Volume Shadowing for OpenVMS. As part of the minicopy functionality, a new volume shadowing system parameter, SHADOW_MAX_UNIT, was introduced. On OpenVMS Alpha systems, the default value for this system parameter is 500, which consumes 24 KB of main memory. On OpenVMS VAX systems, the default value is 100, which consumes 5 KB of main memory.

If you do not plan to use Volume Shadowing for OpenVMS, you can change the setting to its minimum of 10 (which consumes 480 bytes of main memory). By setting the default to its minimum, you free up 23.5 KB of main memory on an OpenVMS Alpha system and 4.5 KB of main memory on a VAX system.

Note

SHAD_MAX_UNIT is a static system parameter. In order for a new setting to take effect, you must reboot your system.

Recommendations for SHADOW_MAX_UNIT settings for volume shadowing are discussed in the HP Volume Shadowing for OpenVMS manual.

1.17 TIE Kit Must be Removed Before Upgrade

V8.2-1

The Translated Image Environment (TIE) has been integrated into OpenVMS I64 Version 8.2--1. Refer to the HP OpenVMS Systems Migration Software Web site for further information.

If you have installed any version of the Translated Image Environment (TIE) PCSI kit (HP-I64VMS-TIE) on OpenVMS I64 Version 8.2 or Version 8.2-1, you must manually remove the TIE kit before you upgrade to OpenVMS I64 Version 8.3.

Use the following command to remove the TIE product kit:


$ PRODUCT REMOVE TIE 

Do not install the TIE product kit, HP I64VMS TIE V1.0, on OpenVMS I64 Version 8.2-1 or Version 8.3.


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